[lisaanne]

This is so sad for these people. I hope something positive will come from this very traumatic event.<br><br><br><br><a href="http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/courts-ponder-value-of-mans-best-friend/20061204032809990003" target="_blank">http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a...04032809990003</a>

 

[peace]

While I believe pet-keeping American in general are ready to start thinking of their pets as more than objects of property, I don't think the American gov't is ready to acknowledge this.<br><br><br><br>
If the gov't says that cats and dogs are not simple chattel, it will have to acknowledge that cats and dogs in puppy mills, research labs, commercial breeding operations, racetracks, and hunting/security kennels all deserve standards above those of property. Since businesses and governments benefit and profit from institutions that exploit companion animals, rewriting the law would be very dangerous in their eyes.

 

[bekajoi]

Voted. Upwards of 70% for yes, to compensate and that they are companions not property. THAT's good, at least.

 

[jojob1969]

I voted. Pets are not objects, they are individuals. The people were wrong to not have the dogs on a leash in a strange neighborhood, but that does not justify the shooting of the dog. The dog did not know any better. If a child had wandered off on to that man's property, would he have shot the child?

 

[Sevenseas]

No animal is property, pet or not.

 

[evilvegan]

What is a life worth these days, anyway? I voted.

 

[GhostUser]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>Sevenseas</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br>
No animal is property, pet or not.</div>
</div>
<br><br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/yes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":yes:">

 

[troub]

pets are property.<br><br><br><br>
which is why I support the abolishment of puppy mills and the pet industry, and therefore pets themselves.<br><br><br><br>
Can they leave on their own will whenever they want to? Would you let them? If fido wanted to go chase after bunnies like he was given instincts to do, would you let him? Or is he kept in a cage? A house sized cage? A backyard sized cage?<br><br><br><br>
pets are slavery, yes <i>nice</i> slavery, but slavery nonetheless.<br><br><br><br>
This isn't saying that I foresee the abolishment of the pet industry in my lifetime, or a few lifetimes, but I still support it as a long term idealistic goal. And since we should live the way we believe, I won't have any more pets. I would perhaps offer rescue services, but any animal I did rescue would be transfered to a sanctuary that could take them after a rehabilitation time.

 

[troub]

And laws protecting 'companion animals' make no logical sense to me. A pig has a similar if not higher cognitive level than a dog, and yet a dog is protected and a pig is not? Where is the logic in that? Or is it simply we much protect the soft and cuddly animals?<br><br><br><br>
Why do people get so much more upset when hearing of Asian countries eating dog meat, while people right around the corner eat pig meat? Grammy-jo and her hotdog is just as bad as grammy-son eating her real "hotdog".

 

[Lilith]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by <strong>troub</strong> <a href="/forum/post/0"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style=""></a><br><br><br>
This isn't saying that I foresee the abolishment of the pet industry in my lifetime, or a few lifetimes, <b>but I still support it as a long term idealistic goal.</b> And since we should live the way we believe, I won't have any more pets. I would perhaps offer rescue services, but any animal I did rescue would be transfered to a sanctuary that could take them after a rehabilitation time.</div>
</div>
<br>
Troub, I agree with you, this will be ideal. But for the here and now, to offer homes to right now to the needing animals who need a loving place in our care, we need to focus our attention on treating these souls to a safe place in our care

 

[das_nut]

Why is is companions OR property?<br><br><br><br>
Why can't it be both?<br><br><br><br>
PS: The shooter sounds like a creep.

 

[Scythe]

News polls are just as useless no matter how many options they have.

 

[sunshinegal]

What a sad story. That shooter sounds like your typical ignorant old man. He deserves to go to jail as far as I am concerned.<br><br><br><br>
Anyway, I would love pets to be companions only, but I am not willing to let my cat run around and do whatever instincts they have because other people are too dangerous. The last thing I would want is for some kids to get a hold of him and hurt him. So while I think of him as my best friend and companion, he is sort of my property too. I would never give him up and I can't let him be free. He is as free as he will ever get by being indoors and roaming the outside screened in porch.