I’ll add to some of the other comments here by saying that I think the term “pet” doesn’t quite capture the relationship that vegans would describe as ethical. “Pet” implies a sort of status that is lower than the rest of the family. Closer to some inert object that you can enjoy and put away when you’re bored.
I prefer to think of them as members of my family. They are family, not pets, not property.
Having said that, my 3 boys are family. I worry almost obsessively about them and I feel extreme guilt when I have to leave the home (and them) for longer than my normal 6-8 hour maximum.
2 of the boys are cats, 1 is a dog. Morgan while being the goodest of boys does need us home so that he can go outside to do his business if he needs to.
Participating in…? Adopting animals and treating them like family when the alternative is that they may not have been adopted or loved?
I don’t buy animals, and I don’t treat them like property because it is wrong to do so. It’s more than just not using the term “pet”. It’s about treating other sentient beings with the consideration they deserve.
You don’t need to have “equal-footing” with anyone in order to treat them with the moral consideration they deserve or to love them. Thinking about it in terms of “equal-footing” is a weird thing to do.
I’ll add to some of the other comments here by saying that I think the term “pet” doesn’t quite capture the relationship that vegans would describe as ethical. “Pet” implies a sort of status that is lower than the rest of the family. Closer to some inert object that you can enjoy and put away when you’re bored.
I prefer to think of them as members of my family. They are family, not pets, not property.
I am not a vegan.
Having said that, my 3 boys are family. I worry almost obsessively about them and I feel extreme guilt when I have to leave the home (and them) for longer than my normal 6-8 hour maximum.
2 of the boys are cats, 1 is a dog. Morgan while being the goodest of boys does need us home so that he can go outside to do his business if he needs to.
True the proper term is companion animal.
I would die for my dogs. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have much else to care about.
They are my babies.
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Participating in…? Adopting animals and treating them like family when the alternative is that they may not have been adopted or loved?
I don’t buy animals, and I don’t treat them like property because it is wrong to do so. It’s more than just not using the term “pet”. It’s about treating other sentient beings with the consideration they deserve.
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You don’t need to have “equal-footing” with anyone in order to treat them with the moral consideration they deserve or to love them. Thinking about it in terms of “equal-footing” is a weird thing to do.
Privilege people often have that dangerous line of thinking.