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I think pet ownership is somewhat cruel

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Pet owners have their own perspective on the situation that is different from that of an outside observer. My brother told me how important his relationship is with his dog. I see this smelly ugly little creature who either regards me with a stupid passive interest or else barks at me.
 
Originally posted by: alkemyst
A couple problems...

1) there is a major surplus of 'pets'...'being owned' is a lot better than dying.

2) pets don't think like people, they don't need as high a level of stimulation to be happy.

3) Dogs are pack animals, if they can't be alpha; the long to serve the alpha. A solidary dog is a sad one.



In reality, sure pets would probably be happier without boundaries and rules. So would people though.

Much like your toddler than thinks they should be able to go roam the neighborhood at night, so does your pet...they may balk at first but eventually they learn the rules.


We walk our cats on a harness around our property.
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That IS cruel IMO.
 
You gibblet head, owning pets is not cruel. Most animals would be dead, or living on the streets if they weren't living with humans. My rats could have been snake food if I hadn't taken them home. They are much better off with me than in an aquarium tank at the pet store, or in a snake's tank, or as wild rodents in the dumpster.
 
Originally posted by: alkemyst
A couple problems...

1) there is a major surplus of 'pets'...'being owned' is a lot better than dying.

2) pets don't think like people, they don't need as high a level of stimulation to be happy.

3) Dogs are pack animals, if they can't be alpha; the long to serve the alpha. A solidary dog is a sad one.



In reality, sure pets would probably be happier without boundaries and rules. So would people though.

Much like your toddler than thinks they should be able to go roam the neighborhood at night, so does your pet...they may balk at first but eventually they learn the rules.


We walk our cats on a harness around our property.
Click to expand...

the more you post the more your stupid starts to show

 
Originally posted by: Bateluer
You gibblet head, owning pets is not cruel. Most animals would be dead, or living on the streets if they weren't living with humans. My rats could have been snake food if I hadn't taken them home. They are much better off with me than in an aquarium tank at the pet store, or in a snake's tank, or as wild rodents in the dumpster.
Click to expand...
:laugh: :beer:

you had me at "gibblet head".
 
Originally posted by: MovingTarget
I don't think so. It is only cruel when they are mistreated/neglected/abused. Dogs' existence in a large part depends on humans. It is a natural, mutually beneficial relationship both physically and psychologically. Before modern times (and in some cases still), dogs offer us companionship, protection, and assistance (hunting, tracking, etc.). We offer the same to them. Dogs (as opposed from wolves) mostly require a human-based food supply.

Dogs give us their all, and all they ask in return is our time and attention.
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I agree. I watched a tv show once about how the first dogs were domesticated and turned into pets. They filled an ecological niche created by following early humans around.
 
Originally posted by: eilute

Dog ownership especially. It's like having a psychological leash around somebody all the time. The only thing I can compare it too is slavery. Does anybody agree with me?
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No. Nobody agrees with you.
 
Originally posted by: cwjerome
Originally posted by: eilute
Dog ownership especially. It's like having a psychological leash around somebody all the time. The only thing I can compare it too is slavery. Does anybody agree with me?
Click to expand...

You know we all live in a comfy society when people starting worrying about this crap.

Move to OT plz
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No, we lived in a fucked up society when people put more time and effort into making sure animals are treated right and aren't homeless, but we still have kids in this country that go to bed hungry or are molested or molested while hungry.

 
My dog eats cat shit and my cat sits on the toilet and stares intently at the toilet tank.

Pets are weird, but we love them anyway.

Who has that quote in their sig about dogs being unconditional love or something like that?
 
Originally posted by: eilute
Dog ownership especially. It's like having a psychological leash around somebody all the time. The only thing I can compare it too is slavery. Does anybody agree with me?
Click to expand...

It's a fucking dog...not a child. Domesticated dogs would not survive in the wild anyway so I don't know what you propose we do with the millions of domesticated dogs on the planet. I guess we could just kill them off humanely.

What are your thoughts?
 
Originally posted by: Anubis
Originally posted by: alkemyst
A couple problems...

1) there is a major surplus of 'pets'...'being owned' is a lot better than dying.

2) pets don't think like people, they don't need as high a level of stimulation to be happy.

3) Dogs are pack animals, if they can't be alpha; the long to serve the alpha. A solidary dog is a sad one.



In reality, sure pets would probably be happier without boundaries and rules. So would people though.

