Pets are a Waste of Money

[Koldo]

Of course pets should be loved and respected but I read something just the other day that may sum it up for many. The author said that animals have truly developed the mechanics of living but not the art of living. This is what makes human life more valuable than animal life.

Art of living? What is that supposed to mean?

 

[Madhuri]

I fundamentally do not understand how anyone can justify such a categorial distinction between human animals and non-human animals.

Hence why I'm a vegetarian.

 

[dust1n]

I fundamentally do not understand how anyone can justify such a categorial distinction between human animals and non-human animals.

Just as curiosity, can you justify the categorical distinction between plant, fungus, and animal? What about the categorical distinction between living and non-living entities?

 

[Quintessence]

Hence why I'm a vegetarian.

I feel differently about that, in spite of us coming from a similar foundation. I regard all things as bearing equal intrinsic value or sacredness, not just animals. Humans must kill to live; that is our nature as consumers. Killing a plant is not "better" ethically speaking than killing an animal in my mind. The important component to me is how the sacrifice was treated and how we regard the sacrifice when we eat. Sustainable sourcing and treating the creature with dignity is important to me, and if that is satisfied, I'm cool with it. I don't drive myself crazy with it either though; I have the misfortune of existing in a culture and an era where food is factory/mass produced with questionable ethics. Getting away from that is hard, but I like to think the small shifts I make towards buying organic, local, and so on help make a bit of a difference.

Just as curiosity, can you justify the categorical distinction between plant, fungus, and animal? What about the categorical distinction between living and non-living entities?

A fair question, and I suspect the above probably offers some insight on where I stand here.

When it comes to considering the value of something or considering it as an ethical subject, I have a hard time justifying putting one thing into a "this has value" box and another thing in a "this lacks value" box. Everything has value. It's all sacred, it's all holy, and it's all deserving of consideration as an ethical subject. This does not mean that I deny scientific maps of the territory or the important and relevant distinctions between things for other purposes. I mean to focus the discussion here on ethics and valuation systems, and for that purpose, I have a hard time justifying treating everything that happens to not be human with a completely different set of standards. I mean, I understand it, but I don't agree with it in many cases.

For example, I had a friend whose cat died because he couldn't afford the vet bill. He was by no means a negligent owner, but he just didn't have the money and it upset him quite a lot to not be able to help his cat. I was sickened by the fact that this was even allowed to happen in the first place. If that cat had been human, it would have been given medical care, period.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I measure value according to my responsibility. For example, although I would choose the human members of my family over the animal members of my family, I would choose the animal members of my family over humans I do not know. I accepted responsbility for all members of my family, and my first moral imperative is to protect and care for them.

 

[Wirey]

I measure value according to my responsibility. For example, although I would choose the human members of my family over the animal members of my family, I would choose the animal members of my family over humans I do not know. I accepted responsbility for all members of my family, and my first moral imperative is to protect and care for them.

I see it differently. Maybe it's because the first truly major interaction I had with animals was based on finance, but still, people, then animals.

 

[illykitty]

Hence why I'm a vegetarian.

I'll be vegetarian for at least the next three months. Looking forward to it.

Thing about being vegetarian, you still kill plant life - we need to eat things. I would live on air, water and sun if I could. But we can't.

However, eating meat (especially if on a daily basis) kills a lot more plants, uses more land, more water, etc. Fishing often has its issues too.

Though one could argue that being vegetarian isn't enough - being vegan is better, since the veal born from milk cows are still being killed for meat, in some ways, having dairy contributes to that. Some chickens are also treated poorly (though personally I have freerange eggs in accordance with UK laws).

But we each do what we think is the best we can do. But in essence I share your sentiment, even though I love the taste of meat dishes.

 

[Wirey]

My workout regiment includes two vegetarian days a week. I'm getting a little sick of steamed carrots.

 

[Amechania]

I eat vegetables twice a week too. Sometimes its french-fries and sometimes its jalapeno poppers.

 

[Koldo]

I see it differently. Maybe it's because the first truly major interaction I had with animals was based on finance, but still, people, then animals.

I may be wrong, but I think you have never bonded with a pet in the same manner that some of us have.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I see it differently. Maybe it's because the first truly major interaction I had with animals was based on finance, but still, people, then animals.

Certainly a valid perspective. I suppose my perspective comes from the fact that my two dogs are just as much "people" to me as many humans I know, and far more "people" to me than humans I don't know. And, in general, I find that many animals have more redeeming human qualities than many humans.

 

[Madhuri]

I feel differently about that, in spite of us coming from a similar foundation.

I see. My point was only that I wouldn't kill a human, hence I wouldn't kill an animal as I see them intrinsically the same.
However I would not mourn the death of a plant and I would not spend large sums of money to keep a plant alive (would you?) because I do see it as different.

 

[Madhuri]

I'll be vegetarian for at least the next three months. Looking forward to it.

Oh nice! Good luck, I hope it isn't too difficult.

Thing about being vegetarian, you still kill plant life - we need to eat things.

This doesn't bother me very much because I don't believe that plants have the capacity to feel pain or experience emotion the way that animals do.
In addition, most plants do not have to be killed in order to eat fruit and veges. You don't kill the apple tree when you pick its fruit, for example.

