never mind!

I don't think I would have a hard time liking or respecting someone if they didn't like animals.  Everyone has their own likes/dislikes, and if the person is genuinely a nice person, why not?  Some of my friends don't particularly like animals, and they are really nice, great people. 

If someone was abusive to animals, that is different, I couldn't associate myself with someone who would abuse or hurt animals.

But just not liking them?  No, that to me isn't something that I would characterize someone and not make me like/respect them.

I understand how stressful moving can be and why you're upset about your MIL's feelings but It's just one night.   My advice, not that you asked, is to not make this a big deal. People who don't like animals and don't allow them in the house are entitled to their feelings, IMO.  Your stress over the whole thing will be more upsetting to your dog than spending one night in the garage.  Put her in a crate if you're worried about her getting into something dangerous stored in the garage.

"What do you think it says about someone when they don't like animals?"

I think it is a pretty broad assumption to judge someone on their 'love' of animals. Personally I have met many individuals who love animals yet have very little respect for others.

I am just going to address the subject in your title, and leave the rest alone.

I would think...the best way to get to know someone and see if you get along is to leave your predjudices, presumtions, and assumptions, at the door and get to know them. Too much prejudging in this world...IMO...gives people the idea that going in, they "know" someone when it couldn't be farther from the truth in MOST cases.

I agree with Jackie.

I don't understand people not liking animals, but I am sure others don't understand me not liking "fill in the blank".  Live and let live.  You can manage for one night.

rwbeagles

I am just going to address the subject in your title, and leave the rest alone.

I would think...the best way to get to know someone and see if you get along is to leave your predjudices, presumtions, and assumptions, at the door and get to know them. Too much prejudging in this world...IMO...gives people the idea that going in, they "know" someone when it couldn't be farther from the truth in MOST cases.

Same thing I would think about a person that doesn't like children...

What I mean is, what their personal likes/dislikes doesn't impact how I feel about a person unless those likes/dislikes go against a moral issue (i.e. drugs, violence, abuse, etc.).

I have friends that don't really like animals and I have friends that don't like kids, I don't think any differently about them. 

To me there's a huge difference between not caring to have animals as pets (or being indifferent about them) and disliking them to the point where cruelty and neglect doesn't matter.  I know plenty of people who will never own a dog but would not hit one with their car and drive off.

Very few people, including my own husband, "like" dogs the way I do.  I never had dogs or cats growing up.  Both my parents like or tolerate *some* dogs, but not enough to ever have one.  My brother and sister like dogs, but neither have one.  None of my best friends have dogs.  When I invite people over I can keep my dogs crated, in the van, or outside.  Some of them like this dog or that dog so I will bring a dog in with us after a while if they want.  If people drop in unexpectedly, I don't do anything with my dogs and don't feel I should have to, but if I invite people over and know they don't care for dogs then out of respect my dogs will stay out of the way.

Even in my own home, the GSDs are MY dogs.  I refer to them (even when talking to DH) as "my dogs".  It's not that he doesn't like them or won't help me keep their basic needs met, but dogs are my thing, not his.  If we weren't together, he probably wouldn't have a pet.  Similarly, I don't play computer games or fantasy baseball or indoor soccer, but I don't see any reason why DH shouldn't.  We are both encouraging and respectful of each others' hobbies.  I can't live without dogs, DH can't live without sports, and it's not a problem for either of us.

I guess it doesn't really bother me at all if some people don't care to have pets.  Honestly, most pets I don't want either.  I don't want ferrets and the only small animal I care to own are guinea pigs.  99% of dog breeds I will never own and don't care to.  Most dogs I meet on the street I have absolutely no interest in owning or even petting!

I'm very used to people saying they dislike or being indifferent toward my dogs probably because they are GSDs.  Even among people who like dogs, there are a good many who will admit to being afraid of GSDs (my mother-in-law for example).  I also set a higher standard for my dogs because of their breed and how they are perceived.  I try to give people the benefit of the doubt.  When I was 3 I was bit in the face by my uncle's GSD.  I guess it left no lasting impression on me but other people have had similar experiences with ill-tempered dogs and I am not about to force them into interacting with my dogs to try to prove a point.

Some people don't like kids, but that doesn't make them bad people.  I have a hard time understanding a dislike of animals too, but having said that, I'll admit to not being particularly fond of cats.  I'm sure cat people would think that's weird. 

Joyce

I don't think anything about it.  I respect their wishes and keep my dogs away from them.  Last year when I lived bac home and my grandma came tovisit, the dogs were put either outside or in the garage, as she clearly does NOT like pets in the house or in her space. That's ok because I love her anyway :)

At my mom's house, my dogs are kept crated in the garage (heated, so clean you could eat off the floor) because my mom has 6 large parrots who are afraid of dogs.  Fine by me. My dogs are very happy in their crates, so no problem there either.

 It's just one of those things.  Even though I have human kids of my own, I don't necessarily care for other kids, babies are far more appealing to me than toddlers though LOL.

Now if the person is deliberately mean to animals, well then we have a problem!

lisa4kids1pup

Meanwhile, their dog has come to our house countless times and rubbed her butt all over my carpets and pooped on the floor.

This ^ may be exactly why those people say they "don't like animals"...

which can mean "I don't like LIVING WITH an animal... because I don't know how to deal with problems, and honestly, I don't feel like dealing with problems..."  Dogs can be a hassle.  Any animal is a responsibility and therefore I can understand why some people "don't like" those kinds of responsibilities.

What I find MUCH more often are people who own dogs who say "I hate kids".... I find owning dogs to be not completely dissimilar to taking care of children in the sense of it being a big responsibility, showing another living being how to live within the lifestyle you have chosen, teaching proper behavior, addressing medical care and expenses, the total dependancy on you to provide food/shelter/care/love, etc.  So it trips me out how many people say "I hate kids" when they own dogs.  It makes me wonder what their relationships are like with their dogs... But then again, it may just be the difference between your OWN dogs/kids/pets and dealing with someone else's!

While I don't understand it, I don't try to change their opinions. There is a difference between people who just don't like pets or animals and a person who is cruel to them or their owners.

I get kind of irritated with my family at times because they're not as accomodating as my in-laws are with the dogs. At our inlaws the dogs are always welcome inside and they look forward to seeing them. My parents don't really pay much attention to the dogs and they wouldn't be welcome inside if we were having a get together. They do however gush over babies in the family and it does irritate me that these are my babies and they don't get as excited about them as I would hope. But I understand they just don't understand the love of dogs.

I'd just explain to your MIL that you'll be staying elsewhere if your dog can't be inside, she shouldn't take offense to that. I personally wouldn't be leaving any of my dogs out in a garage, crate or not. My dogs are part of the family and they go where I go. If they can't, we make other arrangements. So, I can understand where you'd be upset, I've been there too. Good luck