To think we could ban pets and use these instead

[Freinddilemma]

No, its not the exact same thing as owning a pet. But...
I absolutely love animals amd totally understand the value of having them but am increasingly feeling like theres something wrong about actually "owning" an animal. I also hate how anyone can just go out and buy a life like that.
What if the AI on these things got super advanced and we just made living pet ownership illegal?

Fine if it's an option for people who want it, can't manage the demands of a live pet, etc, but personally, I don't feel there is anything remotely wrong with responsible pet ownership, and I have no desire to stop having living pets for as long as I am physically and mentally able to care for them properly. I definitely don't believe pets should be banned. I'm actually contemplating another dog one day in the not too distant future. They add so much to my life, and there is every evidence that they are happy, too. The alternative would be that they wouldn't exist at all, because domesticated dogs are not some wild animal meant to roam free.

I’ll stick with my actual alive pet! He’s pampered and cosseted and leads a charmed life!

I can see pets being replaced by things like these. Personally I don't think I'd have any use for them. I also have no use for animals as pets, you have to invest money and time to look after them and you get nothing in return.

You get unadulterated joy in return!!

Or you could not buy a pet and rescue one that’s already alive and needs a loving home.

Or you could stop eating meat and save a few animals from a life of torture?

These would be good substitutes for the idiots who can’t be bothered to spay / neuter their cats, or people who just get pets because their children want them.

Or both.

Having watched Ann Droid, I think what some people who get pets want is a Linda.

Well I will keep my living, breathing dog thank you - and he agrees with me 😃.
I don't eat meat if that is any help.

I still feel guilty about how mistreated that poor, poor Tamagotchi was 🤔 And the Furby 😔 Poor things, it was brutal and tragic 😭

I agree op, fewer pets overall means a reduction in strays, unwanted and mistreated pets. Which is a win for reducing animal suffering I also want a higher barrier to entry to get a pet.

If picking up shit gives you unadulterated joy, fair enough, but there are other things you could try.

If joy in picking up shit was all it came down to, pet owners would be queuing up for jobs cleaning toilets.

Do you think picking up shit is the sum total of having a pet? I'm sad for you.

I love my 3 dogs huge amounts but yes there are too many dogs not looked after well enough so an AI ‘pet’ is fine.

In general (without euthanasia) I want there to be fewer dogs as I basically am going to end up with ten rescues as I love them so much. So a mass neutering programme would be good, ban back yard breeders etc

It’s really funny that people go on about dog poo, I personally find that the easiest thing about having dogs

We should ban breeding for cash.

Rescue pets need homes, and cats breed like wildfire when left un-spayed roaming the streets.

No thanks!

Why would it have to be one or the other?

It would take generations but yes if we banned breeding, that combined with legally required neutering/spaying would see pets phased out

People who don't like dogs seem to have a strange fixation on their poo and bums. It comes up on every thread like this.

My dog was a rescue, and she was my companion for over 15 years. She made me get out the house, accompanied me on holidays, and gave me years and years of memories that I will always cherish.
You can't have any of that with what you are suggesting.

My cats came from rescue. They're neutered, microchipped and vaccinated. I live on my own and they give me a lot of joy. When I go away they're looked after responsibly and I factor in that cost. I'm not interested in one of those inanimate things as a substitute.

My little rescue cat wouldn’t have survived if I hadn’t taken her in. She was found at about 6 weeks old with a severe case of cat flu and no sign of mum. I took her home with the view that I would make her last few days comfortable as she wasn’t expected to survive.

A year later, I’ve got a feisty and very small cat who is prone to respiratory problems but otherwise absolutely fine. I don’t believe I own her, she’s my little buddy and I adore her. Not sure a pretend pet would be the same.