Anti-pet ownership.

Maybe that's why China laced our pet food with toxic chemicals. The powerful people don't think we should have pets. Guess what? Try to harm my cat, dogs or birds and you better be prepared to protect yourself. They are part of my family. I don't care if it cuts into your productivity figures or doesn't make sense to you.

 

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Your crazy, but amen to that. Fuck China. Lets blow this taco stand.

 

Okay let me just add a little of my thoughts here.

If I had the powers of a deity and could simply remove pets from human possession, I would NOT.

There are too many pet owners out there who have and give the necessary love and attention to their animal companions. For some of them, these bonds are the strongest in their life, particulary the elderly who are some of the greatest animal lovers I've seen.

I just think that we need to stop thinking of pets as property and allow them the freedoms they may not even know they had. I mean every cat and dog should be taught to hunt and kill for itself, as that is part of the predator experience. A predator that doesn't even know about the joys of hunting? I don't think it can be very happy.

To whoever told the anecdote, I can't imagine that your friends cat is as happy as mine who prowls the nearby field for mice, snakes, and whatever else she can stalk. She is also in incredible health, extremely friendly to visitors, and in general a beautiful creature of the earth who comes indoors when she requires food, shelter, and cool water.

The thing is, cats raised indoors will not interact with bugs, frogs, and other small animals with the level of frequency necessary to develop the natural instinct to hunt. I would have to imagine that a cat deprived of such an upbringing would be depressed, that he or she would always be longing to use those atrophied hunting instincts that were and always will be present.

So now you might say "that isn't fair, people in a small apartment can't have cats or dogs". To them I would say, not fair to who? The people. But what about the animals? Is it fair to raise an animal in such an enclosed environment, so disconnected from nature?

Maybe I'm way off base here, but I just think too many owners who mean well may protect their pets from a healthy and happy life that is in their design as predators. My main point is that animals like cats and dogs may be domesticated but they still have very strong instincts.

 

Is your free roaming kitty going to be as happy as the pampered persian that doesn't go outside, when she's bit by a rattlesnake and can't make it home to you the person she sees as being her safety? She'll die out there in a field wondering where you were when she needed you.

 

As to pet's being considered property, that's the only legal grounds any pet owner currently has. That's why there are so many cases of animal abuse that are never prosecuted, because animals have limited rights. The only real rights under the law they are ever granted are those of property. Remove those and they are no more than bits of cardboard or styrafoam at the mercy of demented humans that take pleasure and feel they gain macho status by being cruel.

 

Hey my indoor cats come into contact with rodents and tree frogs all the time, it's part of living in the country. No matter how tight your house some of the little buggers always get in. My cats have never been depressed.

 

Going anti-pet owhership now, what next telling us what color socks we can wear?

 

I don't disagree with the points you make,
but because it would be ridiculous to regulate these things through law/government, the choice is left up to the individuals, which is how it is now, and has been...

So maybe, if you feel so strongly about the way pets are being taken care of, but don't necessarily want or expect it to be regulated through the government, you should use some of your passion towards the subject to help educate future pet owners about these things...about their natural instincts, and what they can do to have a healthy, happy pet, without destroying their natural instincts, and still have their companions.

However, keep in mind that the people, and the government, have issues with certain things like indoor-outdoor cats in certain areas...

In residential areas around here, because there is such a stray cat issue, they've literally tried setting up traps for the cats (not fatal traps, but cages, to be taken to shelters to check them for disease and what not, and see if they are able to be put up for adoption and such)--- so if you have an indoor-outdoor cat around those areas, you run the risk of your cat being trapped...

they've also tried passing laws that make it legal to shoot any cat roaming freely on your property and what not...didn't go through, but it has been a huge issue around here.

Now, to me, the stray cat issue, isn't a huge deal... because those cats are living as any other wild animal does--- its possible that the raccoons that roam around have diseases too, but no one gives a fuck about controlling them, and trapping them---I think people should pretty much shut the fuck up and leave the animals alone. [I'm guessing the reason that people have issues with this is because they are afraid that their children will catch a disease/get bitten, or some are just jerks that have a fit if they see animal crap on their lawn...which IMHO is bogus, because by building residential areas and such, we're treading on THEIR territory, and invading the animals' and plants natural habitats...not the other way around. But that's kind of off topic]

But because people do have those issues, it makes it risky for those who do let their pets outside.

And who knows, maybe people should think twice, before owning pets in residential areas like that--
but if you want people to think twice about it, then use this energy to educate them, instead of just complaining about it and then sitting back and doing nothing about something you clearly have an intensely strong opinion on.

 

One more thing, Share the Warmth, when you think of it... people who own pets, are like parents to their pets...and what do a lot of parents do? They regulate their children's activities to keep them from harm...A cat will run in front of a car, just as soon as a kid would, and I think a big reason people keep their pets inside, and what not is to keep them from diseases, cars, and other risk factors like that.

Just as anyone who cares about their children a lot, probably wouldn't leave them unattended outside, because they wouldn't want them playing with bugs/animals that have diseases, or because they don't want them to be hit by a car...

I told you about my ex-boyfriends cats, that are indoor-outdoor cats, and most of the time I think it's a wonderful idea, but I have seen the cons to it---example: his cat getting in a fight with some other animals, coming home with a huge wound on his face that became terribly infected--- which they then, had to take the kitty to the vet for because it swelled up over his eye so much. It was treatable, but what if something had happened where it wasn't?

