"Morals, Values, Religion, Anthromorphism, and Pets...?"?

Question

So, once again I had a question removed. I had linked another question to it, one where both the asker and the "Best Answer" patted each other on the backs because they both thought it was 'morally' wrong to spay or neuter an animal. Maybe I'm reading the wrong dictionary, but I would like to clarify the definitions and applications of these terms when it comes to pets entrusted in our care.

Do you feel a moral or religious obligation to allow your pet to breed at will and why do you feel that way?

Do you think your animal feels the same way about romantic love and reproduction as you do?

Do you think that it is better for domestic animals to be born into uncertain futures which often include short, painful lives and tragic deaths, rather than prevent their conception in the first place?

So, if you think every household pet should have the 'right' to reproduce, what do you propose to ensure that every one of these tens of millions of animals gets a good, permanent, home?

EDIT: My own spelling error! That's ANTHROPOMORPHISM.

EDIT 2: Yep, just what I thought. The answers to this question brings to mind the parking lot of a Dunkin' Donuts- filled with cops. In this case, the Spneuter police. I'm not surprised that the people this Q was directed at haven't shown...

EDIT: A-MEN Basset- with God-like powers should come God-like responsibility!

EDIT: To A Gal- chocolate for you- no chocolate for Her Dog. LOL.

Answer 1

I feel a moral, and maybe religious, obligation to ensure that every puppy under my care is wanted, planned-for, and has a good, loving home for it's lifetime. If we are going to "play God" by creating life, then we are responsible for that life.

Proverbs 12:10: "A righteous man has regard for the life of his beast, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."

I do not believe that animals feel romantic love, or an emotional need to reproduce, it is strictly hormone driven.

Answer 2

No moral or religious obligation to allow pets to breed.
No animals do not have romantic feelings, they do not feel love the way people do, and do not view reproduction the same way as people do.. In the wild they would reproduce to make sure that they survived .. They have no worries about that when they are our pets. Plus the mutt breeders are making sure that dogs never die out completely :(

I think that domestic dogs shouldn't be born into uncertain situations.. I think that if the situation isn't excellent, then they should be aborted, or they should be altered so that they can't reproduce.

I think household pets should be spayed/neutered.. Everyone wants all these rights but no one is wiling to take care of the problems they create.. It's just like everything else.. People want to be able to do what they want, when they want, and it never works out well.. And when you involve pets, things are worse, and it's the pets that suffer..

Answer 3

"Do you feel a moral or religious obligation to allow your pet to breed at will and why do you feel that way?"

My answer: HECK NO! I REFUSE to be part of the over population problem!

"Do you think your animal feels the same way about romantic love and reproduction as you do?"

My Answer: Nope, I sure don't. It's all about instinct to procreate and nothing more.

"Do you think that it is better for domestic animals to be born into uncertain futures which often include short, painful lives and tragic deaths, rather than prevent their conception in the first place?"

My answer: Absolutely not! Humans prevent it via birth control, why can't we stop it in our pets too?

"So, if you think every household pet should have the 'right' to reproduce, what do you propose to ensure that every one of these tens of millions of animals gets a good, permanent, home?"

Guess I don't need to answer this one, because I think if you aren't a reputable breeder, breeding to better your breed or producing good working dogs, then your dogs should be altered, period.

Answer 4

Spaying and neutering is absolutely nothing like getting an abortion. Unless a woman is raped, violated, she has a choice. She can use condoms, she can use contraceptives, and better yet, she can just say 'no.' Comparing the two is an insult to all women.

Animals work on instincts and owning an animal is not a right, but a priveledge. Getting your animals spayed or neutered is not just about preventing accidental breeding, but also prolongs the life of the pet.

Some of the answers to this question reveal that there are a lot of confused pet owners out there.

Answer 5

1) No. Because there is absolutely no reason to bring more animals into an already overpopulated world.

2)No. Animals and humans may be on this planet together, and I do believe that animals can feel certain emotions, but I do not feel that my dog is yearning to have babies anytime soon the way that some humans do. Sure my dog has her "boyfriends", but I don't see her running away and settling down with any of them as her husband and one and only love any time soon.

3) I think it's better to prevent their conception in the first place.
Why would anyone in their right mind want animals to be born into a life where all they experience is pain?

I'm sure I'll get negative marks for this, but personally I believe that not even all humans should have the "right" to reproduce.....just look at how some human parents treat their kids!!

Answer 6

The most important moral obligation anyone has is to do no harm. That includes harm by neglect. Allowing an animal to breed under the conditions of the question you referenced is at best amoral and likely to be decidely immoral.

Also, animals do not have rights. Only adult humans have rights because they are the only creatures able to hold up to the responsibilities required to have rights. Animals should be protected by people, just like children. They dont understand the world in a way to take care of themselves, so we must step in and sometimes do things that might seem cruel for the overall good of the animal in question.

Answer 7

Good question....

