Genuine question from a non-pet-haver: why do you think people tend to place their pets in the position of a child, rather than a partner? Egs: calling themselves a "dog-parent" or a cat their "baby" or if asked if they have kids they say "no but I have two iguanas and a snake?"

I suppose I kind of lied. I live with my landlord's 16 fish (7 goldfish, 9 koi). I do have a favorite fish.

I enjoy the discussions of ownership on the thread. But I do think people say "these are MY children" and perform a relation of ownership to children as well.