I haven’t quite placed myself on the animal rights spectrum from welfarism to abolition yet, but I’d like to think I sit somewhere in the middle. (I plan to analyze the difference between these two sides more in-depth in a later post.) I fully agree with the ultimate philosophy of abolitionism that animals do not exist for our means, but I struggle with the practical aspects of the philosophy. I try to live a lifestyle that does not exploit animals for my benefit, but I recognize that society has been built upon a system that does, and that because of this, society will not shift into a non-exploitative gear within my lifetime.
Gary Francione is the figurehead of the abolitionist approach to animal rights. (You can find his blog at http://www.abolitionistapproach.com Disclaimer: some of the images on his banner are not for the faint of heart.) If you listen to Vegan Freak Radio, like I do, you’ve probably heard quite a bit of his theory already. Gary asserts that all animal domestication is wrong, including the domestication of dogs and cats. He argues that the breeding of dogs and cats for pet ownership is wrong, but that it is our moral obligation to take in those who have already been mistreated.
So in a way, I don’t feel as if he truly answers the question at hand: yes, domestication is wrong, but what about pet ownership? There seems to be a fine line.
The way I see it, I own my pets about as much as a parent owns his or her children. We coexist in the same household, but I am responsible for his or her well being. My responsibility isn’t so much as an owner but as a caretaker, one to protect and make important decisions for my “child” because she is unable to herself. The only difference between the pet and a human child is that the human eventually grows up and learns how to do these things for himself. The animals that we call pets were indeed originally domesticated to serve us in some way (i.e. dogs assisted with hunting and cats kept mice and birds at bay), however, for most of us, this is not true anymore. We open our homes and hearts to provide these animals with a place to play, rest, and love. I hardly feel like I’m exploiting my cat when she rushes into the room, meowing for attention, and then leaps onto my lap or curls up by my feet, purring. I suppose that I see the terms “pet” and “companion animal” as interchangeable.
Some people do abuse and exploit their animals. Some people hoard animals and leave them to saunter around in their own filth. Some people force them to participate in dangerous and debilitating activities. (Michael Vick, anyone?) Some people mutilate and manipulate the bodies of their animals because of their preference and convenience. (This includes the declawing of cats.) These people should not be allowed to have animals. I think that these people should be weeded out through a screening process, perhaps similar to that which one would undergo before adopting a child. Anyone who seeks to take care of another life, human or otherwise, should be able to recognize the responsibility and have the ability to fulfill it.
Now, we do have the matter of the animal breeders who consider the animals to be little more than objects that provide a source of revenue, much like the animals at a feedlot. They have no problem shoving these animals in small cages without providing the exercise or social interaction that the animals require. I agree 110% that this aspect of domestication is wrong and should be fought. However, some people breed animals as a hobby, and, because they don’t breed them in mass amounts, are able and willing to take fine care of them. I fail to see anything wrong with this instance.
I know I personally have not obtained any of my pets from either a breeder or a pet store. All of the cats we’ve had in my lifetime have been adopted: the first, Nicki came to our doorstep as a stray, and we took him in. We adopted a pair of sister kittens, Angel and Cinnamon, from Spay and Save years later. And the lovely feline that currently shares my home, otherwise known as Cleo, was obtained from the SPCA. So I suppose you could say that this is one area where Gary and I do indeed agree: that we are morally obligated to rescue homeless animals. In that way, you are not supporting the breeders.
Finally is what I hope to be my strongest argument. I believe quite strongly that domesticated animals teach us compassion for the earth and the rest of the animal kingdom. It’s hard for me to say exactly where my great love for animals came from, but I am more than willing to bet that it evolved from my daily interactions with my cat, my grandmother’s dog and cats, and the companion animals of my friends. This is where I learned that animals experience emotions, that they can be intelligent in a way separate from how humans classify intelligence, that they each have unique personalities, and most importantly, I learned how to be gentle and kind to them. (This is how some people, who come from rough backgrounds, learn to love.) It was from this seed, which was planted when I was very young, that took root and formed the basis of my great compassion for animal. It turned me into a vegetarian, then an animal activist, then an environmentalist, and now a vegan. And I think that even if the breeding of dogs and cats in harsh mills was to become banned within my lifetime, it would still be important for people to keep companion animals in their homes. Judging by the way things are now, how people seem to place dogs on a higher plane than cows or chickens, I’m willing to bet that puppy mills will vanish before factory farms do. And I think that the experience of interacting with animals will assist in educating people about the great mental and emotional capacity that animals posses. Of course, this lesson would be imperative in the movement towards the eradication of factory farms, and then slaughterhouses- the movement toward a vegan world.
Sources
1. http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/media/pdf/radio_netherlands.pdf
2. http://www.opposingviews.com/questions/should-we-keep-pets
3. http://www.abolitionistapproach.com/about/what-you-can-do-to-help-achieve-abolition/
I highly recommend that you visit the last link. It articulately describes the all the objectives of veganism, and is an excellent article to pass on to anyone who doesn’t understand your veganism.
