Most Americans, like most Japanese, view their dogs, cats, and other animal companions as family members, and rightly so.
I owe my dogs much - more than I can say - but they are not my 'companions' - as if we voluntarily chose to hang out together but none of us has authority over the others. I bought and/or acquired them. I own them. I am profoundly responsible for their care and well being.
I wish people would realize that animals are totally dependent on us, helpless, like children, a trust that is put upon us.
When you raise an animal, you live it like your own child.
the real reason I had wanted to grow up, the main reason I had been willing to even consider becoming an adult, was so I could have as many pets as I wanted.
I'm the best animal lover in the world. There's nobody who takes care of their pets like me...... they are my children.
I'm not opposed to the protection of animals. But the best way to do that is to make sure some human being owns them.
I certainly believe that we have a moral obligation to care for the dogs, cats, and other nonhumans whose existence we have caused or facilitated as part of the institution of 'pet' ownership. But I maintain that we ought to abolish the institution and stop causing or facilitating the existence of more 'companion' animals.
Animals, until you have kids of your own, animals are your kids.
At any rate, we can see that they are given into our care, that we cannot just do whatever we want with them. Animals, too, are God's creatures.
