In which ways does pet ownership equal animal exploitation?!


Question: In which ways does pet ownership equal animal exploitation!?
Please be as detailed as possible!.Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
OK, I'm not the biggest fan of PETA in the world BUT they have some valid points (in a certain light) on the subject!.
SO I am going to paste what they say about pet ownership in here!.
We at PETA very much love the animal companions who share our homes, but we believe that it would have been in the animals' best interests if the institution of "pet keeping"—i!.e!., breeding animals to be kept and regarded as "pets"—never existed!. The international pastime of domesticating animals has created an overpopulation crisis; as a result, millions of unwanted animals are destroyed every year as "surplus!." This selfish desire to possess animals and receive love from them causes immeasurable suffering, which results from manipulating their breeding, selling or giving them away casually, and depriving them of the opportunity to engage in their natural behavior!. Their lives are restricted to human homes where they must obey commands and can only eat, drink, and even urinate when humans allow them to!.

Because domesticated animals retain many of their basic instincts and drives but are not able to survive on their own in the wild, dogs, cats, or birds, whose strongest desire is to be free, must be confined to a house, yard, or cage for their own safety!.

This is a "best case" scenario!. The truth is that millions of dogs spend their lives outside on heavy chains in all weather extremes, or they are kept locked up in tiny chain-link pens from which they can only watch the world go by!. Millions more are confined to filthy wire cages in puppy mills—forced to churn out litter after litter until they wear out, at which time they are killed or dumped at the local animal shelter!. Even in "good" homes, cats must relieve themselves in dirty litterboxes and often have their digits removed by "declawing," and dogs often have to drink water that has sat around for days, are hurried along on their walks, and are yelled at to get off the furniture or be quiet!.

Most compassionate people never think that someone would throw a litter of kittens out the window of a moving car, and they would certainly be shocked by PETA's inches-thick files on cases of dogs and cats who have been shot with arrows, blown up with firecrackers, doused in gasoline and set on fire, cooked in microwave ovens, used as "bait" in dogfights, tortured in satanic rituals, beaten with baseball bats by bored kids, dragged behind cars to "teach them a lesson" for running away, or bound in duct tape to silence their barking!. Abuses such as these happen to many animals every day!.

Contrary to myth, PETA does not want to confiscate animals who are well cared for and "set them free!." What we want is for the population of dogs and cats to be reduced through spaying and neutering and for people to adopt animals (preferably two so that they can keep each other company when their human companions aren't home) from pounds or shelters—never from pet shops or breeders—thereby reducing suffering in the world!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

The depends on the type of ownership!. Exploiting means a relationship which is not mutually beneficial!. Most pet owners don't treat their animals as "animals", they treat them as part of the family (or as close as possible)!. When owners use their dogs for personal profit but give very little in return, I consider that exploitation!. Whether that is uncontrolled breeding or dog fighting or racing etc etc!.

I have 8 dogs now and each and every one of them gets free food, free health care, free shelter, free exercise facilities, free schooling/training, lots of playtime, lots of free space and security!. In return, we get to play with them and enjoy their companionship and get a measure of protection!. No exploitation there!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I wouldn't say it's any more exploitative then raising a child!. You do your best to care for a pet, love and protect it, just as a child!. My dog is a part of the family, and I love him dearly!.

Matt!. I absolutely agree with that!. Keeping a pet with the intention to cause harm to it, is being exploitative!. Dog fighting is one of the best examples!. also chicken fighting and horse riding!.

Horse riding may not be considered being exploitative, but think about when that horse gets hurt!. Most owners have to put it down because it's to difficult and costly to heal a broken horse leg!. It will no longer be good for racing or riding anymore!.

There are two definitions for Exploitation

1!. The act of utilizing something for any purpose!. In this case, exploit is a synonym for use!.

2!. The act of utilizing something in an unjust or cruel manner!. It is this meaning of exploitation which is discussed below!.

1!. I don't think animals use us for anything!. We own them!. They don't own us!. We USE them as pets!. We inherently are their owners!.

