I read so many touching stories about pets and their owners that sometimes I wished I like pets, but I'm quite OCD over cleanliness and feel it's really weird to cuddle a living and moving object that isn't a human being.
Did you read the news this week about the dog who stayed with his owner for 10 days who died hiking in America? That was so sad but so moving.
I know a few people like that, can't abide the thought of pet hair or whatever, I get it, and there's others who are allergic to cats or pet hair and so on. All understandable.
For me, I couldn't imagine my life without my cats (have only one currently) and they bring an amazing amount of happiness into my life; more than most people to be honest. Of course, it is additional work, keeping the house in order as I also have a need to have an immaculate house...but it's worth it for me, the benefit outweighs the loss in time.
People have the right to choose I guess, and there's no right or wrong to it, there is just the individual's way.