Friends that don't agree with owning pets

Id simply speak to them about it and say honestly how you feel, they'll either argue with you in which case thats the end of the friendship or they'll understand and be nice if they want to stay friends with you. I cant think there's much else you can do OP? No matter what we say it wont help the situation.

I actually question myself regularly these days about if its fair to keep (and ride) horses, my dog and cat. Im actually thinking I may not get another dog and cat once these ones die. I worry Im not giving them enough all the time, like I feel bad if I let my cat out 24/7 as Ive lost so many to the road so I only let my cat out when Im around to keep an eye on her, is that fair? She'd rather be outside far more Im sure but I battle with the fact Im trying to keep her safe. I worry I dont walk my dog enough and that I have 3 kids so she's basically bottom of the pecking order etc. I keep my horses as naturally as possible, but yes they could have a bigger field (if I could afford it) and should I ride them and ask them to compete? I live for competing but yeah I do question it a lot and dont think Id push my horses so hard anymore. Im in no hurry to move up the levels like I used to be. Its a hard one, but ultimately I keep my view to myself and certainly dont judge anyone else whatever they choose. How could I when Ive owned animals my entire life.
 
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Bellaboo18 said:
They think very idealistically and feel animals should just be running around in the wild. I said I didn't think my thoroughbred would cope very well but then tried to enjoy the rest of the evening...
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I wonder how their beliefs would cope with our cats, who were born wild but chose to become our pets (or rather ordered us, forcibly, to feed them and let them sleep in our house). Presumably we should have let them starve, as nature intended, and ignored them as they yelled outside our back door?
 
Zombie thread but as it's popped up, I'll update it.

So obviously shortly after this post, covid happened so we didn't see each other for a while anyway and then we just never went back to seeing each other as regularly. We've kept in touch but rarely see each other.

All our lives have changed alot, they've since had a little girl which means they've got a new group of friends from her nursery etc and my husbands father passed away so we've been spending more time with family. So as it happens just a natural progression that means we no longer spend much time together.
 
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Cutgrass said:
I've had pets all my life and have recently started to question whether it's right/ethical. It's a really interesting question.
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There is a book called "Covenant of the Wild." It has some compelling ideas on the ethics of domestication.

My own feeling is that since humans domesticated these species it is up to humans to take care of them appropriately. Sure, most cats could survive as feral and some breeds types of cattle, horses, sheep and goats could also go feral without too much problem. But where can these animals go? In some parts of the world they could maybe survive and not get killed by vehicles but mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, wolverines, fishers and so on would feast on most of these animals.

Of course the more refined breeds of horses, cats, goats and sheep and dairy cattle would be sunk. I'm not vegan and don't plan on being so that means ethical care of domesticated animals.

Oh, and I forgot chickens as not being able to survive.
 
GSD Woman said:
There is a book called "Covenant of the Wild." It has some compelling ideas on the ethics of domestication.

My own feeling is that since humans domesticated these species it is up to humans to take care of them appropriately. Sure, most cats could survive as feral and some breeds types of cattle, horses, sheep and goats could also go feral without too much problem. But where can these animals go? In some parts of the world they could maybe survive and not get killed by vehicles but mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, wolverines, fishers and so on would feast on most of these animals.

Of course the more refined breeds of horses, cats, goats and sheep and dairy cattle would be sunk. I'm not vegan and don't plan on being so that means ethical care of domesticated animals.

Oh, and I forgot chickens as not being able to survive.
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Thank you for the book recommendation, I'll have a look for that. And yes all v. true re: domesticated animals not being able to survive now. I can't think of many that would apart from maybe moggies. I guess most breeds of a lot of animals would die out and then hardier ones would live on an eventually prosper?
 
I find it strange that people are like this, it's as if they consider they are superior to you, no they are not, they hold different views. Certainly don't think it through, if everyone decided to veg out there would be no animals kerping the countryside tidy, and scenic.
Yes there are too many animals, but they are there to provide meat and milk to an expanding world population. I'm not convinced that all veggie or vegans are animal advocates, I suspect its egocentric, for health or other reasons.
 
