Bottongos.com

Committed for Better Business

Pets are extraordinary creatures. They are:

o Masters of life in the moment and in the art of simplicity

o Reflections of a forgotten, presynthetic, more complete world

o Reminders of the silent strength and dignity of unmodified creation with

o Guardians of gifts that we have lost or never had

o Ambassadors of loyalty, love, forgiveness, acceptance, fun and truth that are not measured or retained

o Recipients of our amazement, respect, love – and in need of the care that will bring them the fullness of health that only comes from obeyed nature.

Animals do not benefit better by imposing on them all the elements of modern life. All the principles about genetic background, medical hazards, and preventive care apply equally well to pets. Our choice to live unhealthily is a crime against ourselves. To impose such reckless decisions on others, children and pets, that they have no real options, is an even greater crime.

Although pets are often treated like surrogate human babies, that’s not what they are. If we pamper them with modernity we will condemn them to the cruelty of the diseases of modern life. Obesity, cancer, allergies, arthritis, dental disease and the like devastate modern pets as they do their owners. These preventable conditions are essentially absent in wild populations.

Pets deserve our understanding and respect. They are not what we are. We may be superior in our factories and in our computers, but they are superior in their tool-less senses and intuitive abilities to survive in the wild. Life for them is bound to be challenging and interesting. That can’t happen at the end of a chain or on a couch. In order for them to be healthy, they must be allowed as much freedom as possible and we must engage with them every day.

The healthiest place for animals is their natural environment. But since not all of us are going to let our pets loose on what is left of nature anytime soon, the onus is on us to create as many “wild animals” for them as possible. That would include exercise, fresh air, sunshine, real natural food, fun, excitement, and company. If we choose to have a pet, maintaining its life and health is a moral duty.

Dogs and cats are carnivores and retain all the wild abilities that we have forgotten. They are smart because that is what they have to be to catch their prey. If that’s not obvious, drop your clothes and supplies and head into the woods for a couple of weeks’ stay. See if it’s easy to catch food that your pet could easily catch if left in the same spot. Their intelligence is one of the things that draws us to them, but it is also something that they demand of us. Incarcerating people is a severe punishment due to the intellectual and social needs of humans. Incarcerating animals as pets is also a punishment unless we modify their prison with the accessories they naturally need.

The right to have pets does not mean we should, and neither does our right to have children. We should not bite off more than we can responsibly chew. A pet is not a toy, an appliance, or a piece of wood for carving. We do not have the “right” to carve them to our liking with spaying, neutering, declawing, debarking, vegetarianization, ear trimming, dewclaw removal, and tail docking. (This is not to say that the pet population problem we create does not require a remedy like spay surgeries.)

They are not throwaway things to get on a whim and then put aside when the novelty wears off or when they become inconvenient or burdensome. This applies not only to cats and dogs, but to all creatures, including horses confined to pens where every patch of grass is turned to dust and goldfish bought in a bag as a surprise ‘for the kids’. The fact that an animal is different from us is not an excuse for abuse or neglect. The way we treat our fellow man is a direct reflection of who we are on the inside. Gandhi wisely said: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

Dogs and cats are a 15-20 year commitment. During that time, we are responsible for the needs of a baby, a teenager, a pubescent, an adult and an elderly person. Although they grow, the daily demands of caregivers are no different from those of a never-growing baby. They must be fed at every meal, their dishes must be washed, and their toilet needs must be attended to. We should bathe and comb them and maybe fight fleas, ticks, and worms. Your nails may need to be trimmed, cleaned of their dirt, and repaired for any damage they may cause. We must respond to their crying, take them to the doctor, and provide almost constant care.

Compressed in your years are most of the things we experience in our own lives. They can be ‘good’, they can be ‘bad’ (in our terms). They can bring joy, sadness, fear, and love. They will need medical attention (little, however, if things are done correctly), they will suffer accidents and may succumb to illness. We will have to experience his death and perhaps face the option of interrupting his pain with euthanasia. We will suffer greatly for the loss of a wonderful friend.

Having and properly caring for a pet throughout its life is a personal decision due to the commitment it implies. Therefore, giving pets to children or friends is presumptuous and irresponsible. Sending pets for extended stays in caged boarding facilities (the equivalent of humane prisons) is also no obligation or responsibility. Yes, this may be necessary occasionally, but it can be a great trauma for pets. They have no idea if they will ever come back, and their stay in a pen or cage is not their home, no matter how well caretakers take care of them.

If you get a pet to teach children responsibility, forget it. No matter how much they claim they will do all the care, they won’t. Allow yourself a week or two of enthusiasm for pet maintenance work at best. Then guess who will take care of the pet.

The point is that the excitement of getting something new, like a car, a television or a coat, should not be transferred to obtaining a pet. They are not low maintenance and cannot be put aside when the excitement subsides.

Now, if you personally decide to take responsibility, save a life at the same time by getting a pet from your local animal shelter or animal shelter. These facilities are often overflowing with discarded pets left by people who didn’t put thought before emotion. (It is incomprehensible how people can abandon the family pet in such a facility. It is like putting an innocent person in jail to be executed). Breeders should not be required until there are no pets left in the shelter. There is already a pet overpopulation problem, so why not help solve it instead of contributing to it?

It is also better and kinder for everyone involved to have two pets. This will decrease the demands to occupy their time, as they will enjoy each other’s company. It is arguably inhumane (should be illegal) to imprison in solitary confinement a creature designed for the freedom of nature. A pet left alone in a cage, at home or on a chain for extended periods while we go about our interesting work and social life is not fair.

Pets are a responsibility, a burden, a concern, and sometimes many problems. But what they return with innocent love and devotion, and health benefits to their owners, makes costs one of life’s best bargains.

What we get out of it aside, owning a pet is a serious responsibility that extends far beyond the exhilaration of watching the antics of a kitten or puppy. It requires serious commitment, as well as the circumstances and knowledge to properly care for them throughout their lives. If that’s not possible, vent your affection for the animals by helping out at the local shelter or humane society, taking care of pets, or volunteering at the zoo.

Another option is to think of animals in terms other than “pet.” Owning animals is not the only way to show affection and concern for them. Actively participate in environmental actions that restore and protect the natural habitats of animals. Just observing animals in nature and respecting them for what they are is also love.

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