Cats or dogs? Katzen oder Hunde? Gatos o perros? Or something else entirely? Are you sure you’re even a person?

    • Communist@lemmy.mlEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      All pets?

      I think owning a tarantula, for example, is perfectly ethical, because of the way tarantus live.

        • Communist@lemmy.mlEnglish
          2·
          1 year ago

          Certain animals don’t really roam as part of their lifestyle, most tarantulas are ambush predators, if you put a tarantula into a hole and regularly give it food, it doesn’t dream of the outside world where it can roam freely, roaming freely is its worst nightmare because that’s how it gets exposed to predators… tarantulas find a hole where they constantly get food and you can presume based on how they live in the wild that they’ve found the best hole ever.

          They also show clear signs of stress when they are stressed, and they show less of those in captivity than in the wild.

          That’s my argument for tarantulas anyway.

            • Communist@lemmy.mlEnglish
              1·
              1 year ago

              Yeah, I think it’s really case by case in the animal kingdom, we have to avoid anthropomorphizing everything.

              • Ms. ArmoredThirteen@lemmy.mlEnglish
                1·
                1 year ago

                It can be case by case for animals of the same type even. One of my cats is legit scared of outside and has no interest in leaving the house for any reason. The other cat is hesitantly curious so sometimes we bring him out on a lead. He never wants to wander further than a few feet though even if we prompt him to explore. They live good lives and feel safe neither really feels the need to roam far as I can tell.

    • Link@lemmy.mlEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      I’d say it’s unethical to breed them, but not to adopt them if that’s in their best interest.

        • Communist@lemmy.mlEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          I think this is more of a problem with capitalism, than a problem with breeding being fundamentally wrong, we’re incentivized to breed as poorly as possible, it’s a race to the bottom.

          That being said, I think some animals are bred pretty carefully, definitely not dogs and cats, but certain insect breeding operations are pretty ethical just because being ethical with them is insanely easy.

      • nachtigall@feddit.deEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        Yep, gotta clean up the mess we left as humanity. We can not abandon them while they need us. Yet breeders should be absolutely illegal.

        • Link@lemmy.mlEnglish
          2·
          1 year ago

          Yet breeders should be absolutely illegal.

          I agree. Even individual pet owners (or guardians) breeding with their pet is problematic imo. Certainly when they choose the breeding partners.

          But even if the dogs are free to choose themselves you could argue that you shouldn’t let them breed because it would be better to adopt animals in need rather than create new animals.

          • nachtigall@feddit.deEnglish
            2·
            1 year ago

            it would be better to adopt animals in need rather than create new animals.

            ⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆ 100% ⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆

            The other day I had a conversation with someone who also rejects breeding but said that (female) dogs should give birth at least once in their life (because they read, it would lower uterus cancer risk). Almost as if people (even after a pandemic) still did not understand exponential growth.

  • nightofgrim@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Dogs. 100% dogs.

    I’ve grown up with both and have both now.

    Dogs are easier to take care of. They are way more affectionate. They love car adventures, hiking and swimming. They are part of the pact.

    The whole “cats are self sufficient” thing is 🙄. The cat box is gross, I rather use a little bag and pick up dog poop.

  • JoYo@lemmy.mlEnglish
    21·
    1 year ago

    I think all animals and many fungi are cute little fuckers that I’d protect if I can.

  • fratermus@lemmy.mlEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Dog person. I’ve met a few cats I liked, but in general if I wanted to live with a creature that consumed resources and ignored me I’d still be married. :-P