What do you think of PETA?

[Cataholic]

Pretty much my thoughts, exactly. I am not, and never will be, a supporter of PETA. I am all for animal welfare, but they are taking it waaayyyyy too far. Pets are not people, they don't think like people, they don't act like people, they are not people!

What do you mean? While I agree, animals are not people (though, people are animals), animals do feel, they do think, they do 'act' like people in that they love, play, experience a wide range of emotions and are entitled to respect, care, and all the basic necessities that should be afforded all living creatures.

I am not sure how animal welfare (which is NOT what PETA ever stood for, btw) could ever be taken waaayyyyy too far.

[Jessika]

What do you mean? While I agree, animals are not people (though, people are animals), animals do feel, they do think, they do 'act' like people in that they love, play, experience a wide range of emotions and are entitled to respect, care, and all the basic necessities that should be afforded all living creatures.

I am not sure how animal welfare (which is NOT what PETA ever stood for, btw) could ever be taken waaayyyyy too far.

I am not trying to say that they don't feel/think, but they do not feel and think like WE do. We tend to humanize pets to fulfill our own satisfactions and understandings (it's much easier to believe that the dog pooped on the carpet because they're mad you left them versus they just had to go, for one example). They may act like us in some aspects, but they are still animals at the end of the day. Yes, we are animals too. But they don't have reasoning or rational thought as we do and they don't make connections the same way we do.

They absolutely need and DESERVE love, respect, care, and basic necessities, I've never said anything to imply otherwise. I'm a vet tech!!!

I did erroneously say 'welfare' instead of 'rights' (I've been studying for hours every day this week for my state board coming up so I'm a bit fried atm), and they do take animal rights way too far.

[mrspunkysmom]

I am not trying to say that they don't feel/think, but they do not feel and think like WE do. We tend to humanize pets to fulfill our own satisfactions and understandings (it's much easier to believe that the dog pooped on the carpet because they're mad you left them versus they just had to go, for one example). They may act like us in some aspects, but they are still animals at the end of the day. Yes, we are animals too. But they don't have reasoning or rational thought as we do and they don't make connections the same way we do.

I disagree. No they are not us, but that does not mean they don't have some reasoning skills or emotions. You should see Spunky in action. Hi face is so expressive, it's scary. And he controls his environment and understands some words. "Play", Food", "eat", "Spunky". He does not acknowledge "no". He decides how he will play and where. The others just follow my lead. It could be that since he is the longest resident of the current crew, that he and have interacted more than the others. Perhaps I have increased his intelligence. But through the years he has taken initiative in our play time so it is partly innate intelligence on his part.

I think that being free of the dangers of outside has enabled cats to explore other aspects of their intelligence. I figure that any animal that has a personality has an intelligence that is more than basic instinct.

I did erroneously say 'welfare' instead of 'rights' (I've been studying for hours every day this week for my state board coming up so I'm a bit fried atm), and they do take animal rights way too far.

Good luck on the state board.

To me Animal Welfare and Animal Rights are synonymous. Rights is more of a legal term. I think their reasoning is skewed. We can't return dogs, cats, and other domesticated animals to the wild. We are about 40 000 years too late on dogs, 10 000 years too late with cats, and I don't know about the other domesticated animals. And whose to say that canines and felines wouldn't have joined us anyway.

They absolutely need and DESERVE love, respect, care, and basic necessities, I've never said anything to imply otherwise. I'm a vet tech!!!

Oh I agree. And more than the basic necessities. But that, like the rest, is JMHO.