These animals (yes even microfauna are animals) all deserve the same respect surely, or is their some elitist thing going on with cats and dogs? Are they more inclined to be pests? I have to tell you that here are more complaints of cats & dogs as 'pests' than wasps in our local council Environmental section. Just what is this hypocritical behaviour? Food-chain-snobbery I reckon. And low rational cognition in pet owners.
2007-05-14 03:35:50 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Its true! No animals should ever be killed or hurt deliberately. I take this thing literally and emotionally (heart & mind) and excercise the same respect to all animals. It is hard when neighbours cats and dogs have shat all over your lawn and bark until the early hours and pee aginst every lampost in the street and frighten children and even kill some and spread disease and fleas and take postmens fingers off and scratch your clothes and wet your car and stink up your house and drag their bums over the carpet and lick their balls and then lick your face, but they shouldn't be touched with anything less than affection. Same with wasps and even fleas and that. I just hope the all go to animal heaven.
2007-05-14 03:46:27 · answer #1 · answered by bawbag321 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yep, I used to think that way to, up until I was about 14 years old. I used to rescue flies from swimming pools and the shower.
Then I gradually came to the conclusion, based on age and higher cognitive ability, that insects are not in fact in the same league as mammals and birds. They have very limited brain capacity, and I do not believe they experience the world in anything like the same way as cats and dogs do. I don't believe in pulling their wings off or other silly, childish acts as I think they probably do experience pain. But I don't think squashing a wasp makes the slightest difference to them, us, or other wasps. I do tend to catch them under a glass and chuck them outside if I can, but I no longer yell at people who kill them.
I'm an animal lover, it's not that I don't care about all forms of life - I just don't think wasps and the like should be treated the same way as companion animals, because they're NOT the same.
Chalice
2007-05-14 10:49:51 · answer #2 · answered by Chalice 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is all about a connection with the animal that a person does or does not have. As humans, it is generally easier for us to relate to a dog or cat than it is a wasp or spider, hence making us consider our actions towards them more than we would an insect. Dogs and cats are also often thought of as part of our family if they belong to us, or even if they do not, at least as thinnking, feeling animals, thus making it possible to view them in an anthropomorphic light. It is harder to extend familial connections to a fly, which doesn't exhibit its intelligence in the same recognizable or relatable way. That is not to say that one should be cruel and kill creatures needlessly. Nor should anyone insult the intelligence of people in posts about these creatures either.
2007-05-14 11:06:05 · answer #3 · answered by Rainyria 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Insects are usually known as pests (mites, lice, and fleas) they can harm us... and other animals. Wasps can cause an allergic reaction to someone too.
I think that the fact that they are much smaller and do not communicate with humans may have something to do with it. It is sad but that's how the human mind works.
2007-05-14 10:50:04 · answer #4 · answered by Trina 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you're missing the point about why owners would save their pets and yet swat a fly another day. Pets, dogs, cats ot whatever are family and loved by the person who owns them. Wasps generally aren't family....
2007-05-14 10:45:07 · answer #5 · answered by Blondie Bear 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Obviously a wasp falls in the pest catagory.....by this we mean they sting and hover and attack. They build mud nests right over your doorway and swoop down at you while they protect their nest at your house. That is why we kill them if they would make their nest somewhere else then we don't care and leave them alone.
2007-05-14 11:56:12 · answer #6 · answered by josified 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nope i dont kill them although im allergic to them i get my other half to catch them and let them go outside although there has been times when by accident they get squished
there are cultures around the world that dont believe in killing anything
why save a cat or dog because these are domesticated PETS not PESTS
2007-05-14 10:46:41 · answer #7 · answered by lilmiss_nutty 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's beacuse of compainionship, wasps don't make wonderful pets so people are less worried about them
I think it's also got a lot to do with vertibrates/invertibrates rather than food chain, cruelty to horses is not allowed and they are fairly low on the food chain!
2007-05-14 10:45:59 · answer #8 · answered by Jody W 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cats and dogs (well, at least dogs) are marvelous creatures who deserve to live! Dogs offer love and affection, which wasps and other insects don't offer. Humans have a stronger liking for dogs and cats than they do for wasps, bees, mosquitos, and other insects. Plain and simple.
2007-05-14 10:45:17 · answer #9 · answered by DavidausZueri 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
the reason most people would do that is that dogs and cats are very loyal and would protect you but a wasp dose not care it will sting you and hurt you nomatter who you are or what you are doing
2007-05-14 11:19:42 · answer #10 · answered by kittykat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