I know exactly how you feel.   My boss told me not to worry because my dog doesn't have a soul so he won't be going to heaven anyway, he is just a dumb animal.  My "friends" at work handed me a newspaper when I was crying over Sammy's diagnosis and said there are lots of dogs that don't have cancer in it.

Some people are missing a compssion gene!

I'm sure they don't mean to be rude, annoying and bloody hurtfull, I guess its just ignorance about what you feel for your fur babys. Just think of all that fun, the amazing bond and the unconditional love that these sort of people are missing out on. We are the lucky ones we have experienced that love and will continue to cherish it, our lives are richer for it and our houses more full of life. 

Some people can be incredibly rude - no doubt about it. I'm sorry you had to even deal with the idiots that said that to you. That is the kind of thing where I would obsess about it and hours later, when it's way too late, come up with a stinging reply.

But, as Sarah said, those folks are to be pitied, because clearly they don't understand what it's like to experience the love and joy that we get from our pups.

Hope you at least feel better after getting it off your chest with folks who get it.

Hang in there. As I always say to my hubby when he is annoyed w/ his co-workers (which is often, cuz some of them are a real piece of work): Don't let the turkeys get you down.
Jackie, Angel Abby & MBBunny Rita's mom

Those who say a dog doesn't have a soul have never looked into the eyes of a dog who loves them.

I, too, heard many of those same things when family and friends heard that Sammy had cancer and that his leg was going to be amputated. Some, especially those who struggle financially, don't understand spending so much money on an "animal." Others truly don't understand the deep bond we share with our fur-babies. I feel sorry for them; they are missing out on so much.

My own mom suggested it might be kinder to let Sammy go rather than putting him through the surgery. She had never seen a tripawd and what they can do. After seeing him happily hopping, running and jumping around, she changed her mind. When she recently adopted a little dog, the strength of her feelings toward him surprised her. She is crazy about him!

I must admit, I wasn't much of a dog person until I had Sammy so I know these people are not trying to be cruel.  They just don't get it. When accosted by such ignorance, I simply reminded people that, to me, Sammy was as much a part of my family as any member of theirs — and asked if they would put down a family member if he or she was sick. That usually shuts them up.

I hate it that we have to discuss this topic, but I love those replies!

We have lived with these comments for many years, through misc. surgeries for Merlin's terrible knees and our attempts to save him from his cancer and now with Zeus' amputation.  I refuse to let these comments slide, although I know they sometimes come from persons that we cannot alienate due to family or work ties.  Therefore I try to be kind but give them something to think about by explaining "you know, each of us have our own opinions and passions in life and those should be respected even if you don't understand them.  I have never once criticized you for your decision to have children and make all of the sacrafices that comes with that decision, even though I do not have that desire and do not understand it.  I would simply ask you for that same consideration to respect what is important to me, no matter how foreign the concept is to you."

Shuts them up every time.

I live in the midwest and work with a lot of what I call rednecks.  That's ok--I call them that to their face.  Anyway, most were supportive when I told them Daisy most likely had cancer and what the options were.  I originally was going to let her go when I felt it was "time".  Well 1-1/2 days later I decided I would go with amputation hoping that she would be in the 10% that it cures.  When I told them the responses were definitely not positive.  Things like "why would I put her thru that" and "just to go ahead and put her out of her misery since she is going to die anyway".  Turned out she didn't have cancer so good thing I went with my gut not their words of wisdom.

I had a cat for 11-1/2 years that was diabetic.  I had to give him insulin shots twice a day.  The guys used to tell me "I'll give him a shot and you won't have to worry about it anymore".

I just quit telling them about my pets.  They just don't get it.

Marla and Daisy

OMG it just amazes me how insensitive people can be!!  I can't even think of a good comeback for that kind of ignorance.  Love the ones the rest of you came up with though!