First, NO I do not feel obligated to let my pet breed at will. Another case of humans giving pets human-like qualities and beliefs and it is ridiculous.

NO dogs do NOT feel the same way about romantic love and repoduction... it is instinct for them, not emotion. They DO NOT breed for pleasure!

I think all animals should be nuetered except for those who are being RESPONSIBLY bred. These people breed their animals for a host on unrelevant and ridiculous reasons... they claim to love their pets, but are breeding them under the age of 2, opening the door to cancers and other illnesses that arise from not being neutered, and ensure that at least part of their offspring will either 1) have a bad temperment 2) have health problems 3) will end up in shelters b/c of #1, #2, or because they do not screen their buyers.

Answer 8

*entering the Dunkin Donuts*

I feel morally obligated to care for my animals the best way I can. Bassetnut, I know, doesn't alter her animals normally because she's done research about health concerns, and I'm fine with that. I trust she's responsible. :)

My dog feels love, I'm convinced, but not romantic love. Dogs and other animals do feel pleasure from doing certain things, but reproduction isn't one of them, so the "only balls your dog needs" is probably the only balls your dog also enjoys. Just my two cents.

Could I have a chocolate donut before I go back out on patrol? ;)

Answer 9

No, I do not feel a moral or religious obligation to allow my pet to breed.
No, I don't think animals feel the same as humans about romance/reproduction.
I do feel that there are WAY too many pets out there that are looking for homes because irresponsible owners bred their dogs for the reason of "just because" and/or they "threw away" their pet when it didn't fit just right in their life anymore and didn't think twice about it.
I honestly feel that people who think it is wrong to spay/neuter are the same people who don't think twice about the thousands of animals that at this very moment are sitting in cage with their noses pressed between the links just waiting for someone that might never come for them.

Answer 10

HUH? religious? I love my animals but come on there is a problem. my dogs do not miss their man hood...and my gods would want thing best for the animals.
Moral.... is it moral to be a byb when dogs die in shelters that u helped up there?

no...see thats why some men are called 'dogs'.... atleast that was always my thought...they don't care..there is nothing romantic...get some and move on.

No. I didn't want kids for the longest time because look at this messed up world...look at OUR human over population. birth control is there for a reason...if u don't want kids use it...don't just sign them to an orphanage...or foster homes. i don't want to offend any one but most die hard catholics are mess up...
that is also why i get my pets fixed they don't need to be dads or moms....why add more puppies and kittens?

No and not every person i know should have kids either...but they do.
stop breeding of stupid people...like pretty much my town that might take care of some...lol....but thats not gonna happen.

there is noway to ensure a good home for every animal. things happen even in caring homes. people pick a pup that is wrong for them. its aggressive to hyper they can't control it. its never them its always the dog...heard it over and over dumb dog...
education...and lots of it...mailed to every home about owning a dog...pet shops shut down. only people with a clue giving people with out a clue an animal. not being rude to people who really want to adopt but don't understand. offering low cost training for shelter dogs(something i want to do). a trainer in another county offers half off training for shelter dogs. some shelter don't have people to do a follow up. don't call people after an adoption...these things should be done....not letting new dogs owners on their own. thats off the top of my head. I could go on i won't.

Answer 11

Canine sexual intercourse is limited to reproduction attempts. Species of animals all have an inate drive to preserve their species and their sex and reproduction drives are geared towards this end and no other. Domesticated canines still have these same drives but since their replication and characteristics are mediated by humans there are specific characteristics that are eliminated and others that are encouraged, thus we have various breeds of dogs that are more or less designed by humans for specific desires and needs. The replication process is controlled by the humans, unlike wild canines who reproduction is controlled by genetic predispositions, social orders and the events occuring in nature. There is no 'romance' as humans know it - canines breed according to hierarchy in their established societies. In their societies only one dog and one b*tch can breed and replicate, if another does, the puppies are eliminated and the offending culprite is likely eliminated as well. Actually wild canines control their breeding/replication more than is done with domestic canines. No canine is missing out on anything by not replicating - it is actually part of nature that they don't replicate and that only those with specific characteristics are allowed to do so -- in domestic animals this trait has been lost and any dog can breed even if it wouldn't be considered worthy of such.

FEW household pets should be allowed to reproduce -- most of those owning them have no idea what characteristics their dogs have and whether they would be beneficial or detrimental for future dogs - so with the loss of natural barriers to breeding in domestic canines and the idiocy of most of the owners of domestic canines, we have a huge volume of dogs being allowed to replicate that would never have been allowed to perpetuate their species in nature and that only idiots would breed, resulting in an overabudance of unwanted, undesireable, unplaceable and likely to end up in a dog body pile (after they have replicated indescriminately or at the whim of another idiot, of course). No dog has the 'right' to be exploited by an idiot and certainly the world will continue to revolve and the dog would be much happier and healthier if the idiot that owned it wouldn't exploit it stupidly and would alter it for a longer, better life without being made to bear young that would have never been allowed by nature.