Pet= possession?

I'm sure your birds don't care that they were kidnapped from their natural habitat and forced onto a boat where 90% of the other birds died in transport.
You must be delusional if you think you are "allowing them to be birds".
Why not just make some human friends instead of surrounding yourself with captive animals for "companionship"?
By my count, you are responsible for the death of 80 innocent parrots.

 

^^^Is this how parrots become "pets"? I wasn't aware...I assumed they are bred in captivity...bred to be "pets" (not that I agree with that either). I thought the only birds they capture from the wild are exotics in the sense that they are not commonly kept as pets and are mighty expensive.

 

Well, this is obviously just flame bait, but I'll bite. Just because you have some sort of problem with keeping animals as companions doesn't mean it's wrong or that no one should do it. Go fuck yourself.

 

99% of pet birds *are* bred in captivity. There are, however, still wild captures (importing wild birds into the US and many other countries is now illegal). The wild captures are typically cruel and inhumane, and I'd personally like to castrate everyone that's involved in the process.

Oh, and pay no mind to the asshole that posted that reply, either. He's just another intolerant moron - lord knows, the world is full of them.

 

That is what I origionally thought. I don't know that much about parrots. I personally don't like the thought of keeping animals that need to be caged for any period of time...birds, rats...whatever. And ALOT of people don't take proper care of their animals..big enough cage etc. But unfortunatley that is the way it is...these animals have been domesticated and are *for sale* so if someone who loves animals can come along and give them a great home then that's awesome. Many people here on this forum seem great in that sense and it a good reminder that there are good people left in this world who know how to care for, love and respect their animals properly..........

 

Such words of compassion would warm the heart of my teacher from back home(a Buddhist monk from Birmingham, Alabama). Good for all of you.

Now, my contribution, such as it is.

The last animal that lived in my house was named either ChooChooBear(please do a search on the internet via google for that, it's from a wonderfully perverse webcomic called "Something Positive") or Rat depending.

I did not adopt ChooChoo, or buy her, or was given her. She just sortof moved in. When referring to her I called her "my female roomate what doesn't pay rent". She did, however keep the rats away and was functionally poly(I could have any actual human woman in the house as long as I let her on my lap when I was checking e-mail and all that). True, I had to make sure she was fed, but that was no different than most of the other female roomates I had what didn't pay rent. She currently lives with my parents as I had to move up north for a job and I am told is utterly fat and content.

However, I think it's only a matter of time before another animal decides to plop itself on my front door and declare residency.

James
Gentleman Adventurer In Training

 

I'm frankly amazed that you actually think you're doing these poor creatures some sort of favor by imprisoning them. It's disgusting and it's tragic. I wonder what void in your life is filled by doing this.

 

guys I sooo didnt start this thread to start an argument.. =o/

 

I live in a very rural area. People from the cities will come out here to dump off their pets they don't want anymore. It's disghusting and they should be whipped. The poor animals were 'bought' as puppies or kittens then they got big and the 'owners' didn't want them anymore. Sick, really fuggin sick. The result has been a long string of various companions who wandered up to my place and adopted me as friend. My place is pretty big and a good chunk I leave as wild growth so many wander here. I don't 'own' them, we co-exist., although I will take em to the vet for shots etc.... and feed them as best as I can. It's not their fault they were raised in captivity and can't compete in the wild. One time I busted somebody throwing a dog out but I was on a bike and couldn't catch up to the car. Swear to god though, I'd love to shoot their tires out and make them walk, maybe they'd run into one of those mixed packs that have resulted from what they've been doing. Maybe they'd get a taste of how the dogs feel about it.

 

On a side note:

We have feral cats here, they help to control the rodent population and are loved and cared for by quite a few little old ladies in the neighborhood, however, the city has a limit to what it will tolerate. The only animal shelters in the area are completely full and under-funded and Spain does not practice any sterilization programs, what they do is poison them.

Now, I find this very disgusting, as do many of the other cat lovers in the area, and so we do what we can to help to keep the numbers of the wild cats down so that they do not become an issue for the Ayuntamiento... in short, we find homes for them. I have two street cats living with me who are happy little hedonists and do not seem to suffer any regrets from leaving their precarious world behind.

Now, I can understand why some people may consider keeping "pets" to have negative connotations, especially if there is any undue suffering involved, however, it is also beneficial to realize that the alternative for some of these animals is sometimes much more harsh and fraught with suffering than living in "captivity".

Above all things, I see my "pets" as companions who share their particular brand of affection and wisdom with me. We are all connected and should therefore seek to alleviate the suffering of any living creature as much as we would seek to do the same for ourselves.