i know exactly what you are saying...i used to be the person who sneered and made fun of people like us (not in a mean way but you KWIM) as well
but now that i have my furkids, i completely understand everything now
there was this episode of friends (where the girls are playing the boys in a trivia game to see which team knows more about the other team) and monica ends up wagering - and losing - the apartment....well i always remembered one of the questions...something along the lines of, "what is monicas biggest pet peeve?" ... and i think chandler shouts out, "animals dressed as people!" ... i remember that because i always thought the same thing!
and now my kids have more clothes than my fiancé
oooh and i was one of those people who would tell pet crazy people, "that is just a dog (or cat), you know - not a person" ... ashamed to admit it but it is true lol