Are you saying that pets are as challanging to take care of as kids in one of your answers?? Kids cost way more time, money, attention, tears, effort,.. than pets! Sure the ‘reward’ might turn out more gratifying but if we’re just talking challenges, kids surely win all day every day. Not to mention some people are forced to have kids in which case challenges can be added

patron-saint-of-smart-asses:

1. You’re speaking to a mother who’s had numerous ups and downs financially, with two kids in tow. The cost for caring for my kids was low on my list because they are no where near as expensive as you think. Our main worry was just buying food for ALL of us, kid or adult, or finding shelter for ALL of us.
2. No one is “forced” to have kids, even in cases of conception by rape. Parents have the option to have someone adopt their child (and while I don’t advocate nor support it, abortion is legal in all 50 states), or to give their child up to the state if the child is older (where they are often given to blood relatives).
3. Also do you know how many “unwanted” animals are in shelters? How many exotic pets are abandoned, how many feral animals that live outdoors, and wreak havoc on the ecosystem? Of how much vet bills cost if you want to give your pet a truly top notch quality of life? Do you know how much ANY of that costs, whether personally or to the taxpayer?
4. It’s clear you know nothing about either animals nor children.