I have recently become a vegetarian because I am trying to live a life that is more-pardon the expression-humane to non-human animals. I have been thinking a lot about owning pets, and I am coming to the conclusion that we probably shouldn't. Any thoughts on the matter?
great topic, & yes, i do have plenty of thoughts on the matter of humans using other animals in all sorts of ways: to transport people & their baggage, as a substitute for human company ("emotional support" ), as a food source (before & after birth/hatching), as a source for clothing before & after slaughter, as pets for control reasons, as live material for experimentation in laboratories.
personally i am opposed to any kind of restriction of another living being, which obviously includes the domestication of an animal. factory farming is abhorrent to the animals as well as disgusting in its toxic effect on the planet & the consumer.
if my iron levels drop to a point where i am in urgent need of red meat (which happens every couple of years) i will have kangaroo steak for a few weeks. this is the one concession i make in my otherwise consistent stance in regards to the (ir)responsible exploitation of animals: i couldn't kill a kangaroo.
Let's not go to extremes. Pets provide many benefits to us human animals. And we provide them with many benefits also. Being vegetarian does not require the absence of pets in ones life. Spay/neuter has worked over the years. We have more work to do. It is our resonsability to care for animals. Not eat them.