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Pet ownership. Do you ever think about how arrogant it is of us to breed and enslave another species for our own personal enjoyment? We keep them locked up, behind fences, on leashes. We dictate what they eat, where they go, with whom they interact. We strip them from their mothers and siblings as infants to be raised as our own companion and servant. I make this observation as someone who has a dog (dachshund) and whose partner has two cats.

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34 comments

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3

Yes. I doubt the morality of it.

But as long as there are animals in shelters, I will support the adoption of those into loving homes.

0

Did you ever think about how much fun dogs who roam the streets, homeless, have? You sir are a Fool!

@Jlangston70 dear, dear jlangston: responding in kind to your accusation of arrogance and slavery is IMO the Only response you deserve. You Are a Fool, and your dog would be the first to tell you so!

@Jlangston70 i have no nerves left, yhankyuvurrymuch.

@Jlangston70 right back atcha!

0

No, it's true. all our crops are genetically engineered to suit us and the animals we eat and the ones we race and bet on for fun. we are a self-serving destructive creature that does barely anything to help nature, in fact far from it.

for sure, we have no benefit to nature at all.

0

Dogs give unconditional love I think all pets do that
in a way they comand us around if you notice we pick up thier poop when they have done, we give them water so that they do not get thirsty and we give them food on time so they do get hungry and we take them for walks and thanks to them we make more friend in the park then if you go out for a walk on our own.

Rosh Level 7 Apr 13, 2018
0

I love my pets. Sorry to disagree with you.

0

You could say the same of children.

I like to think that my cats lead a better life than they would in the wild.

1

I evidently hoard/adopt cats ( 6 ). I also have 2 dogs (Husky and a hound.) They're family. My cats weren't stripped from anything, They were rescued from a crappy life in a cage at a no kill shelter. Now they all have a reliable food source, a safe house to call their own, acres to raom and rubs, pats, cuddles, toys, treats, etc., whenever they want. The hound dog was also a rescue. His future before I adopted him was a death sentence. He now has regular food, gets petted and played with every day, sleeps on a big ole bed, or anywhere else he wants. He's friends with all the cats... ok, there is that 'one," goes to Day Care once a week and plays with a dozen other dogs all day long. Has a kick @$$ Siberian Husky for a "sister" who plays with him all day long. Enslaved.... no way. At least, not them. I'm more of a slave to their whims at times. I love all my critters. They are my family.

2

In fact, the opposite is true. Humans didn’t domesticate dogs and cats. They domesticated themselves—and us.

[news.nationalgeographic.com]

[news.nationalgeographic.com]

0

I can see your point. How did we ever come up with such a strange arrangement?! But I have to say that I am glad we did, because I will take the company of my cats over most human beings any day.

2

My pomeranian wouldn't survive if I didn't tell him what to do. Anyone who owns cats knows they own you. I don't think of it as arrogance. It's a partnership

1

NO. Fences and leashes are for our pets well being, safety, both for them and others.
I own two purpose bred dogs, one a rescue, probably my last rescue, and a well bred one from a breeder of the highest ethic. I searched long and hard for him. He had plenty of time with his mother, we didn't pick him up until he was 14 weeks old.
Funny story I'll never forget. For the first time in my life I witnessed a family reuinion with his dam & siblings at a year old during a breed national convention. They all remembered each other. After a cordial Hello from Mom she was done with my boy, snarled as if to say "I remember you you little shit GTF away from me"... LOL

Dachshunds are purpose bred dogs, meant to be vermin control and companions.

My breed is one of the few created specifically to be a personal dog and protector.

And btw, even wild animals sometimes have companion animals of other species. There's nothing weird about it. I don't know what I'd do without mine. I love doting on them. They sleep with us. When they're doing well I'm happy.
Now is that to say that everyone who has one should own a pet? No. There are no shortage of people who shouldn't have so much as a pet rock. Furthermore I feel sorry for kids who aren't allowed to have pets and aren't taught good animal husbandry. There always seems to be something off about them. Case in point my MIL. She shouldn't be around anything living, period.

2

No. You're going full PETA with this argument.

1

In our house we have cats. We dotn' enslave them, but they tned to try to enslave us.

2

My dog, a rescue, and I are in a beneficial partnership for both of us. I supply him with proper nutrition, good health and love. He in return gives me love, emotional support, a friendly face to come home to and the Best darn tootin' alarm system in the world.
I am not his 'master', I am his human.

