Top 20+ Parents Who Said No to Pets, but Ended Up Loving Them

As kids, we’ve all begged for a pet, but most parents say “no” due to the responsibility. However, there are those rare moments when a parent caves—and ends up completely smitten with the new furry family member. Here's proof!

20. Look at Her Smug Smile

It takes a strong person to admit their mistakes, and Heath here was big enough to do just that. He came clean on Twitter, saying that he was the only one in his family who didn’t want a dog. Needless to say, he was completely won over after the family brought this puppy home. Now Heath is one of her biggest fans.

19. Happy Birthday to the Dad Who Didn’t Want a Dog

Emily couldn’t resist getting this passive-aggressive jab at her dad when she wished him a happy birthday. Her father is definitely spending his special day peacefully, chilling out in his favorite armchair and reading off his tablet while the family dog is by his side! This Tweet proclaims that he “didn’t really” want to get another dog, but that extra pup ended up becoming his best friend!

17. The Best Selfie Buddy

This dad was pretty firm in letting his family know he didn’t want a dog. It seems he was relentless when it came to driving the message home because he kept it up for months! However, as is the case with most of these stories, a dog ended up becoming part of the family anyway. Now, dad is the one taking selfies with the pupper!

16. Can’t Help Loving This Dog

Hannah wanted to share a story of her dad and her dog. Apparently, this scenario is a lot more common than you’d think. There’s a reason why dogs are called “man’s best friend”, and it’s weird that more dads don’t wise up to what amazing pets they make. This adorable golden retriever looks like a fully-fledged member of the family.

14. The Royal Treatment

People love to pamper their pets, whether they knit them fuzzy sweaters or buy them the finest kitty litter. But this father took things to the next level, despite his original statement of not wanting a cat. This cat is getting the best treatment any pet could hope for, a personal umbrella holder in rain or shine, plus a custom made sandpit and paddling pool!

13. A Drastic Change Of Heart

When it came to adopting a cat, this dad’s decision was pretty clear. He was not interested. Maybe he wasn’t a big fan of felines, or perhaps he just wasn’t keen on having a furry animal in the house. But it seems like his hard exterior finally cracked when he agreed to adopt Lucas. Not only did he allow his kids to bring home a pet, but he soon became the cat’s biggest fan!

11. No Regrets Here

When parents give their kids permission to bring home a pet it’s not always done with enthusiasm. During the early days, it’s common for mom or dad to get a little grumpy. They might glare at the new furball or complain that it was a bad idea to bring them into the house. But eventually, they’ll end up falling head over heels in love with them, they just can’t help it!

10. “We’re Never Getting A Cat”

Some parents try to be firm in their decisions of not getting a pet. This mom stated that the family was “never” getting a cat, but as the saying goes, “never say never”! She might’ve thought that her word was final and that she’d never go back on it, but she was dead wrong. Not only did the family end up getting this little grey furball, but he became an important part of mom’s life.

8. Can’t Bring The Dog In

Suzanne had fallen into unfortunate circumstances and needed to move back in with her parents. Her folks were on board with her coming back home, but her dad said she wouldn’t be able to bring her dog Riley along with her. But since that statement much has changed, now Riley is a resident of their home! And that’s not all, it looks like Riley was dad’s number one buddy while he was going through surgery.

7. Getting a Pet Anyway

It’s a tale as old as time. No, we’re not talking about beauty and the beast, we’re talking about dad and the dog he “didn’t want”. It’s a pretty simple story that this Twitter user summed up, along with a photo for evidence. Dad will rant from morning until night about how he doesn’t want a dog, how they will never have a dog in the house.

5. The Dog I Didn’t Want

Someone in the family brought home this gorgeous black doggo, but dad insisted that he didn’t want him. Eventually, the dog was given the name Mustang, and you know when you name them it means they’re here to stay. But eventually, dad started to warm up to the idea of Mustang being a part of the family. He’s even gone so far as to take selfies of him for his Twitter account!

4. A Bond Like No Other

Once your dog has formed a bond with a family member there’s no undoing it. Even if you’re the one who wanted to adopt the fuzzball, he just might end up growing more attached to your mom or dad! This adorable puppy seems to have turned dad into his BFF, he can’t stand to spend a second away from him.

2. Best Pals For 15 Years

Parents don’t always approve of having animals in the house, after all, it’s a huge responsibility to take on. Kids are usually the reason why these cute critters are adopted in the first place. But at the end of the day, the entire family can’t help but get attached to them, even the parents who might’ve disapproved of the idea at first. This proud father can’t keep his attention away from the family’s new dog, even though he was initially on the fence about the decision.