Comments on: The species we made dependent…

By: Three interesting reads: on tail-docking, domestication and ‘a typical day at the SPCA’ « PACK MENTALITY

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:24:43 +0000

[...] species we made dependent” was written by Traer Scott and posted on the Let’s Adopt Canada [...]

By: chris cella

chris cella — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:22:27 +0000

I prefer to say that I live in one big dog house and if people don’t like it then don’t come over. We all share my bedroom. I say MY because they have their own but love their Mom. They have a big yard to run in but I think it should be at least 4x the size it is for them to get the exercise they need. I have 4 Irish Setters and 3 are rescues. One I got as a puppy because she was born on my birthday and I knew it wouls tick my X husband off subsequently we divorced. He told me it was him or the dog, I kept Chloe. I’ll never regret my choice. The following year she developed epilepsy and I know if she would have gone nanyplace else she would have been put down. Her seizures are under control and she is a beautiful girl. All of my house companions are fixed and none were bred. I live in St. Louis MO.USA. Missouri is the worst state in the country for puppy mills if I’m not mistaken. It makes me sick everytime I think about it and sometimes these people get the dogs back. I’m for some serious jail time, in a 4×6 cell with a wire mesh floor. Hope the toilet above them doesn’t back up!!

By: Holly

Holly — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:58:07 +0000

I agree completely with the statement that we do not own the animals we share our lives with… just as we never own the land we live on. There are forces greater than us that will prove this. I believe we are guardians of both because we possess the ability to negotiate this man made responsibility.

Many people have become desensitized to their responsibilities opening the door for the abuse both suffer. We have relegated our animals to such a subservient level that we do not even “see” them anymore. Got too many? Just kill them. Are they too much trouble? Just dump them somewhere. Isn’t that one cute? Buy yourself one… or two. How cute is she? Breed her.

I think we really hit on something a couple decades ago when “pet rocks” were introduced. That’s what a lot of people should have instead of the pets they do have. That rock will outlive you, but it requires nothing from you.

By: Jeffrey Coolwater

Jeffrey Coolwater — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 15:52:22 +0000

Holly, I totally agree it is us (humans) who are responsible for domestication and breeding nonhumans into this completely dependent existence.

And I totally agree all “companion” animals deserve our care and consideration.

But in caring for so many unfortunate souls constantly coming into existence, I think it is vitally important that we also focus on the cause.

Viktor, breeders and pet shops would not be “making” these animals if there was no market for them. The “series of unfortunate events” you refer to begins ultimately with the widely prevailing social mindset that allows and encourages domestication and breeding, indeed all animal enslavement, as ‘normal’. We, individuals and grassroots groups the world over, need to educate the public with a new paradigm that says *all* animals deserve respect and justice. And that means freedom from human domination and exploitation… and the one truly effective way to achieve this is to educate people to stop using animals altogether. The absolute minimum, easiest, and yet most effective way to do that is to be Vegan. Remember, to be Vegan is not just a diet. It is an all encompassing attitude of respect for the interests of all animals – human and nonhuman.

But in order to teach others of this we must first teach ourselves.

Thank you all for your consideration.

By: Marietta

Marietta — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:16:29 +0000

Dogs, cats and the rest of the animal kingdom are free spirits! and we totally broke their free spirit by domestication, training and by making them fit in our living rooms etc.. ; restricted their freedom for not chewing our furnitures, carpets..etc…bred them to fit our fancy and fashion whims and trained them to SERVE US~ …

With the risk of being criticized for this note, i m totally against the idea of humans “owning PETs” ..The pet industry should stop and breeding should stop along with human overpopulation! Nature should be restored to its natural state!

I never owned a pet, i always had “rescues”! I even have an issue with the term “own”! I own a chair, or a car, but never a living breathing creature!

How could we change the status quo after 1000 s of yrs of exploitation and abuse of our extended families??? our animals?