A couple has shared their choice to not have children in favour of choosing to raise dogs instead.
Welsh actor and skincare influencer Scott McGlynn lives with his partner Justin in Cardiff, Wales, and the dog-obsessed pair have five pets together.
They welcomed their first puppy within five months of meeting, and have given every dog a sentimental name to mark a different milestone in their relationship.
Due to work commitments and a busy household, Scott and Justin have made the decision to stick with furry children - and "wouldn't have it any other way".
“We couldn’t have a child right now and it’s not on our cards, but that’s okay,” Scott said.
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Scott met Justin online 10 years ago, and they instantly spoke about getting a pet together.
“Justin is a dog groomer and lives and breathes dogs, and I’ve always wanted one,” he explained.
The pair named their first dog, a chihuahua toy poodle cross, after their first date.
“She is called Belle after Bellini’s restaurant. I remember it was a really lovely night,” Scott said.
When they got engaged a couple of years later, they saved the money they’d been given as gifts and spent it on a second dog.
Shih Tzu Cleo was named after their first car, a Renault Clio, to mark a “very proud moment”.
The duo have spent the last decade building their dog family, and have made the decision not to have children.
It follows Pope Francis's comments that couples who prefer pets to children are selfish - which sparked a furious backlash.
The leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics previously claimed that substituting pets for children “takes away our humanity” - leaving people baffled at his tone-deaf remarks.
“Our dogs are our absolute lives,” Scott said.
“We’ve spoken about having kids and both decided that they just aren’t part of our plan.
“We are very career-driven and I go away a lot with my job. Five dogs keep us very busy. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Scott loves returning home to his wonderful family of furry friends, and enjoys being greeted at the door with jumping paws.
“We like spending our Sundays on long walks with all the dogs,” he said.
As well as Belle and Cleo, the pup-obsessed couple have Faith, Bridget and Buffy.
Seven-year-old standard poodle Faith got her name from their favourite phrase “keep the faith”.
And two-year-old toy poodle Bridget is named after their most-loved films, Bridget Jones and The Girls Next Door.
The pair almost stopped at four dogs, but decided on a fifth when a rare pure white poodle came up.
“Buffy is our baby and she’s named after my favourite TV show, Buffy the Vampire,” Scott said.
Scott says Buffy the Vampire “taught him everything about gay relationships, being sassy and not letting things bother him”.
“Buffy is just like that!” he added.
All five dogs get on really well, and look picture-perfect with their black and white coats.
“I would never say never to a sixth dog,” Scott said.
“Especially a red toy poodle to mix up the colour scheme.”
Scott loves nothing more than having a “cwtsh every morning and evening” with his dogs on the sofa, and says Buffy is a “crazy puppy” but they’re “enjoying every moment”.
“We love a walk and a power nap. It’s the best of both worlds,” he finished.
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