Should We Keep Pets?

Do you remember your first dog or cat? Perhaps even your first boa constrictor? Whatever your preference, pets can play a huge role in our lives, even becoming full-fledged family members. But is domestication really in an animal’s best interest? Does pet ownership create a loving bond between human and animal, or does it only serve our own interests?

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Regarding Argument

“Pets:” The Problem of Treatment

- From Gary L Francione

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Thank You.

Thank you for speaking so eloquently for those we primarily regard as our property. Having worked with people concerning “their pet’s” nutritional needs. I was always heart-broken concerning our ignorance of their basic needs and rights as sentient beings. I can only assume it is because of our own lack of consciousness and self-love.

Thank you again.

- alfawav August 29, 2008 3:16PM

Reply to this Recommend (0) Side: No

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It doesn't bode well for your argument...

When I reject your initial premise.

You say

" animals are property; they are things that have only extrinsic or conditional value. That is, they have only the value that we, the owners of animal property, accord to them."

This is demonstrably false. I understand from a legal aspect, this may be correct, but your argument focuses too closely on legality, which is a small part of the overall argument.

I just wasn't moved by your argument.

- Blappo April 25, 2009 1:44AM

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- it is accurate
  
  working in the vet field I see how people view and treat their animals ....most of them treat animals like their car or other "loved" object that serves a perceived need ( entertainment , combat lonliness, etc)....allowing them to care for their animal and not care about the pain inflicted upon other nonhuman animals like pigs and cows.
  
  - progressisdead April 26, 2009 2:12PM
  
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  - I'm sorry, but arguments from authority chafe
    
    "working in the vet field"
    
    That is an argument from authority. The field you work in has nothing to do with anything, and is a cheap way to pretend your opinion has value that exceeds another's.
    
    "I see how people view and treat their animals "
    
    No, you see what YOU WANT TO SEE. It's a well know problem, called confirmation bias, and you're a perfect example of it.
    
    Your argument, honestly, really has nothing of substance or value at all.
    
    - Blappo May 1, 2009 9:00PM
    
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  - Consider animal hoarders
    
    Progressisdead-Cant agree more. I have had the misfortune to live next to animal hoarders. Most had no contact with their animals at all,but they collected them like objects. I am gulity of abucting 4 cats from two different animal hoarders because I just could not keep watching them neglect their animals and breed more and more....
    
    And the most amazing thing is that this is all perfectly legal - yes in Australia there is no law that actually makes it illegal to neglect your cats so long as they are fed. They can be sick, full of parasites and producing kittens twice a year. If I called the shelter- the shelter would put the cats down- so I stole them kept 3 and rehomed the others.
    
    I broke the law .
    
    - sor666 August 31, 2009 1:26PM
    
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Related Debates

Experts on "Yes" Side

The Humane Society
Celebrating Animals/Confronting Cruelty See arguments

Experts on "No" Side

Gary L Francione
Rutgers University School of Law See arguments

Most Objections

Should We Have Pets? Of Course
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