I personally can't understand people who don't like them. And I honestly don't mean to be rude by saying this, but I also find it a little disturbing. I think that's just because of the places I've lived, though; generally, someone not liking animals is linked to animal abuse and/or hunting for sport, both of which are ideas that give me a knot in my stomach. I've seen enough slaughter and dogfighting and all-out abusive neglect in this part of the country to last me longer than I could ever want. I don't care if it brings a lot of money to my state and those that border it; I hate hunting, and I hate the fact that it's become (hell.. it always has been, I guess) just another father-son picnic.
When you've lived with other animals your whole life like I have, you'd have to be blind to not be able to see them as admirable, thinking beings (oftentimes more so than humans). I seriously think every culture of humanity over the course of all history has seriously underestimated (or just plain hasn't understood) the intelligence animals possess. That doesn't mean everyone has to love them all and share their homes with them (I know from experience it's a pain in the ass), but when I see someone who (and this is a true story) lets the family dog die of heatstroke and lack of water because she 'just doesn't like animals', it becomes a touchy subject for me. Picking on animals, to me, is just as bad as picking on the retarded. Probably worse.
But that doesn't have anything to do with this thread's topic, anyway. I love animals, I guess is what I'm saying.
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