Reconciling veg* with pets

2375 Views 30 Replies 20 Participants Last post by rabid_child, Nov 12, 2007

OrchidPop

Discussion Starter · Nov 4, 2007

Hi. I am a vegetarian that follows vegan principles to a large degree. I have 8 beautiful birds (finches) that I live with; several I adopted from a friend; the others from Petco. Recently, I've been having difficulty that I have these creatures that I am "keeping" in a very visible cage; it seems to be in conflict with veg* principles.

Has this been an issue for others? I did a search before writing this, without anything jumping out.

1 - 20 of 31 Posts

lunatilian

· #2 · Nov 4, 2007

honestly i see no problem in keeping pets as long as it is for the right reasons. i don't have birds because i'm really not a bird person but i do have a cat and a dog. they aren't even really my pets, they're my family and i couldn't imagine life without them.

i also keep fish and while the relationship with them is obviously not the same i don't feel that i am mistreating them in any way.

GhostUser

· #3 · Nov 4, 2007

Well, you already have these animals, and they cannot be returned to the wild, so the best you can do is make sure they are as happy as possible, you know?

For the record, I don't think its always wrong to have pets.

HUDDY

· #4 · Nov 4, 2007

I don't think that there's anything wrong with it. I think that if you provide them with a loving and caring home its awesome. We adopted a dog recently, and I would dread to think of what might have happened to him if we hadn't taken him in. Knowing that we can give him a loving home and good life is a great feeling.

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HUDDY

· #5 · Nov 4, 2007

Oh-by the way-his name is Kingston, and he's another boxer!

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Cornflower

· #6 · Nov 4, 2007

The biggest conflict I have is feeding meat to my cat. I can't in good conscience put him on a vegan diet, but at the same time I read the ingredient list in his cat food and it is just attrocious, stuff I would NEVER buy for myself! I do buy special (and expensive!) cat food that doesn't contain animal "byproducts" but still...

Just_Kris

· #7 · Nov 4, 2007

I have two girls. Merlot is an Australian shepherd that we adopted from a local shelter, and Sable is a siberian husky (in my avatar) that we adopted from some morons who threatened to send her to the pound at 6 months of age. I refer to them as my girls because they are so much like children including sleeping on the bed with us. Since they are both bigger dogs, their chances of being adopted were much slimmer and they would have been more likely to be put down. Instead, they are happy, healthy and part of my family!

Libellula

· #8 · Nov 4, 2007

we have two cats that we absolutely love and adore. I would rather provide my animals a happy life in my home, than risk them getting hit by a car or killed by another animal out in the wild. They are definitely housecats. One loves sniffing the air from the open windows, and they both love cuddling. They're my babies. Since they are obligate carnivores, I choose to live with that.

Beachbnny

· #9 · Nov 4, 2007

I'd say that if an animal is going to die and I save his/her life and give them a good home, then I'm doing a good thing. My biggest issue is with supporting pet stores, breeders etc. when so many are dying and starving every day.

nobodyreal

· #10 · Nov 4, 2007

I'm surprised how many vegans think that having birds in cages is acceptable. A dog, fine, they enjoy human company. A cat I don't have a problem with, but a bird? Confined to a cage? Not in conflict with Vegan principles?

Libellula

· #11 · Nov 4, 2007

we got our cats from a rescue in our area.. they would have stayed with the rescue family all their lives, but we felt better helping the rescue out with the adoption fees and adopting two ADORABLE rescue kitties whom we love

i had one climbing up my leg this morning for his ribbon.. LOL

Calhoun07

· #12 · Nov 4, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrchidPop

Hi. I am a vegetarian that follows vegan principles to a large degree. I have 8 beautiful birds (finches) that I live with; several I adopted from a friend; the others from Petco. Recently, I've been having difficulty that I have these creatures that I am "keeping" in a very visible cage; it seems to be in conflict with veg* principles.

Has this been an issue for others? I did a search before writing this, without anything jumping out.

I can't imagine how you keeping them in a humane cage with plenty of room could ever compare to the horrific nature birds live with on factory farms crammed in cages.

