Response to "Cavalieri and Pets."

Response #2

In Emily Burke's blog, she responds to Kim's post about Paola Cavalieri and her view that all animals have basic rights, just like humans. She asks if it is morally acceptable to own a pet. Emily responds by saying it is not morally acceptable. Animals, being used as pets, are taken away from their natural environments only to be the companions to the human race. Kim and Emily both agree that the domestication of animals was unethical because it caused a major interference with their lives and there is no justifiable reason behind doing so. Humans do desire companionship and having a pet is one way of getting that companionship, but Emily argues that humans can find it in other ways like through each other. She asks, "Is the need for companionship a good justification for the domestication of animals?"

This has always been an interesting topic to me because owning pets can be seen as ethical as well as unethical; everyone has their distinct opinion about this one. Dogs were domesticated over 12,000 years ago because humans wanted help hunting and herding animals. The companionship was an added bonus. Now there are over a hundred different dog breeds. Sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs were domesticated between 9000-7000 BC, and cats, before 3000 BC. Before domestication, these animals were part of the 'wild.' They had to hunt for food and strive for survival. Being domesticated gives them a steady and reliable source of food, shelter, safety and love. As long as the animals are not being abused or mistreated but rather respected and greatly taken care for, than I see no problems with having pets.

Pets are a large part of my family. Among us, we have several cats, dogs, chickens, a goat, fish, and a ferret. We supply them with adequate food, fresh air, warmth, medical attention, and everything else they need and require to live a happy lifestyle. I worked at a veterinary clinic for two years in high school and I saw a lot of people who loved their animals more than anything and who treated them like part of the family. On the other hand, I saw abused and abandoned animals as well as a ton of strays. It breaks my heart but I still believe having pets is ethical, even for companionship reasons. I know my pets are much better off in my care than on their own. It is much better to take a pet in then have them live their lives in shelters, pet stores, or out on their own barley surviving. Now that us humans have domesticated animals, it is our responsibility to take care of them. We can't change the past and undo domestication but we can give our pets a future.

My question to you is: If a person raises his or her own chickens, cows, or pigs and gives them a fulfilling life but kills them for consumption after some time, can this be seen as ethical? How does this method of farming compare to factory farming?