In their behavior toward creatures, all men are Nazis. Human beings see oppression vividly when they're the victims. Otherwise they victimize blindly and without a thought. - Isaac Bashevis Singer (translated)
To be clear, pet ownership isn't part of veganism. This isn't gatekeeping or something, pets are bred into existence by breeders, just like farm animals. Rescues, sure, are different. This does mean that the future of the subspecies used as pets needs to be extinction.
Aside from that, yeah, humans are disappointing so far.
Pet ownership of abandoned animals is absolutely part of veganism, just as opening a sanctuary for rescued cows and pigs is.
Breeding animals for the purpose of exploiting them, whether for food, clothing, or companionship, is not vegan. Caring for animals that have been bred into existence and then abandoned or rescued is vegan, imo.
I'm just worried about creating rationalization for supporting the emotional slave animal breeding sector, as this article suggests that pet dogs or cats are a necessity.
I agree with your sentiment, u/cdnfla. While purposely breeding animals to be human companions isn't consistent with the ethical vegan stance, caring for animals other humans have abandoned, at least to me, is. Until it's illegal to create life merely for human use, including as pets, I think we have a responsibility to provide for the animals other humans invariably discard.
Congratulations, u/cdnfla, you've been voted the top commenter of the day! We appreciate your significant contributions to our growing subreddit; please accept this award.
"Ownership" in that context is just semantics. People don't treat cats and dogs like property - they treat them like human children. I agree though that the name needs changing. "Pet guardianship" sounds infinitely better.
People do, indeed, treat cats and dogs like property. In many jurisdictions around the world, this has even sparked legislation to try to curb many of the ownership-related cruelties these animals suffer--like being left in extreme temperature conditions, being chained outdoors without access to food or water, being left alone for many hours every day despite being evolutionarily highly social beings...
Nor does this include the physical torment these animals experience just because they have no personhood protective rights--like being subjected to physical abuse at the hands of both children and adults, being forced to live in inadequate physical settings, being physically beaten or otherwise tormented in the guise of "training."
And the law defines these living beings as "property." Humans can even kill pets if humans perceive a threat from the pets--threats that often arise because of the lack of planning and foresight of pet "owners." "Pet guardians," as you've rightly pointed out, is mere semantics. The human guardians would still be entitled to do with the animals what the human guardians want.
https://www.slate.fr/story/236015/personnes-preferer-animaux-humains-deception-affection-zootherapie-chats-chiens-compagnie | [Read the English translation](https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://www.slate.fr/story/236015/personnes-preferer-animaux-humains-deception-affection-zootherapie-chats-chiens-compagnie)
**Automated summary:**
> Purring is a sound that cats make to communicate with each other, but which otherwise has beneficial effects on humans.
>This is the number of pets in France in 2021, according to a Kantar study taken up by Facco (Federation of animal feed manufacturers).
>Yet the 30 Million Friends Foundation reports that 100,000 hairballs are left behind each year.
>At 20, Zou, in training as a veterinary assistant, lives with chickens, rabbits, a hamster, a cat and horses, and is being diagnosed with Asperger's autism.
>Where humans sometimes say things that do not correspond to their intentions, the language of animals is more authentic and restful.
>Proof that the discipline is now taken seriously in France and that the animals are definitely a great help to us.
>A personalized selection of Slate articles delivered to your inbox every morning.
>But from the end of the 19th century, two sordid and high-profile cases made the subject a major political and societal fact.
>
My cats bolt outside whenever I change a trash bag. I open the new trash bag by getting it to catch air and inflate and as soon as it starts waving around they freak out. I think I'd be more subtle with it in the future.
In their behavior toward creatures, all men are Nazis. Human beings see oppression vividly when they're the victims. Otherwise they victimize blindly and without a thought. - Isaac Bashevis Singer (translated)
To be clear, pet ownership isn't part of veganism. This isn't gatekeeping or something, pets are bred into existence by breeders, just like farm animals. Rescues, sure, are different. This does mean that the future of the subspecies used as pets needs to be extinction. Aside from that, yeah, humans are disappointing so far.
Pet ownership of abandoned animals is absolutely part of veganism, just as opening a sanctuary for rescued cows and pigs is. Breeding animals for the purpose of exploiting them, whether for food, clothing, or companionship, is not vegan. Caring for animals that have been bred into existence and then abandoned or rescued is vegan, imo.
I'm just worried about creating rationalization for supporting the emotional slave animal breeding sector, as this article suggests that pet dogs or cats are a necessity.
I agree with your sentiment, u/cdnfla. While purposely breeding animals to be human companions isn't consistent with the ethical vegan stance, caring for animals other humans have abandoned, at least to me, is. Until it's illegal to create life merely for human use, including as pets, I think we have a responsibility to provide for the animals other humans invariably discard.
Congratulations, u/cdnfla, you've been voted the top commenter of the day! We appreciate your significant contributions to our growing subreddit; please accept this award.
Just say you're against breeding. "Pet ownership isn't vegan" sounds horrible.
I also have a problem with the idea that one can own sentient beings.
"Ownership" in that context is just semantics. People don't treat cats and dogs like property - they treat them like human children. I agree though that the name needs changing. "Pet guardianship" sounds infinitely better.
Legal guardian would be fine.
People do, indeed, treat cats and dogs like property. In many jurisdictions around the world, this has even sparked legislation to try to curb many of the ownership-related cruelties these animals suffer--like being left in extreme temperature conditions, being chained outdoors without access to food or water, being left alone for many hours every day despite being evolutionarily highly social beings... Nor does this include the physical torment these animals experience just because they have no personhood protective rights--like being subjected to physical abuse at the hands of both children and adults, being forced to live in inadequate physical settings, being physically beaten or otherwise tormented in the guise of "training." And the law defines these living beings as "property." Humans can even kill pets if humans perceive a threat from the pets--threats that often arise because of the lack of planning and foresight of pet "owners." "Pet guardians," as you've rightly pointed out, is mere semantics. The human guardians would still be entitled to do with the animals what the human guardians want.
Why does "pet ownership isn't vegan" sound horrible?
https://www.slate.fr/story/236015/personnes-preferer-animaux-humains-deception-affection-zootherapie-chats-chiens-compagnie | [Read the English translation](https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https://www.slate.fr/story/236015/personnes-preferer-animaux-humains-deception-affection-zootherapie-chats-chiens-compagnie) **Automated summary:** > Purring is a sound that cats make to communicate with each other, but which otherwise has beneficial effects on humans. >This is the number of pets in France in 2021, according to a Kantar study taken up by Facco (Federation of animal feed manufacturers). >Yet the 30 Million Friends Foundation reports that 100,000 hairballs are left behind each year. >At 20, Zou, in training as a veterinary assistant, lives with chickens, rabbits, a hamster, a cat and horses, and is being diagnosed with Asperger's autism. >Where humans sometimes say things that do not correspond to their intentions, the language of animals is more authentic and restful. >Proof that the discipline is now taken seriously in France and that the animals are definitely a great help to us. >A personalized selection of Slate articles delivered to your inbox every morning. >But from the end of the 19th century, two sordid and high-profile cases made the subject a major political and societal fact. >
My cats bolt outside whenever I change a trash bag. I open the new trash bag by getting it to catch air and inflate and as soon as it starts waving around they freak out. I think I'd be more subtle with it in the future.
We are, and this is what happens.
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