'Pets are NOT children!' Oprah Winfrey prompts outrage on social media with Mother's Day post implying the holiday is for parents of 'fur children' as well

Oprah Winfrey has angered some of her followers with a Mother’s Day post celebrating parents of ‘fur children’ – i.e. pet owners.

The talk show icon shared a photo of herself next to a woman named Jill, who was walking her dogs in a stroller when she posed for the snap, over the weekend.

Next to the picture, Oprah wrote a few words implying that several kinds of mothers – not just parents of human babies – could be honored on Mother’s Day.

How it all began: The talk show icon shared a photo of herself next to a woman named Jill, who was walking her dogs in a stroller when she posed for the snap, over the weekend

‘Happy Mothers day to Mothers of all varieties of children!’ the 63-year-old host wrote.

While her caption was probably meant to inspire loving feelings among her fans, some were outraged at the idea that some could equate pet ownership with parenthood.

‘No. I’m sorry. Owning a pet doesn’t compare to raising human children,’ one person wrote in a comment. Someone else added: ‘No. Pets don’t count sorry.’

Another follower urged Oprah to reflect on the meaning of Mother’s Day, writing: ‘I respect where you’re coming from and everything here Oprah but come on. The origin of this holiday is not for people and their freaking animals lol.

‘It’s for women who work hard every day and night, to mold their kids (bio or not) into great adults. It’s a tough job and shouldn’t be undermined so the poor pet owners don’t get their feelings hurt lol. Come on girl, respect!!’

Others, however, agreed with Opra’s sentiment. One woman explained that she is unable to have children and has found solace in owning pets.

‘Many people judge and say I don’t know what it’s like to have children,’ she wrote. ‘It’s true but on the other hand they don’t know what it’s like to not be able to have children. My fur babies are my kids!’

Homage: Next to the picture, Oprah wrote a few words implying that several kinds of mothers – not just parents of human babies – could be honored on Mother’s Day

Reaction: While the caption was probably meant to inspire loving feelings among her fans, some were outraged at the idea that some could equate pet ownership with parenthood

Opinion: Others, however, agreed with Opra’s sentiment. One woman explained that she is unable to have children and has found solace in owning pets

Oprah has previously opened up about her own feelings about motherhood, and the heartbreaking experience of losing a son, Canaan, who was prematurely born when the host was just 14.

The star has also revealed she doesn’t regret not having had children with her longtime boyfriend Stedman Graham, because she believes she would not have been a ‘good mom’.

Instead, she founded the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, a boarding school in South Africa that houses 172 girls, in 2007 – and revealed it made her feel as if she had children of her own.

‘Love knows no boundaries. It doesn’t matter if a child came from your womb or if you found that person at age two, 10 or 20. If the love is real, the caring is pure and it comes from a good space, it works,’ she told Good Housekeeping.

The star also drew another comparison between parenting and having pets, this time saying she’d had the patience to raise puppies – but not babies.

‘For me it was perfect, because I didn’t want babies,’ she said of opening the school. ‘I wouldn’t have been a good mom for babies. I don’t have the patience. I have the patience for puppies, but that’s a quick stage! But this is so rewarding.’