Treating animals....like humans

[Rence]

I hate animals at times. Why? How on earth could I hate a puppy you may ask? Because for so many people, animals are literally treated like a human. It’s a sick perverted state of mind and it’s found all too often in our society.

Animals, are not humans, you are not the “proud grandparent” to a new puppy as your bumper sticker may say. Some people actually take this to an extreme, going so far as to have sexual intercourse with their animals and pretending as if they are in a relationship with them. I kid you not there are forums dedicated for people who have sex with their animals. Some of the comments in these forums are shockingly similar to homosexuals validating their own behavior.

My point is, I don’t care how crummy someone feels about humanity. Some people think that’s an excuse to justify this sick twisted notion that animals are no better or worse than a human being.

Where do you guys stand? How attached are you to your own animals. Is it in line with your Catholic faith? Or do you spend an plethora of resources that could be going elsewhere treating your animal like a human? Through your own hurt in life by human beings, have you decided your family poodle is worthy of being treated like a child because “He would never hurt you”.

I’m am very attached to my animals. I spend quite a bit monthly on food and medications for them. I’ve spent quite a bit on healthcare. What I do with my money is my business. It’s laughable to me that another person thinks they can dictate what I do with money I earn. I don’t treat my animals like children but I do feel responsible for their care. If you don’t think one should spend money on animals or treat them as family, simply don’t have one.

 

[GEddie]

Science has demonstrated just the opposite. Infact, science has also shown that animals such as great apes, elephants, bottle nose dolphins etc., are actually self-aware. Up until very recently, it was believed that only homo sapiens (i.e. human beings) were self-aware.

God has just to fully reveal everything about the animal kingdom, so I wouldn’t get too caught up into human ego just yet

Just my .02

You are welcome to your beliefs, but I for one reject that the beasties are our equals, whatever dolphin romanticists may say.

God taught us through Scripture to humble ourselves before Him and each other, not the animals. To me, that’s enough.

ICXC NIKA

 

[Marie5890]

You are welcome to your beliefs, but I for one reject that the beasties are our equals, whatever dolphin romanticists may say.

God taught us through Scripture to humble ourselves before Him and each other, not the animals. To me, that’s enough.

ICXC NIKA

I didn’t say they were equal so I am not sure why you are projecting that onto what I said.

If you look at my post I was reply to someone who said animals don’t have feelings. Science been able to demonstrate that they do infact have feelings. Science has also demonostrated that there are species that are self-aware.

Then I said I believe that God has more reveal when it comes to the animal kingdom.

Not sure why you took that and jump to the thought that I said we were equal. Not sure why you projected that onto what I said.

 

[SilverLight]

This brought up emotions I thought I was over with. We lost our dog a year or so ago. It was honestly one of the worst days of my life. To all of us that dog was a part of our family and she was always there for you. I cried like a new born that day and I still cry over her at times I am ready to admit that. I had that dog all the way through my school days and into college.

I had a hard time in school and in life generally compared to some other kids I guess. That dog was my best friend at times.

If that’s wrong then so be it but I know how I feel and it stands. My family would be backing me up to I believe.

People may be higher then animals but I have seen some people lower themselves to that level before.

 

[Della]

This brought up emotions I thought I was over with. We lost our dog a year or so ago. It was honestly one of the worst days of my life. To all of us that dog was a part of our family and she was always there for you. I cried like a new born that day and I still cry over her at times I am ready to admit that. I had that dog all the way through my school days and into college.

I had a hard time in school and in life generally compared to some other kids I guess. That dog was my best friend at times.

If that’s wrong then so be it but I know how I feel and it stands. My family would be backing me up to I believe.

People may be higher then animals but I have seen some people lower themselves to that level before.

:console: I know how you feel. We’ve gone through the same thing with our kitties. I’ve come home from the vet after having to have more than one put down due to illness, and it isn’t a happy experience. One cat was particularly dear to us. My dh and I cried out hearts out over him. Such feelings are real and are not to be pooh-poohed. It doesn’t mean we think of them as human beings, but they do become part of our families in our hearts. They deserve our affection and care because they are God’s creation, able to feel emotions (not our emotions but their emotions), and we are responsible for them if they are in our care. There’s nothing against our faith in any of that.

 

[mary_bobo]

I think you might be painting with a very broad brush. We cannot know what makes people so attached to their pets, but there are many lonely people in this world, especially the elderly, that only have the companionship of their pets. Their family lives some distance away and they are physically unable to get out much. Pets are a great comfort to these people. So they treat them as well as they might a human, what harm does that do? That’s why so many nursing homes and even hospices have pets.

 

[marbleartist]

We lost our sweet dog this morning around 5:00 am. She was a family member and will be missed- we’re so sad. She loved us and we loved her.

 

[Della]

We lost our sweet dog this morning around 5:00 am. She was a family member and will be missed- we’re so sad. She loved us and we loved her.

:console:

 

[GEddie]

We lost our sweet dog this morning around 5:00 am. She was a family member and will be missed- we’re so sad. She loved us and we loved her.

You have my condolences. I will miss my FOXY LADY for many years. She was my baby.

Yes, I was always fully aware that she was not human. In some ways, that makes dogs better. They die, as we do, but they do not play mind games, betray, or move out of one’s life.

ICXC NIKA.

 

[Della]

You have my condolences. I will miss my FOXY LADY for many years. She was my baby.

My sympathies.

Yes, I was always fully aware that she was not human. In some ways, that makes dogs better. They die, as we do, but they do not play mind games, betray, or move out of one’s life.

ICXC NIKA.

Well, cats do all those things, but we love them anyway.

