Why is it that people who call themselves animal lovers are some of the same people who abuse them?

Question

Why do people have several huge dogs in small places where they can't truly be a dog, and why do who love cats set 20-40 cats loose in a house and never clean up their feces?
It seems to me if someone was truly an animal lover, they would not be so selfish, and would consider the animals happiness before their own. Bunnies in cages, and dogs on chains never look very satisfied with their lives to me. Maybe some people claim they are.... but they sure don't look it.

Answer 1

The situations you're describing can be attributable to a mental health condition called "animal hoarding". Animal hoarders have a complex that causes them to compulsively collect animals (whether they can properly care for them or not). Those who suffer from this complex cannot see the filth and cramped quarters in which they keep their "pets" (any more than someone with anorexia can see how truly and dangerously thin they become). Animal hoarders truly believe they are "saving" animals. With animal control intervention and therapy, animal hoarders can learn to control their compulsions. They're not "evil" people; they're mentally ill people.

Answer 2

It all depends on what you call abuse.
I cannot defend having 20 -40 cats. I only have 1. But I have a small dog that has to be on a chain when he goes outside, because a chain link fence will not keep him in, so this is for his protection.
I don't know where else you would keep a Bunny.
Some breed like grey hounds are bred and raised in a small cage, so an apartment would seem huge to them. That animal kept outside on a chain may be happier than being cooped up in a house. Only an irresponsible pet owner will allow his animal to run loose, as they may like.
Many times a person who abuses their pet will also abuse their people. Man's inhumanity to man also extends to animals.
Before you think I am one of those - I truely love my pets, they are more like my children than animals. A pit bull killed my 8 year old dachshund 6 months ago, and I miss her so much, I still cry once in a while. And I can't even hate all pit bulls.

Answer 3

I am an animal lover hence the name! I have nine pets 2 mice that live in a 3 story cage and get to go in a mouse ball twice a day. 2 boxer dogs who live in a huge house next to a woods. 1 rabbit that has a fairly big cage triple the size of a smallish hutch. He is a bit lonely that is the only downfall but don't worry he may be getting a play mate. And 4 guinea pigs 2 girls and 2 boys they have a big hutch each and 3 outdoor runs that they share with the rabbit (they hand crafted by me of course to the right size) I am not over run with animals and each of them gets held once a day and the dogs get a run around the woods EVERYDAY.

Answer 4

I agree with the dog on a chain, the cats, and the big dogs (although big dogs are about the laziest creatures on earth lol).

Critter lovers are usually also nature lovers. Bunny in a cage, where else are you going to have it lol! For a bunnies safety it is best to have a area for the bunny. Do you realize bunnies like to chew on cords resulting in electrocution? Is it best to keep this bunny in a cage?
I am not a great huge" let your cat out onto the public" supporter, but do you realize many places do not have room for cats (cats in our county are killed asap) therefor these people who take in so many cats are at least giving them a life...
Big dogs we have two. Do you realize big dogs have hip problems and other joint problems? I seen a Saint Bernard when young drop over dead of heat exhaustion. These big dogs do quite well indoors, for this fact alone. Other big dogs such as greyhounds have no where to go after racing on the track. So having one in a back yard that is not a huge yard is better then it being put to sleep.

So you see the true animal lovers are the ones who realize these kinds of things.

Answer 5

Having 50 cats in a house and the place fills up with feces -- this is called a "Collector" and these people have mental illnesses. They're unable to see what they're doing wrong.

What makes me mad are the far more common farmer, breeder, and reseller of animals who do it for profit. They don't want to get vet care because it cuts into their profit. They don't want to scale back breeding or do other responsible things. And when the animal is too old to keep cranking out a baby every year, they ship it off for inhumane resale to slaughter. But then they brag "I LOVE my dairy cows" "I really LOVE my german shepherd puppies!" "I LOVE arabian horses"

Also watch out for people who say they "love" animals but lobby for animal *welfare* not animals rights. Welfare means you can beat the stuffing out of the animal if it's a required part of your farming business. You can cattleprod animals too sick to stand. You can beat scared livestock until they stop moving. All if this is OK under Animal Welfare, as long as you're doing it in the name of "farming" "breeding" or "reselling".

Such hypocrisy!

Answer 6

Some are truely animal lovers and other are crazy people with too many animals to care for.

Huge dogs in a small house is cruelty but not many people do this though.

Some don't call themselves animal lovers, just some label them as that just because they have alot of animals in their house.

Answer 7

Most people like this are thinking they are saving the animal's life since the animal did not end up at the pound. In actuality, once an animal is put into the pound they have a better chance of being put to sleep than of being adopted. So, if you look at it that way, they are saving the lives of thier animals, but like you said it's still not good for the animal if they are not being taken care of properly.

Answer 8

I think that extreme animal lovers get so deep in they don't see that they are drowing. In Alaska a few years ago there was a woman who had over 125 animals that she so called rescued, but could not care for. Check out this link it is the actual story. Crazy huh? The person thinks they are doing the animal a favir but in reality they are not.

Answer 9

I think the Humane Society once had a link about compulsive animal hording. It's a psychological illness. These people are so needy and delusional they don't see the harm they are doing.

Answer 10

i agree with u because some ppl dont care bout theyre pets..they mistreat them n hurt them phycally...emotionlly..n mentally n at times it gets so bad tat when theyre rescued n r training them 2 b adopted the pet gets so vichous n uncontrolable they end up being put 2 sleep...its not there falt they act lke tat is tat they think tat every1 they c is ganna do da same thing 2 them tat theyre owner did..its so sad