Treatment of pets

[Nevarlander]

I love animals. I love people, too, but that’s not the point of this post, ^_~.
Is there a “line” not to cross in the treatment of one’s pets? I was considering giving my teenage brother a “marshmallow gun” (an air gun that shoots mini-marshmallows) for Christmas this year. He’d probably use it primarily to shoot his pet cats, which he treats as his little brothers. Can one “tease” animals, when it’s not meant to harm them?

 

[Little_Mary]

Nevarlander:

I love animals. I love people, too, but that’s not the point of this post, ^_~.
Is there a “line” not to cross in the treatment of one’s pets? I was considering giving my teenage brother a “marshmallow gun” (an air gun that shoots mini-marshmallows) for Christmas this year. He’d probably use it primarily to shoot his pet cats, which he treats as his little brothers. Can one “tease” animals, when it’s not meant to harm them?

No. The animal doesn’t understand that you are just teasing. Knowing they can trust you is an important part of their security.

 

[TheBlackGhost]

Yeah that seems like some pretty malicious treatment to one’s pets, even if it is a somewhat harmless gun. Remember though that it doesnt take much to completely take out an eye.

 

[Nevarlander]

TheBlackGhost:

Yeah that seems like some pretty malicious treatment to one’s pets, even if it is a somewhat harmless gun. Remember though that it doesnt take much to completely take out an eye.

TBG, they’re blowguns, so you can adjust the force on them by blowing harder or softer, and he’d never intentionally hurt anyone or anything, but I realize that’s not really the point - the bothering the animals is.
Little Mary:

The animal doesn’t understand that you are just teasing. Knowing they can trust you is an important part of their security.

Mary, they do trust us. One of them is extremely hostile by nature and has always responded to affection with trying to bite and scratch (we think it’s retardation from all the inbreeding and congenital illnesses in our local feral cat population), but we can tell when the others have had enough, like with children.

He’s having a birthday party next week, so I think I’ll make a dozen or so for him and his friends to play with, so he’ll associate it with people as targets rather than cats. I don’t know yet.

 

[catsrus]

If you believe that the brother will use the marshmellow gun on the cats…don’t give him one.
There are plenty of other gifts you can give him that will not be a danger to pets.

 

[Celeste88]

ummm…not a good idea…shooting marshmellows could lead to shooting from BB guns…etc. Now if they were catnip flavored marshmellows…maybe

 

[Catholic2003]

From the Catechism:

2416 Animals are God’s creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory. Thus men owe them kindness. We should recall the gentleness with which saints like St. Francis of Assisi or St. Philip Neri treated animals.

2418 It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. It is likewise unworthy to spend money on them that should as a priority go to the relief of human misery. One can love animals; one should not direct to them the affection due only to persons.

 

[Digger71]

Nevarlander:

I love animals. I love people, too, but that’s not the point of this post, ^_~.
Is there a “line” not to cross in the treatment of one’s pets? I was considering giving my teenage brother a “marshmallow gun” (an air gun that shoots mini-marshmallows) for Christmas this year. He’d probably use it primarily to shoot his pet cats, which he treats as his little brothers. Can one “tease” animals, when it’s not meant to harm them?

Dogs understand the difference between accidental and intentional actions. I’m not sure of cats. But I wouldnt risk it.

'Course you could alwasy say that in giving the marshmallow gun you in no way condoned its use.

 

[Little_Mary]

Nevarlander:

TBG, they’re blowguns, so you can adjust the force on them by blowing harder or softer, and he’d never intentionally hurt anyone or anything, but I realize that’s not really the point - the bothering the animals is.

Mary, they do trust us. One of them is extremely hostile by nature and has always responded to affection with trying to bite and scratch (we think it’s retardation from all the inbreeding and congenital illnesses in our local feral cat population), but we can tell when the others have had enough, like with children.

He’s having a birthday party next week, so I think I’ll make a dozen or so for him and his friends to play with, so he’ll associate it with people as targets rather than cats. I don’t know yet.

If you can adjust the power of the gun, it might get powered up accidentally and hurt a child or an animal.

If your brother teases the cats, I doubt they trust him. Maybe you could tell him if you find out he’s been shooting at the cats, you’ll take the gun back. How old is your brother anyway?

 

[mercygate]

Nevarlander:

I love animals. I love people, too, but that’s not the point of this post, ^_~.
Is there a “line” not to cross in the treatment of one’s pets? I was considering giving my teenage brother a “marshmallow gun” (an air gun that shoots mini-marshmallows) for Christmas this year. He’d probably use it primarily to shoot his pet cats, which he treats as his little brothers. Can one “tease” animals, when it’s not meant to harm them?

The fact that you’re asking the question means you know the answer. Any teenager who does not understand that teasing animals is cruelty needs to grow up. No 13-year-old, who had matured to age-appropriate behavior would behave like this.

Nix the gun.