We've taken the dog as an example of how animals are sold, treated or abused.
For all kinds of animals goes that they have to (let
themselves) adapt to people, in appearance and in
behavior. This is done by breeding, with
all kinds of drawbacks. Is this justified?
We put birds, guinea pigs and
rabbits in
tiny cages, or fish in tiny bowls, so that we
can look at them whenever we want. Is this justified?
When we can no longer keep the animal, we sell it,
take it to the animal
shelter, where some of them are put down, or
we free it outside somewhere to fend for itself.
Is this justified?
We make sure that dogs and cats cannot
reproduce by sterilizing them or removing their testicles.
This is also done with rabbits and guinea pigs because
otherwise they "smell", and with dogs because
they show natural behavior we do not like. Is
this justified?
Can people assume the right to determine the fate of
pets? Do the
benefits for people balance the drawbacks
for animals?
- We don't think so.
That's why we do not encourage keeping pets.
This article is part of a series on pet adoption.
Below the table of contents of this series.
Below that even more articles about pets.
