[sarah2079]

When people say their pets are like their children, I don't think they mean "like" as in "exactly identical to." They mean "like" as in their relationship with their pet fills a similar role in their life.

I have had pets and I have a child. If you don't see similarity in these relationships (mainly for the parent-baby relationship, not so much for older children) I think you are taking statements like these MUCH TOO literally. Taking care of a baby was eerily similar to caring for a puppy for me.

It's like someone tells you they are so hungry they could eat a horse, and then you say "Oh really? That would rupture your internal organs causing you a horribly painful death." You are taking something way too literally, and then replying with an unnecessarily morbid answer. The combination of these two is likely to make people wonder what the easiest way is to excuse themselves from the conversation.

[Xcelerate]

Thank you for actually providing an explanation. I had always assumed people were being literal in how much they liked their pet. I didn't realize it was just a saying.