You are keeping them safe and being a guardian to the animals. It seems to me that you are doing what any responsible vegan should do.

thalestral

· #13 · Nov 4, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by nobodyreal

I'm surprised how many vegans think that having birds in cages is acceptable. A dog, fine, they enjoy human company. A cat I don't have a problem with, but a bird? Confined to a cage? Not in conflict with Vegan principles?

But what would you propose we do with all the birds waiting in rescues for a home? What other way of looking after them is safe?

HUDDY

· #14 · Nov 5, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by thalestral

But what would you propose we do with all the birds waiting in rescues for a home? What other way of looking after them is safe?

I agree with you Thalestral-they couldn't be returned to the wild as they are already domesticated and probably wouldn't survive. Isn't it better to provide them with a safe and loving home, with access to food and clean water? I used to have a budgie when I was younger, and I'd leave his cage door open for a couple of hours a day so he could have a fly around the house if he wanted (obviously with 8 finches probably alot more difficult!). I don't believe that he was restricted in any way

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OrchidPop

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 5, 2007

Hi all. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this! I consider them my "babies", and couldn't imagine sharing life without them. I try to give them a good and loving home, and would never just put them out. But as nobodyreal mentioned, it is a bit conflicting to me to put other sentient beings in a cage when they are helping me to feel loved.

Mrrple

· #16 · Nov 5, 2007

Yeah sometimes I wish my pets didn't eat meat, but I respect that they eat meat for a reason. I realize the meat I feed them isn't something that they would be eating naturally, but I still try to understand that doing anything else could put their health at risk and that's enough to make me feel a lot better about serving them.

But yeah domesticated birds don't usually survive in the wild so I think that you keeping them is okay as long as they're happy :]

Ezzie

· #17 · Nov 5, 2007

do you let them out to spread their wings occasionally? (i'm sure that's a sexual reference.. but alas i'm tired so apologies ^_^)

as long as you're letting them have a little fly about the house (not outside obviously

) i don't see the harm. Just keeping them in a cage constantly would be well.. very boring for them to say the least

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Fromper

· #18 · Nov 5, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by nobodyreal

I'm surprised how many vegans think that having birds in cages is acceptable. A dog, fine, they enjoy human company. A cat I don't have a problem with, but a bird? Confined to a cage? Not in conflict with Vegan principles?

As long as the cage isn't overly cramped, how is keeping a bird caged any different from keeping a dog in an apartment or house? Most bird cages are big enough for them to move around, climb the sides, have toys to play with, etc. It's more cramped than their natural environment, but it's also a lot safer.

And as for enjoying human company, you should have seen the way my feathered roommate (RIP

) used to respond when I came home from work. He'd squawk until I picked him up and cuddled with him some, then let him sit on my shoulder for a while. And it wasn't just that he wanted out of his cage, either. Most of his life, I didn't force him to stay in the cage except to sleep. He had a playpen that he usually stayed on and he could walk around my apartment any time he wanted. I'd only put him in his cage to sleep at night and to take him somewhere (the cage was his car seat).

These days, I wouldn't get another bird just because the only place to get them is from people who intentionally breed them as pets. I refuse to support that industry when there are all those animals in shelters that need good homes. But I certainly don't think keeping birds in your home is cruel.

--Fromper

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ashlend

· #19 · Nov 6, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beachbnny

I'd say that if an animal is going to die and I save his/her life and give them a good home, then I'm doing a good thing. My biggest issue is with supporting pet stores, breeders etc. when so many are dying and starving every day.

ITA.

troub

· #20 · Nov 6, 2007

I don't agree with animal husbandry as it steals away the freedom of animals. Birds especially make this case evident. An animal which coveys the very concept of freedom, is enslaved within the confines of a cage, limiting them from performing their very nature: flight.

Current birds in cages, however, are a bit trickier. Setting a cockatiel free, for example, is a bad choice in the northwestern U.S. It is going to die after suffering from the harsh winter. So in that case one has to consider the very best for the animal outside of human desires.

I am also against the keeping of dogs and cats, but as with the birds, we must take into consideration, both the ideal and the realistic, while one day we might hope to give them freedom, current "pets" must be cared for. The only logical way to combine the two is through a multi-generational phasing out or reintroduction into wild herds/flocks.

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