Are you a cat person or a dog person?
Cats or dogs? Katzen oder Hunde? Gatos o perros? Or something else entirely? Are you sure you're even a person?
Cats or dogs? Katzen oder Hunde? Gatos o perros? Or something else entirely? Are you sure you're even a person?
All pets?
I think owning a tarantula, for example, is perfectly ethical, because of the way tarantus live.
They should all be free to roam. BTW I'm not saying to make it illegal, just how I live.
Certain animals don't really roam as part of their lifestyle, most tarantulas are ambush predators, if you put a tarantula into a hole and regularly give it food, it doesn't dream of the outside world where it can roam freely, roaming freely is its worst nightmare because that's how it gets exposed to predators... tarantulas find a hole where they constantly get food and you can presume based on how they live in the wild that they've found the best hole ever.
They also show clear signs of stress when they are stressed, and they show less of those in captivity than in the wild.
That's my argument for tarantulas anyway.
Yeah, I think it's really case by case in the animal kingdom, we have to avoid anthropomorphizing everything.
It can be case by case for animals of the same type even. One of my cats is legit scared of outside and has no interest in leaving the house for any reason. The other cat is hesitantly curious so sometimes we bring him out on a lead. He never wants to wander further than a few feet though even if we prompt him to explore. They live good lives and feel safe neither really feels the need to roam far as I can tell.
Yeah, breading is really messed up. If the cats have access to outside, i'd say it's ethical to adopt.
I think this is more of a problem with capitalism, than a problem with breeding being fundamentally wrong, we're incentivized to breed as poorly as possible, it's a race to the bottom.
That being said, I think some animals are bred pretty carefully, definitely not dogs and cats, but certain insect breeding operations are pretty ethical just because being ethical with them is insanely easy.
yoo like that sphynx thing? they look super weird id def consider having one if i were to get a cat xD
Dog person. I've met a few cats I liked, but in general if I wanted to live with a creature that consumed resources and ignored me I'd still be married. :-P
Neither, really. I can see the appeal of both, but would not have one of either myself. I married a lady that came with a cat, though, so technically more of a cat person.
Dogs. 100% dogs.
I’ve grown up with both and have both now.
Dogs are easier to take care of. They are way more affectionate. They love car adventures, hiking and swimming. They are part of the pact.
The whole “cats are self sufficient” thing is 🙄. The cat box is gross, I rather use a little bag and pick up dog poop.
Definitely cats, I've lived with a dog now (though not currently) and I can get along with them fine, but I understand cats in a way that I'll never understand dogs
I can't take care of myself, how would I care of an animal?
But I have babysit... Sitted? Babysat? Babyshat? A kitten, and dang he grew on me. So I kinda want one, but... It's just not for me.
As for dogs, family had two dogs and while Iiked them, neither liked me back as much as everyone says dogs do. I've been lied to. And I'm not one for walking. So if anything, more of a cat person then.
I recommend trying a snake out, specifically a hognose, they're extremely cute, and EXTREMELY easy to care for
I feel this. I've gone through so many plants and I treat myself terribly. I know having a pet would probably help me mentally but I just don't have the confidence to take care of another living thing.
dogs>cats>none. somehow found out foxes are the cutest thing ever tho and i like them more than both
Cats if I have to choose. Both can be great but I don't really want to keep animals as pets.
I think the ethics really depends on the specific animal, most reptiles and tarantulas are fine in my book.
I agree the specific animals and context is important, as well as comparing potential wellbeing in the wild vs as a pet. I have two axolotls let me tell you I've never seen anything with less going on in their heads than those things. My Venus fly trap is smarter than the both of them put together. Plus they're about to go extinct in the wild. Keeping them as a hobby is important for their survival and I can't imagine they'd in any way feel better or even notice being in the wild compared to a tank.
I also think that the hobby allows them to be ambassadors for their kind, people often assume tarantulas and snakes are monsters that are out to get you, one question i've heard people ask someone holding a snake is "Why isn't it attacking you"
People have these insanely perverse ideas about these animals that go away when they discover they're actually quite delightful.
Yep, gotta clean up the mess we left as humanity. We can not abandon them while they need us. Yet breeders should be absolutely illegal.
Yet breeders should be absolutely illegal.
I agree. Even individual pet owners (or guardians) breeding with their pet is problematic imo. Certainly when they choose the breeding partners.
But even if the dogs are free to choose themselves you could argue that you shouldn't let them breed because it would be better to adopt animals in need rather than create new animals.
it would be better to adopt animals in need rather than create new animals.
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The other day I had a conversation with someone who also rejects breeding but said that (female) dogs should give birth at least once in their life (because they read, it would lower uterus cancer risk). Almost as if people (even after a pandemic) still did not understand exponential growth.