 

[illykitty]

Oh nice! Good luck, I hope it isn't too difficult.



This doesn't bother me very much because I don't believe that plants have the capacity to feel pain or experience emotion the way that animals do.
In addition, most plants do not have to be killed in order to eat fruit and veges. You don't kill the apple tree when you pick its fruit, for example.

Oh I know, just that most people say this when vegetarians say they don't want to kill. But I pointed out that you kill a lot more on an omnivore diet, since plants are eaten by animals, the animal is killed and then more plants are consumed by humans.

If someone was so concerned about plants they wouldn't eat meat. They also would eat like Jains, avoid plants that are killed by eating them. Just makes the whole argument silly. And I agree with you, plants and animals aren't the same to me either.

 

[oldbadger]

Aw, ours is a miniature dachshund too. Only she is a wire haired. Her mom was short haired and her dad was long haired. Her two brothers look just like dad, but our little Belle is sorta inbetween.

Tom

~but she hates water. It took years to convince her that baths are not optional ~

Aren't they lovely little hounds? Our neighbour has six mini-daxies (!) and they all hate water. Smew grew up to the water. She deliberately chucks a toy in our pond to have an excuse to jump in after it. One of our ducks, Dolly, catches hold of Smew's tail and Smew tows her around! I can't post the pic..... no URL.

 

[oldbadger]

Hah, enslave.

You don't know my dog. She runs the house. Schedules must take her bodily functions into account or she'll go somewhere we don't find for a while.
Tom

Yep...... you got a daxie.
When I come home I must walk past my wife, saying a brief 'hello' and walk straight to the back door-mat where I will greet Smew. She will do a wee. I wash the mat each morning and put out a fresh one. But Smew does go the netted dog-run to do her number 2s.

Daxie are not good with kids, mostly. Daxies have a clear idea of acceptable and unacceptable behavior, and unlike some breeds are not happy with kiddy tortures.

 

[oldbadger]

To quote my friend Pat,"she melted my icy heart". I had to cuddle her up. By the next day I was I was talking baby talk to a dog and cleaning up doggy doo. I am such a schmuck.
Tom

Yep...... you got a daxie!

 

[oldbadger]

I see it differently. Maybe it's because the first truly major interaction I had with animals was based on finance, but still, people, then animals.

Several times a year there are news reports of people who died going out over ice to rescue their dog, or even jumping into the sea ....... I used to rant about the madness of this. Crazy!

Then my wife brought this tiny little mini-daxie home. It took about 20 minutes and that was that. Would I risk myself for her? Yep..... A nasty bull terrier with a history of violence came at us while we were on the beach, and so I ran out into the sea with Smew. If I swim a long way she sits on my shoulder or on my chest, depending on the stroke I'm using. I never take my phone or wallet when I'm out with her.

My wife could not have kids...... it makes a massive difference in perspective. I had brats before I met Mrs B....... would I swap Smew to get 'em back? :no:

 

[kashmir]

Several times a year there are news reports of people who died going out over ice to rescue their dog, or even jumping into the sea ....... I used to rant about the madness of this. Crazy!

Then my wife brought this tiny little mini-daxie home. It took about 20 minutes and that was that. Would I risk myself for her? Yep..... A nasty bull terrier with a history of violence came at us while we were on the beach, and so I ran out into the sea with Smew. If I swim a long way she sits on my shoulder or on my chest, depending on the stroke I'm using. I never take my phone or wallet when I'm out with her.

My wife could not have kids...... it makes a massive difference in perspective. I had brats before I met Mrs B....... would I swap Smew to get 'em back? :no:

Cute story.
My cat makes some very unique sounds when wanting me to play with him.
He literally flops his body onto the floor to get my attention, just like a toddler does when pouting, it's too cute.

When he meows, its not just one, its a series of them all different, kind of sounds like he is underwater, its to tell me he cant find his fav ball, so I have to look everywhere for it, and he follows me, when I give up, he does the flop thing.

Ahhh, they just showed a goat and a horse on TV.
They were displaced because of taken from an abusive home.
The goat did not eat for days, and when the horse finally arrived, he ran out instantly and over to the horse, and was kissing all over its face.
Then ate with the horse, they are inseparable.
Those that believe animals do not have feelings like humans do, are wrong.

Here is a very awesome vid to show just how smart dolphins are too.
One had a hook caught on its fin, and "asked" for help.
How can people not realize all animals deserve to be loved too?
The seas are not our garbage disposal, and dont even get me started on those plastic 6 pac rings of soda that animals get stuck in and die, happen way too much, I always cut mine up when done with them, you never know where it will end up.

[youtube]wL9I4BxuryY[/youtube]

 

[jimniki]

Why are we questioning our strive for love and affection.
Does it only come from people?

We spend time and money on our pets because we love them and they love us back...
It's the most inate human feeling....
Most animals I know don't conspire to kill innocent people on masse, only an animal far more vile could do this.... And of course they do it in the name of god.... And you wonder why I'm not not religious....
Sorry to all, I haven't introduced myself yet ...how rude ...I'm Jim...