![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Blanket Statement On Pet Ownership
Apr. 14th, 2011 05:57 pmI don't think animals are equal to or as important as, people. I do think they are living creatures that deserve respect, and care, and should never be abused. I think it's worthwhile to research optimal care for your pets/potential pets, and do the best you can, which is why for instance my rabbits had free range of a room with litter training, were fixed even though it was a $300-in-procedures-for-$40-in-animals situation, and ate primarily hay rather than pellets. However...I don't think people who keep rabbits outside in wire bottom cages eating pellets are bad people. I think they're doing the best they can in their lives and that, generally speaking, pet research is a pretty small part of most peoples' lives. I mean our rabbits died of random bullshit before we could even get them to their vet despite our best intentions. My Nana had a wire-bottom-cage outdoor bunny who lived more than 10 years.
I think it is ok to have pets for children, even though kids can be rough and what have you, because the pets provide irreplaceable enriching experiences and teach responsibility and acclimatize kids gradually to the idea that all living creatures die, as it's a rare pet that has a life span anything like humans do.
I don't think it's the end of the world to get an animal from a breeder rather than from a shelter. The shelter is the superior moral choice from an animal-centric perspective, but the guarantee of characteristics or getting a very young animal can be important, especially where allergies or small kids are concerned. I don't understand people who judge others over this issue.
I don't think people shouldn't be able to own a pet just because they couldn't afford to pay for cancer treatments or surgery for that pet if the need should hypothetically arise years down the line. That disqualifies an awful lot of loving homes. Obviously they need to be able to provide for it's basic needs and, more importantly by far in my own mind, have the resources to care for it well - in litter box changes or walks for excercise or playtime and handling or whatever is required for the particular animal in question.
When I see a homeless person with a dog, like my deceased grandfather was, I think "it's a blessing for them both to have each other". Not "That poor dog!!" I mean I'll bet a homeless person's dog gets a hell of a lot more one on one interaction and excercise then the average dog sitting home in a crate while Responsible Owners work fulltime. And again...it's not that anybody's superior to anybody else. Everybody can love their pets in their own way, so long as you don't think beatings or starvation or gross neglect are "love"! The thing is that I'm really grossed out by peoples' weird elitist attitudes about what constitutes Being Responsible, and how things like where you choose to purchase a dog or whether or not your cat gets spayed in time is some sort of moral reflection on your character as a human.
I'm really glad my cat had kittens because I think it was priceless for my kids - to witness the birth and watch the care and see them grow. Chrysanthemum was/is fine. Those aren't ferrel strays now, they were all "homed" except for the two we kept, who are fixed now. But I think it's ok to be thrilled that it happened. I don't really care if you don't think it's ok. I understand the overpopulation problem. The world has a lot of problems. Elvis and Sylvia here playing on the tile are pretty small potatoes really.
My across-the-street-neighbors had a cat who had kittens that had more kittens who are having a third and fourth generation of kittens, none of whom are fixed, all of whom roam the neighborhood. I wouldn't do that. But I don't lose sleep over it, either. Or think they're shitty people because of it. When I was growing up that's what everyone around me thought cats did and the only time it was remarked upon was when we got all excited because we spotted tiny kittens. This whole trend of "trap and release" ferrel spay/neuters by uninvolved parties seems a little over the top to me, like that anybody is really putting that much of their personal time and energy into the neighborhood's cat reproduction. On the other hand, it's probably denting the problem and it's surely not hurting anybody. I even benefitted from one of the low-cost spay/neuter programs that caters to that market, so hey.
Anyway yeah. From now on I'm going to be referring people back to this entry when they have something really vehement and PETA-like to say about my animal owning habits.
KTHXBAI.
I think it is ok to have pets for children, even though kids can be rough and what have you, because the pets provide irreplaceable enriching experiences and teach responsibility and acclimatize kids gradually to the idea that all living creatures die, as it's a rare pet that has a life span anything like humans do.
I don't think it's the end of the world to get an animal from a breeder rather than from a shelter. The shelter is the superior moral choice from an animal-centric perspective, but the guarantee of characteristics or getting a very young animal can be important, especially where allergies or small kids are concerned. I don't understand people who judge others over this issue.
I don't think people shouldn't be able to own a pet just because they couldn't afford to pay for cancer treatments or surgery for that pet if the need should hypothetically arise years down the line. That disqualifies an awful lot of loving homes. Obviously they need to be able to provide for it's basic needs and, more importantly by far in my own mind, have the resources to care for it well - in litter box changes or walks for excercise or playtime and handling or whatever is required for the particular animal in question.
When I see a homeless person with a dog, like my deceased grandfather was, I think "it's a blessing for them both to have each other". Not "That poor dog!!" I mean I'll bet a homeless person's dog gets a hell of a lot more one on one interaction and excercise then the average dog sitting home in a crate while Responsible Owners work fulltime. And again...it's not that anybody's superior to anybody else. Everybody can love their pets in their own way, so long as you don't think beatings or starvation or gross neglect are "love"! The thing is that I'm really grossed out by peoples' weird elitist attitudes about what constitutes Being Responsible, and how things like where you choose to purchase a dog or whether or not your cat gets spayed in time is some sort of moral reflection on your character as a human.
I'm really glad my cat had kittens because I think it was priceless for my kids - to witness the birth and watch the care and see them grow. Chrysanthemum was/is fine. Those aren't ferrel strays now, they were all "homed" except for the two we kept, who are fixed now. But I think it's ok to be thrilled that it happened. I don't really care if you don't think it's ok. I understand the overpopulation problem. The world has a lot of problems. Elvis and Sylvia here playing on the tile are pretty small potatoes really.
My across-the-street-neighbors had a cat who had kittens that had more kittens who are having a third and fourth generation of kittens, none of whom are fixed, all of whom roam the neighborhood. I wouldn't do that. But I don't lose sleep over it, either. Or think they're shitty people because of it. When I was growing up that's what everyone around me thought cats did and the only time it was remarked upon was when we got all excited because we spotted tiny kittens. This whole trend of "trap and release" ferrel spay/neuters by uninvolved parties seems a little over the top to me, like that anybody is really putting that much of their personal time and energy into the neighborhood's cat reproduction. On the other hand, it's probably denting the problem and it's surely not hurting anybody. I even benefitted from one of the low-cost spay/neuter programs that caters to that market, so hey.
Anyway yeah. From now on I'm going to be referring people back to this entry when they have something really vehement and PETA-like to say about my animal owning habits.
KTHXBAI.