 

[AbideWithMe]

Well, cats do all those things, but we love them anyway.

That made me laugh!

 

[Della]

That made me laugh!

Good. The thread needed a bit of levity, didn’t it?

All the harsh judgment from some against people with pets. Sheesh! Judgment begins at home not at my neighbor’s house. We all have things we love, sometimes more than we should. It’s a matter of moderation in all things and putting God first. If we do that, we can’t go wrong.

 

[SilverLight]

We lost our sweet dog this morning around 5:00 am. She was a family member and will be missed- we’re so sad. She loved us and we loved her.

I am so sorry I know how that feels. I wish you the best of luck.

 

[TARRAT]

Being owned by a cat is we cat lovers’ insider’s joke–due to the nature of cats being so demanding–a fact of which you are obviously ignorant. 99% of us here have not put animals on the same level as humans. Sheesh!

I will respond with the compassion you would give to your cat even though you use a veiled insult to me in your response. Would talk to your cat the way you responded to me? I can only assume not. This is kind of like treating your pet better than you did me. To some that would be putting animals on a higher level than people if you treat animals better than people. You see that is why I didn’t think your joke wasn’t that funny because of all that you do for your cat and maybe aren’t as kind to a person with a different view from you. You told another poster that this thread needed a little levity, when it was you who took it up a notch.

Now about science determining that some animals are self-aware( this sounds like politi-speak). I have also read about research that was done and the scientists projected human feelings on the animals. But upon letting them go found they reverted back to their original animal instincts. So just like man made global warming, animals being self aware, is not settled science. By the way what purpose does it serve to have proof that animals are on some level the same as people. It is a political attempt to try to get animals rights.

I’ll go back to my earlier post and say that I have had pets but currently do not. I don’t condone animal cruelty.

May God continue to bless you.

 

[Della]

I will respond with the compassion you would give to your cat even though you use a veiled insult to me in your response.

Friend, if I had wanted to insult you I would have done so openly. I was informing you that cat owners like to joke that they are owned by their cats–due to cats’ demanding nature. You were the one who outright declared that I actually believe I am owned by my cats. I corrected you, nothing more.

Would talk to your cat the way you responded to me? I can only assume not. This is kind of like treating your pet better than you did me. To some that would be putting animals on a higher level than people if you treat animals better than people. You see that is why I didn’t think your joke wasn’t that funny because of all that you do for your cat and maybe aren’t as kind to a person with a different view from you. You told another poster that this thread needed a little levity, when it was you who took it up a notch.

Indeed, I talk to my cats like I did you quite often, if they need it. And they need it just about daily. It’s my job as their owner to keep them from hurting each other or destroying the furniture. They can be quite cuddlesome and sweet, but that’s merely a human perception of cat behavior. In reality they don’t “love” me or own me. Rather they look to me to care for them. They aren’t my babies. They are adult animals who act as they do because they are animals, nothing more.

Now about science determining that some animals are self-aware( this sounds like politi-speak). I have also read about research that was done and the scientists projected human feelings on the animals. But upon letting them go found they reverted back to their original animal instincts. So just like man made global warming, animals being self aware, is not settled science. By the way what purpose does it serve to have proof that animals are on some level the same as people. It is a political attempt to try to get animals rights.

I’ll go back to my earlier post and say that I have had pets but currently do not. I don’t condone animal cruelty.

May God continue to bless you.

Here you are talking to others in the thread since I never made any of these claims.

 

[Lady_Tanzanite]

I love animals! Especially my kitties. I’m not really sure what it means to treat animals like humans. We feed them, give them water, and shelter. I make sure to show my cats lots of affection. So I suppose I am treating them like humans. What’s so bad about that? God is above us, yet He treats us well. We are above animals, yet we should still treat them well. Seems fair to me!

 

[Della]

I love animals! Especially my kitties. I’m not really sure what it means to treat animals like humans. We feed them, give them water, and shelter. I make sure to show my cats lots of affection. So I suppose I am treating them like humans. What’s so bad about that? God is above us, yet He treats us well. We are above animals, yet we should still treat them well. Seems fair to me!

 

[Convert_in_99]

I don’t know what I’d do without a dog in my life. Yes I spoil them, but I don’t go overboard. I give them lots of attention and affection and they return it in countless ways. I’m mentally ill and animals are so very my good for us. We are also childless and can’t adopt. So we rescue a dog from our local animal shelter and give them a forever home. My dogs have gotten me through times of severe physical and mental illness. I would not be here today if I didn’t have them during my bought a with suicidal depression and all the many deaths we have had to endure at such a young age. So, no, you didn’t succeed in making me feel guilty, rather you confirmed my belief that pets can bring immeasurable good to those who are sick, lonely, depressed or who just need a friend.

 

[simpleas]

You know I just realised I kiss and hug my dog everyday, I don’t do this with humans…

Most likely I would do the same if I had children or were very close to a person who loved to be kissed and cuddled everyday.

Animals do replace a lot of missing human needs, they are most definitely a gift from God when treated with the respect they deserve.

 

[SilverLight]

I don’t know what I’d do without a dog in my life. Yes I spoil them, but I don’t go overboard. I give them lots of attention and affection and they return it in countless ways. I’m mentally ill and animals are so very my good for us. We are also childless and can’t adopt. So we rescue a dog from our local animal shelter and give them a forever home. My dogs have gotten me through times of severe physical and mental illness. I would not be here today if I didn’t have them during my bought a with suicidal depression and all the many deaths we have had to endure at such a young age. So, no, you didn’t succeed in making me feel guilty, rather you confirmed my belief that pets can bring immeasurable good to those who are sick, lonely, depressed or who just need a friend.