I know why people sometimes treat their pets better than their kids - it's because the pets give UNCONDITIONAL love, unlike the kids, who are after everything they can get and don't care how they get it.
When I take my dogs for a walk, I always take plastic bags with me to pick up any poo that they might do, so you can't say all pet owners are the same. I think any pet owner that doesn't pick up their pets poo should be fined.
I don't like cats. They are allowed to come in my garden and do whatever, but if my dogs went into the cats garden, the owners would certainly complain. I think cats should be contained in their own garden, either by fencing they can't climb or put them on a long leash!
I don't know where you live, but I don't have a problem with either my dogs barking in the night or any of my neighbours.
I do understand why people PREFER pets to kids, because kids can be just so out of control, awful and nasty. Give me a dog any day!