2!. Certain people do use and keep animals in cruel conditions, as I've listed above!.

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Shaif: I'm going to have to disagree with you on that!. Based on your definition we are all exploiting each other!. We have human companions of our own to fill emotional needs as well!. Is that any different then a pet!?

Edit: I do think animals are intelligent enough to know when their owner is hurting them intentionally!. Have you ever seen a dog flinch when they know you are going to hurt them!?

Most pets stay with cruel owners because they don't understand what shelters are, or the ASPCA!.

You could say the same thing about a baby that is being abused!. Would they know any other life other then the one that they have!? No, it's also learned as they grow up that that's the way life is!. Why do you think it's so hard to rehabilitate a dog after years of cruelty!?Www@FoodAQ@Com

Sharif, you are way off!. We are a vegan family and care for 2 rescued dogs and 4 ex-battery hens!. While of course we do recieve affection from our dogs, the same can not be said for the chickens! They free range doing their own thing, and we do not have them for the eggs as we are vegans!. We have them because we spared them from death on the day they were headed off for slaughter!. So enlighten me, in what way are we exploiting those animals!? Vegans can and do care for animals thank you very much!.

The guy who referenced Petas viewpoint did a great job, our views sit firmly alongside theirs on this issue!. We would never ever purchase an animal bred for the pet industry,now *that* is exploitation!.

Edit: Ah I should have guessed 'sharif' was really Maggie the troll!.!.!.!.!.go figure!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

we have 3 cats who were all strays that adopted us, plus 2 sort of strays out side that have been abandoned also!.!.!.!.

feeding 5 cats and have rescued 2 or 3 others and taken to the humane society!.!.!.

people move and throw out the furniture and leave this poor cat that doesn't even know how to hunt or live out side!.

they should be dropped 10 miles from town and forced to walk back in the pouring rain and cold and then pay a fine!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

only if you are breeding the animals for $, i believe is exploitation!.
we need to adopt and rescue animals because there are too many of them because people breed them!.
when you adopt, you help the animals who are here and need our careWww@FoodAQ@Com

dog fighting is exploitation!. chicken fighting is exploitation

if the animal wants to live with you and you have room for them to fullfill their natural behaviors its ok!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Animals exploit us because they don't do any work and their food costs way too much!. And who can afford vet bills these days!? Unless the animal is working for a living, like a sheepdog or something, it is exploiting you!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Owning a pet itself is not exploitation!. However, many people allow their pets to breed, or buy from breeders which means that there are that many more animals that will be killed in shelters!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Hmm, lets see!.!.!.

You are giving an animal food, shelter, love, have to clean after it and so on and so forth!.

Clearly an exploitation!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

As far i can tell, i am owned by my cat!.
It borderlines plain using me

(I agree with the first post on this!.!.but
the animals abused like this are not considered pets by the ′′fuc***g ownersWww@FoodAQ@Com

It does not except in some prominent fruitcakes eyes!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Being a vegan is about intent: the intent to reduce animal exploitation as much as possible!.

By that criteria, it could be argued that "owning" a pet at all is non-vegan, as you are using the animal to fulfill your emotional need for companionship and nurturing and therefore exploiting it for personal benefit!.

Vegans do not own animals!.
"Vegans" do!.

Please note that i don't have a problem with owning animals, as i'm not vegan, but vegans cannot have any type of animal because it is exploitation!. Yes, you may care for the animal, even love it, and feed it, house it, spend money on it, but at the end of the day you cannot deny the fact that if that animal did not show you affection you would have never cared for it to begin with!. The sole reason that dogs are a common companion animal is directly because they are so easy to exploit in the sense that they develop a great bond with their owner!.
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Flutter - The people in our lives are inteligent enough that they make the choice whether or not to spend time with us!. An animal, a dog, a cat, etc, is not smart enough to make such a choice!. When a dog stays in your yard it's a learned behavior, not a natural one!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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