Call it natural, or survival of the fittest if you will, but anyone who loves their pets the way I love my cat, would be utterly heartbroken and devastated if they came home to see their kitty run over by a car, or dead because it had gotten in a fight with an animal...

and I'm sure you would be too if your kitty died that way. My point is to show you, WHY people keep their pets the way they do, why people might not allow their cats to roam freely and such... because they care about them like they would their own family, and want to protect them from that kind of harm.

 

mmm...if you don't have an enviorment that is appropriate to the breed it is unfair. We have two hound dogs who would not survive in an apartment or with lazy owners but since we have a huge backyard and both love hiking, dog beach, dog park etc they are very happy. Their instinct is to sniff so I take them to new places all the time so they can have new smells. Both of them are from shelters. One of them had 6 homes prior to us and the other never had a home and he is a little wild, but loves his people. They so own us-we don't own them.
I was an awful dog owner in the past. I had a pitbull in a condo that I fed vegetarian food-how wrong is that?
I want a puggle for my next dog because I know I couldn't properly take care of or live in a place that would accomodate huge wild dogs so it would be wrong to get one. Plus puggles are just freaking cute. It would be my first dog not from a shelter or rescue group, but considering I want to have kids soon I need to know what I am getting and know I am getting a dog I can be a good fit with for the rest of it's life.
I think dogs and people make an excellent match. Now cats on the other hand...they are just freaky...I don't know what's up with cats. Something not right about them.

 

I Love My Dog
My Dog Loves Me
He Uses My Leg
When He Has To ...

No really, I grew up on a ranch, we had cattle, horses, dogs, and cats. All domesticated animals that have been bred and raised by humans for the purpose of serving humans needs.

Do animals have rights? I believe we, as the caretakers, should treat the animals in our care humanely. But also understanding that there would be no cattle and horses in America if we had not needed them. No domesticated breeds of dogs and cats if we had not needed them.

I have a Lab, she is very happy living in the situation she lives in. She would be a lot happier if I let her run free in the streets. But she would not live for long. I lost a cat to a fox once. Now I wish I had kept him indoors more often.

Do not elevate animals to the level of humans. We, as the dominate species need to care for the animals, and the earth.

Peace, Love, .....Spay and nueter your pets.

 

my dogs just got a biscotti from the starbucks drive through and i am waiting for one of them to make a number two so we can go to dog beach for the day and then to petco so they can pick-out some treats for the next month via my mom's credit card. they both just said they are very happy to be domesticated and are sorry their food bill is higher than all of my bills combined.

 

it's very simply complete bs to me. the domestication of animals is something they (meaning the species, breed, whatever) participated willingly in, it was inevitable once they started following us around. we've developed a mutually beneficial (overall) symbiotic relationship.

 

I agree, those suckers have us trained. I watched a nova last year explaining it all and found the link. I am sure you know of how it happened, but this is just for those arguers who don't. ps-I no longer want a 3-some. BF can watch but he is not allowed to touch because I think I am in love with him.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/dogs/evolution.html

 

that's fine, bella, it's your pants i've been trying to get into all these years anyway.

 

awe. You are one sexy piece of ass KC. You were my first forum crush...sigh

 

and we have effectively ended serious discussion about owner ship of decent pussy and hounds.

 

Put your enthusiasm to educating ppl to stop persisting those who DON'T WANT pets to get a pet, educate ppl that pets don't make good gifts, unless thoroughly discussed beforehand.

I get this alot. It's been mentioned on this thread that it's irresponsible for city dwellers in small apt. to get a large dog. Well ppl bug me to get a dog, I tell 'em I live in a small apt. high up in the sky and ppl counter w/ "oh get a small dog". Then I tell 'em the elevators are slow and I don't wanna spend too much of my time waiting for them, and they counter with "so move" and I tell 'em I like where I am and don't want the responsibilities and they tell me "get a cat". Then I tell 'em I'm allergic to cats and they counter w/ "get a hairless cat". And then I tell 'em I don't have money and they're expensive. Then they tell me to use antihistamines and yadda yadda yadda.

WHY does it have to go on like this. I don't want pets but as soon as u says this ppl assume u don't like animals.

One jerk even almost got me a dog for a surprise gift, I got wind of this and stopped him.

Pets are a HUGE responsibility... no one has the business to tell me to be home on time to feed a dog. No one has the business to tell me to walk a dog or to get dog walkers. No one has the business to tell me to spend $$ on vets, etc that I don't have the mind to spend. None of this is because I don't like pets, they just do go with my lifestyle.

NO ONE HAS THE BUSINESS TO TELL ME TO CARE FOR A PET. Give me a pet and it'll inevitably perish. And don't blame me, I was responsible enough to not get one, don't give me one.

Just had to vent. Pet owners need to realize pets are not for everybody, it's fine if u enjoy yours but don't pester others to get one. That would only increase the number of abandoned or neglected animals.

 

I wish slavery was brought back, not racial slavery, but slavery by class and you'd be surprised by how many people agree with me, you know, make poor people, bums in the streets to be your slaves? As long as you don't beat them I see no problem.

As far as owning a pet, I owned a ferret for a while, now I want a mongoose!!!! GO MONGOOSE GO!!!

 

i'm sorry, we're bad. we need to go get some beer and go to the beach, play int he water and remove ourselves from here so we do not further veer off topic