Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

MarsGirl24 t1_iz9plbe wrote

Reply to comment by sandybananas in Pupper in need by JacquesMouse

The only finances needed to ethically own a pet are the funds for its basic needs (including basic medical care) and the funds to put it down if it gets very hurt or sick.

You belong to the New Hampshire subreddit, so you’re not living in some fictional commune which has somehow created a 100% vegan life. Even if you personally haven’t inflicted harm on any animal in your lifetime, you still benefit from livestock raised and animal products sold within our economy. It’s a dog, and just like cows, horses, pigs, and many other animals it serves a purpose. Similar to how there are more and less ethical ways to raise, for example, laying hens, there are more and less ethical ways to raise pets.

This dog is miserable and because it doesn’t understand and can’t consent to extensive and painful medical treatments, those medical treatments are the equivalent of abuse. Sorry if that makes you sad but it’s the truth.

4

sandybananas t1_iz9wwek wrote

Pets in our culture fulfill a role separate from that of livestock. Often times they are considered part of families. You can argue about how pigs and cows have similar behaviors and capacities for affection but I am speaking specifically to their function in society. So I would consider livestock in this topic to be a false equivalence. In both cases I will always advocate for their ethical treatment.

What does consent look like to you in a dog? If I’m reading body language than I can tell you my dog never consents to making vet visits. It’s kind of silly to equate lack of consent to abuse for an animal. As far as I know most living things are driven to perform functions that prolong their life. Because I have no ability to discern their will than I’m going to default to doing anything I can to give them comfort. If death is the answer than I’ll do that but not if an answer is on the table and not because of money which seems to be the biggest counterpoint. As far as the pain of medical procedures; that’s sometimes part of fixing things that go wrong. People choose procedures everyday to prolong their life.

1

MarsGirl24 t1_iz9y4ce wrote

People choose procedures everyday to prolong their life. Emphasis on CHOOSE.

3

sandybananas t1_iz9ysyy wrote

Reread the part about the clear inability to discern consent from a dog so we have to default to what we know. My dog didn’t choose to live with me and yet here we are.

1