Much like your toddler than thinks they should be able to go roam the neighborhood at night, so does your pet...they may balk at first but eventually they learn the rules.


We walk our cats on a harness around our property.
Click to expand...

the more you post the more your stupid starts to show
Click to expand...

Wait, what is wrong with that?

I have two cats, one is a siamese we got from a siamese rescue.

The other is a bengal who's owner was a breeder, and her grand-dad was a show cat. She was used to being pushed around town in a kitty cart, and going for rides. She's one of the smartest cats I've ever owned and sometimes she'll bring me her leash, wanting a ride in the car.

I couldn't really afford a cat like that, and money doesn't buy happiness, so I just wanted a good cat, but after meeting her I knew she was going to be a part of the family! Tthe lady that owned her was so nice, and she just wanted to give the girl a good home that she practically gave her to me, I just had to drive 15 hours to pick her up.

She mainly got rid of her because the cat really did not enjoy having kittens, and she didn't want to use her to breed any more kitties. Plus she said bengals have unpredictable traits.

I only take her for a ride every once in a while though, she likes to lay in my rear windshield. =D
 
Originally posted by: eilute
Dog ownership especially. It's like having a psychological leash around somebody all the time. The only thing I can compare it too is slavery. Does anybody agree with me?

This would not appear to be either politics or news, so off to OT it goes.

Rainsford
AnandTech P&N Moderator
Click to expand...

Dogs have different social structure than people, they don't expect to be free to do whatever they want, they are quite happy having a pack leader tell them what to do and where to go. Its when people don't live up to that role (treating the dog like a person, etc) that the dog gets uncomfortable and tries to take over the leaderless pack.

Cats let us live because we provide them free food and and clean out their litter box regularly.

 
Originally posted by: Anubis
Originally posted by: alkemyst
A couple problems...

1) there is a major surplus of 'pets'...'being owned' is a lot better than dying.

2) pets don't think like people, they don't need as high a level of stimulation to be happy.

3) Dogs are pack animals, if they can't be alpha; the long to serve the alpha. A solidary dog is a sad one.



In reality, sure pets would probably be happier without boundaries and rules. So would people though.

Much like your toddler than thinks they should be able to go roam the neighborhood at night, so does your pet...they may balk at first but eventually they learn the rules.


We walk our cats on a harness around our property.
Click to expand...

the more you post the more your stupid starts to show
Click to expand...

eh? What he does is far better than most cat owners who let their pets wander around freely to get run over by cars, antagonize dogs being walked and dig up people's gardens?
 
only in instances where dogs are caged half the day or animals in extreme confinements (people who get a dog and leave it kenneled for 10 hours 5 days a week, give me a break) also goldfish etc in small bowls.
 
Cats live much longer in captivity. And my cats are never more happy than when they're with me (and my wife). I think they're better off being pets.
 
Originally posted by: halfpower
Originally posted by: Pandaren
What if the pet chooses the human?

Someone I know wanted a cat. She went to the local animal shelter to meet some cats. One cat latched onto her and would not let go, so she ended up taking that one home. The cat seems very content.

Is that cruel? I dunno.

Edit: I would say pet ownership is cruel only if the animal is mistreated or does not want to live with humans.
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I think in the situation, the cat does not have sufficient intelligence to consent to the ownership.
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Thus lacking sufficient intelligence to comprehend the concepts of slavery or freedom. It just is.
 
when the dog gets loose, does he come home on his own accord?
that indicates consent to me.

plus we are talking about animals. they are not equal to man and never will be.
 
I'm sure if my dog had the choice (and ability to make it) between being free (wild), going to the pound (and getting killed) or staying at my house as a pet. i can guarantee that he will choose to live with me.
 
Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Originally posted by: cwjerome
Originally posted by: eilute
Dog ownership especially. It's like having a psychological leash around somebody all the time. The only thing I can compare it too is slavery. Does anybody agree with me?
Click to expand...

You know we all live in a comfy society when people starting worrying about this crap.

Move to OT plz
Click to expand...

No, we lived in a fucked up society when people put more time and effort into making sure animals are treated right and aren't homeless, but we still have kids in this country that go to bed hungry or are molested or molested while hungry.
Click to expand...

And there are people that care about both. And there are people that don't care about either. Good or bad, not everyone can fight every fight. Some pick and choose based on a number of personal factors.
 
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