@Jlangston70 Have you ever considered that mills & the one off back yard breeder depends on this mentality when they dump dogs at shelters? Vs an ethical breeder who will screen a home first and won't just let anyone with cash in hand walk away with an animal?
Someone who backs their animals should anything happen to you that they never see the inside of a shelter?

@Qualia I don't understand what you are trying to convey, please explain

@buzz13 has the best answer on the page!

2

Yeah... my cats totally got a rough life. If only I could trade places for a few days.

@Jlangston70 the 50 dollar a bag food, expensive litter, meat scraps, spinach, cooked eggs, canned food, bottled water... they live better and eat better than most people. If one of them ever did complain.... haha

1

If you mean that it would have been better for humans to have left wild animals alone and never try to domesticate them, I agree.

These domesticated breeds couldn't survive in the wild, and feral dogs tend to form packs and attack livestock. We literally breed animals to be our companions, and the original wolf ancestors made their own decisions to trade freedom for free food.

Here in Thailand they have wild Thai Dingos that live amoung people are semi-tame, and fed by Thai people, but have no masters and breed and fight at will. I have my favorites, and they are excellent hunters.

Once they start seeing me around they tend to start following me at a short distance, pretending they're with me, and even drive game (wild birds) toward me to kill. I only take photos of the birds, but appreciate their help in flushing them from deep cover. I respect the dogs and never try to touch them.

2

If it wasn't for humans and us breeding them they would have never existed in the first place. I don't think there is anything wrong with having cats or dogs. Pet birds on the other hand is a different story. People love their beauty and how graceful they are so they buy one take it home and throw it in a cage and clip their wings so they can't fly.

I personally love birds. I would love to own a parrot. Birds are not domesticated animals. Birds also require constant companionship and interaction. Very few people would be able to satisfy those requirements. Most responsible bird owners will agree they are not the ideal pet for the majority of pet Seekers

My Sweetie doesn't have clipped wings and she's never caged. She picked me, not the other way around. She's not what I'd call a pet, she's more like a small person with feathers, who I love very much.

@JimGreenamyer I didn't mean to make it sound like I thought everyone that owns a bird treats them that way but I do think a lot of people that buy birds do clip their wings and put them in a cage for most of the time.

2

Do these two look like enslaved animals? Not sure where you have reached such a conclusion.

0

When I retired and moved here , my plan for myself included , "No more pets." A female cat moved onto my side porch and had a litter of 6 kittens , before I discovered her . Approximately 6 weeks later , she was murdered . I had seen that at least one of the kittens had been eating some of the food I set out for Momma cat , so set out more and water and the little ones survived . I did not breed these , I did not enslave them . In fact , I think it was the other way around .

0

I have thought about that, but, I also think that my cat and dog would not survive without me. the horses would do ok. They are gypsy cobs, so are easy keepers, can live on anything and stand extremes of weather. My other horse is a gypsy/fjord cross and is also very hardy. My cat would definitely not make it. She is a tiny, little cornish rex, and has very little hair, so would freeze to death in the cold weather. My dog is a Cane Corso, and might be ok for a while, but I don't know how she would do in a hard winter. I also feel like we have a symbiotic relationship. I give them the best food, the best vet care, love and adoration, warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and they give me love, cuddles with my cat, protection of my home from my dog, and my horses let me ride them, and can pull carts or sleighs.

3

I think on this often. I am against breeding for pets. All of my animals are rescues.
We currently have a dog and cat, both over 10. Yard is secure for both, Kat has a secure outdoor area via a cat flap. To be honest, I think they have a better life in some ways than I do.

@Jlangston70 That's what my son plans to do. He was in Amsterdam a few months back and went to the cat boat. I immediately was inundated with photos and his plans.
[depoezenboot.nl]

Mine have it made!

2

No. I have never had an unhappy pet

3

Not me. I'm a dedicated servant to my two cats. They live a pampered life.

Deb57 Level 8 Apr 14, 2018

My 2 cats rule the roost here!

Yep, guess that's what I am for my 3 dogs... dedicated servant!

2

Interesting comment that I will think more on. But humans are animals too and I love that just as animals bring joy to us, we can bring joy to them. I watched a youtube clip about dog personalities. They were trained to sit still in an MRI. When their owner walked up to them, the parts of the brain that release dopamine (the feel good hormone) lit up in the brain. This was evidence that they felt joy to see their owner.

When I come home I get celebration and love! Barking, tail wagging love.

3

When I die, I want to come back as one of my pets. They live the life!

My thoughts exactly!

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