to think it's time we stopped keeping "pets?"

[Hullygully]

Why do we still do this?

Apart from working animals, guide/guard dogs etc, isn't it odd that we keep animals in our homes? Expensive, huge amounts of waste that has to be dealt with, extermination of songbirds etc etc

Yes?
No?

Am discussing with dd, so interested in views!

yy, it has all got so skewed that it is difficult to see how we might do things differently.

At the very least I would issue licences for both breeders and owners with very stiff penalties for contravention.

"Hully my issue with keeping pets is less the cost and environmental damage, but the whole domination thing. What gives me the right to enslave and sterilise this other living creature, just for my convenience and enjoyment?"

I agree with you. But that is the bed we, as homo sapiens, have made for ourselves. Not just regarding pets, but regarding every other species on the planet. At least pets, like 'vermin' are exploiting the situation a bit - animal collaborators They'll be first up against the wall come the revolution!

I agree. I saw this thread and couldn't be bothered to reply until I read THIS, this morning:

Pet Hippo Humphrey Mauls His Owner to Death

Why the hell would ANYONE keep a HIPPO as a pet?? I am absolutely disgusted by this, and serves the idiot right for thinking he could tame a wild animal.

So well agree I win? Spiffing.

I guess people keep exotic animals as status symbols, one up manship, the ego boost of feeling that you are in charge of a large powerful animal (I think the same can apply with some dogs)

but yeah, a hippo!! wtf??

I know some people get alot of pleasure from animal companions, the unconditional love (or at least the appearance of it) from a dog.

Pets leave me cold, I dont have any, just another thing to look after and take care of.

I dropped my '

How veh rude.

The majority of pet ownership is cruel to the pet animal or devastating to the wildlife around it. Noone should be allowed to have a pet unless they have the possibility to ensure the best quality of life for that pet and their immediate environment. (Space, know how and sufficient finances)

Wild cockatoos usually fly free and hang out with 100's of their closest relatives - not really doable at home or in a little aviary.

Dogs live and thrive in family packs. They should be able to bounce, jump and run with their family, when the notion takes them, not only when it's walk time.

Cats need space to roam. Too many cats in a small space destroys the local ecology. (In addition to arguements with neighbours about cat poo.) Only a farm can really provide the area they need.

etc.

I think I'll breed up some pets snails to encourge a few hedgehogs to take up residence at the end of our garden. They are so cute.

Our cat keeps the house free of mice and usually frightens off the moles. He eats up scraps too.

I dislike the whole pet concept. It is very selfish as most people just keep them to satisfy their own needs for company, something to fuss over and stroke, something to teach their kids this that or the other.
Most animals are better off in the wild with their own kind, or would be if we hadn't selectively bred some of them to suit our quirks re tails and fluffiness and ruined their habitats.
Imagine if another species kept people as pets. I've read novels where this happens and it never makes me think "oh yea, I've been wrong about this pet thing it'd be much more fun living a pampered (or miserable) life with another species than being with my family and having my freedom.
All the time and money put into pets should be put into preserving wild habitats for wild animals. Existing pets should be allowed to die naturally and not breed. Suspect you'd then get a black market in them with them commanding huge prices much like in Dick's novel (do androids dream of electric sheep) though.

much the same reasons we have children then?
Having kids is pretty selfish too

When I think about it, Piffle, I think the comparison is more apt in gender terms than in child-rearing ones. After all, children are raised to gain their own independence. But there are a lot of similarities between pets in human society and women in a patriarchy: "something to fuss over and stroke, something to teach their kids this that or the other..."

2rebecca - so the only dogs would be (vastly expensive) rejects from assistance dog training (inc guide dogs), sheepdogs who aren't much cop at herding and meek guard dogs?

I think we should stop people from breeding and have more pets instead. They are much nicer than children and they never become teenagers.

@ 2rebecca' Imagine if another species kept people as pets.'
if this were the case there would probably be a large gap in intellect between the humans and the species keeping them as pets.
Ie, one that is commensurate with the gap between humans and their animal pets.

The humans wouldnt be able to figure out whats going on any more than a dog can ponder it's situation.

We may already be the pets of some more highly evolved alien species

We may indeed. :)

Dogs and cats would breed on their own if left to their own devices.

and (afaik) if the different breeds of dogs mated randomly the result after a few generations would drift back towards a wolfish looking creature. It would loose the playful puppy like characteristics that we have selected for in domestic dogs.

I'm not sure about that - we've probably selectively bred for a lot of recessive genes. Mongrels tend towards being pleasant midsize mutts with unwolflike characters, don't they?

I love my teenagers, as far as I'm concerned my kids have become more interesting and fun to be round as they have got older.
Perhaps part of my anti-pet feeling is a dislike of having things totally dependant on me for their food, emotional support and entertainment. I like seeing my kids getting older and more independant, and prefer seeing animals in the wild rather than having a dog constantly yapping round my ankles wanting me to stroke it and take it for walks.
Maybe women who want a constant supply of pets to stroke and follow them around are the same ones who love babies but find their children more difficult and less lovable as they get older and hate it when their kids go to school or college.

OhDoAdmit Yes it is :)

Street dogs and the like, products of unrestricted breeding, all tend to look rather similar and spitz-y in appearance - pointed ears, mid-length pointed muzzle, no extremes of size, none of the puppylike characteristics we aim for in pet dogs (shortened muzzles, floppy ears, big heads/eyes, unnatural stature etc.)

Maybe women who want a constant supply of pets to stroke and follow them around are the same ones who love babies but find their children more difficult and less lovable as they get older and hate it when their kids go to school or college.

Nope, that doesn't fit me. But I don't want my dog to 'follow me around'.

Perhaps part of my anti-pet feeling is a dislike of having things totally dependant on me for their food, emotional support and entertainment

Perhaps part of my anti-pet feeling is a dislike of having things totally dependant on me for their food, emotional support and entertainment
Grimma, that pretty much sums up my reasons for not wanting any pets!

PETA...omg, they have a very warped view on keeping pets... Be afraid...be very afraid all you pet owners!!!

MrBloom My niece's godmother was killed on her own honeymoon by a hippo :(. They kill more people in Africa than any other animal.

Feral cats are in the top 5 most invasive species of the world. They've wiped out whole species.