I have this conversation often enough at work because I always ask customers if htey have pets (because we're selling furniture, its important so I can direct people to fabric that will be pet friendly) Anyway, I often get people who scrunch up their noses and tell me pets are icky. I love to then shock them by telling them how many cats I have (yes I have an evil streak )

They way I explain it is that I have cats to make up for those who don't like them, and how I can't imagine life without a pet. That usually shuts them up. And if they continue to speak poorly of pets, I tell them thats why there's chocolate and vanilla --- different flavors for different tastes. My taste runs to having a houseful of pets while theirs runs to none. Its doesn't mean either of us is wrong, it just means we have different ways of living.