Pope calls out 'selfish' pet parents who choose not to have children - and dog owners aren't happy

On Wednesday, Pope Francis labelled those who choose pets over children as ‘selfish’, claiming it 'takes away our humanity.'

No matter your religious leanings, if you’re a dog parent, the Pope probably had your hackles up yesterday.

On Wednesday, Pope Francis spoke to a general audience and veered into the topic of owning pets instead of children, calling it a selfish act. And passionate dog owners were left growling.

The Pope went as far as to say replacing kids for pets “takes away our humanity.”

"We see that people do not want to have children,” said Pope Francis. “And many, many couples do not have children because they do not want to, or they have just one -- but they have two dogs, two cats. Yes, dogs and cats take the place of children."

"Yes, it's funny, I understand, but it is the reality,” the Pope continued. “And this denial of fatherhood or motherhood diminishes us, it takes away our humanity. And our homeland suffers, as it does not have children."

His comments not only riled dog lovers, it raised the ire of people who can’t have children, or choose not not for personal or financial reasons.

Whatever the case, puppy parents took to Twitter in amazement, adding angry and often humorous reactions.

“Interesting words from the Pope, who has apparently forgotten he has himself deliberately chosen not to have children,” tweeted @LeoMontague91.

@foxoverhedgehog shot back with a cart full of cute.

It was also pointed out by many that Pope Francis has had his photo taken with many dogs and other pets over the years.

Vancouver dog mom Kim Lindsey, who recently spoke with OhMyDog! on the topic of choosing pups over children, says “I choose to have Tucker in my life instead of kids because with Tucker, I find myself having patience that I do not have for humans or myself.”

“He does bring out a Mother instinct in me, but I found I've never felt that with kids. I do love him like my child and he has always complimented my lifestyle.”

This is not the first time Pope Francis has put down pet parenting. In 2014, he told an Italian journalist that opting for pets over having children was “another phenomenon of cultural degradation.”