My moggie was 3.4 kg when he lived on the streets, and is now 5kg. He was in a sad state when I got him, 4.4kg, and he'd been in captivity for about four months, no one wanted him. He's now in best of health, lies on my bed every night, purrs steadily. It took me a year to bring him round to accept home comforts, and a bit of fuss. He's a great cat.
 
Even animals have friends of other species. Bob,s best mate is a Magpie. ,sits on Bob when he dozes in the field. When Bob is in the school working , Magpie comes to give advice. Much to annoyance of another Magpie ,possibly Magpie 1,s OH. "no,you cant keep him as a pet ,look at the size of him! " WE are no different ,and for many ,the company of an animal is sometimes all we have.
 
Lying in bed with one cat on me chest, another on his sheep skin cushion at me feet and the other on the warm sky box on a shelf, with unlimited food, I can’t help wondering why they haven’t taken the opportunity to leave to live in the wild.

although an old thread it’s been an interesting read. Was hoping there might be an update at the end too. Thanks OP
 
Bellaboo18 said:
They think very idealistically and feel animals should just be running around in the wild. I said I didn't think my thoroughbred would cope very well but then tried to enjoy the rest of the evening...
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Of all of my ponies, the ones born wild (on the moors) are the ones who will categorically not run off, even if the fence is down. Several times over the years we have had minor fence incidents, and it is always the ex-wild ones who are still IN the field, calling to their friends to come back. They are far too aware of what a cushy life they have with us, and how harsh the reality of being on their own actually is!
 
Caol Ila said:
Here's a question for ethical vegans. I have two sundews and one venus flytrap in my bedroom that catch bugs flying through the window, and I originally bought the sundews to eat the fruit flies that were emerging from some chilli plants I was growing (I got the flytrap long after I'd given up on chilli plants, but I fancied it). The plants are pretty effective. Is that ethical, because a carniverous plant eating insects is a "natural" -- as in non-human -- processs (unlike flypaper or a rolled up newspaper)? Of course, sundews and venus flytraps don't naturally grow in small Glasgow flats, so it isn't a non-human process at all. I'm not personally killing any bugs, but I did make the choice to buy the plants, and I water them so they stay alive and eat more bugs.
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Great idea!

No idea about the ethics of this though… the contentious issue appears to only be when your carnivorous plants own pets?
 
Bellaboo18 said:
So we've got some good friends that I've known since school, it's nice because we get on well as a 4 (my husband gets on well with her husband).
Anyway 2 years ago they became vegetarian a bit later vegan. Absolutely fine, live and let live plus I'm vegetarian anyway. The latest news is they don't agree with owning pets... now I still think fine everyone is welcome to their own views but I'm left with this strange feeling.
Basically my whole life revolves around my animals, the horses and my dog. I suppose I feel it's strange having friends that disagree with my whole lifestyle so much. Thoughts?

Probably important to add although I don't feel they 'preach' about their views, they have a passive aggressive way of glancing at each other or nudging each other when something is mentioned that they don't agree with. Unfortunately for them I mention horses alot :/
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Bellaboo18 said:
So we've got some good friends that I've known since school, it's nice because we get on well as a 4 (my husband gets on well with her husband).
Anyway 2 years ago they became vegetarian a bit later vegan. Absolutely fine, live and let live plus I'm vegetarian anyway. The latest news is they don't agree with owning pets... now I still think fine everyone is welcome to their own views but I'm left with this strange feeling.
Basically my whole life revolves around my animals, the horses and my dog. I suppose I feel it's strange having friends that disagree with my whole lifestyle so much. Thoughts?

Probably important to add although I don't feel they 'preach' about their views, they have a passive aggressive way of glancing at each other or nudging each other when something is mentioned that they don't agree with. Unfortunately for them I mention horses alot :/
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You sound like a very nice tolerant lady. Far more than I could ever be. The old adage, people like people like themselves has some truth. If they don't like your views, or animals, well..........
 
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