A pet is an animal that can be kept around human beings, usually in close quarters, normally indoors, that does not pose an immediate threat.
For the sake of conversation, I do not consider reptiles, insects, large felines or, in general, large animals as pets.
Me and my family has a field we used for sheep not long ago. Not proud of that […]
Did you mistreat the animals in any way? Starved them? Let them exposed to the elements or dangers? Or did you cared for their needs and health?
Because if you did, you were a better caretaker than 90% of those I know and live nearby. Be proud of that.
[…] but would it be cool if we put dogs there not bred for the prupose of being pets but for the purpose of being eaten?
Okay, so I’m going to dive a little into a book I read a long time ago where the consumption of dogs and cats in Asia was tied, to different degrees, to the traditional medicine used there, paired with older superstitions that upheld that by consuming a given animal, a person would somehow acquire their traits.
For what it may concern, to this day, although it has been banned, in Vietnam, cat soup is literally called little tiger soup, and is sought after not by the newer generations but by the older ones, as it is believed eating it prolongues life and keeps ones youth.
Not culture: superstition.
By comparison, even in the darkest of times, in western countries, dogs and cats were very rarely seen as viable food options. Dogs were always seen as companions, as well as cats, although those enjoyed less favour by association with witches.
(Superstitious bunch we are, universally.)
One last remark: besides cats and dogs, the other animals we managed to tame throughout our history don’t really like humans. They either fear or, at best, tolerate humans.
Besides there are animals that commonly are common pets that are considered okay to eat.
Tying this with the first part of my reply: which are?
By comparison, even in the darkest of times, in western countries, dogs and cats were very rarely seen as viable food options. Dogs were always seen as companions, as well as cats, although those enjoyed less favour by association with witches.
That’s a falsely romantic picture you painted of western countries when dog meat is still regularly consumed in rural Switzerland.
No way. No way in this life, the next nor the next over.
Pigs are not pets. Pigs are the only farm animals capable of receding into feral state in a matter of months if left to fend for themselves. And any pig herder knows taking a nap within reach of pigs is not safe.
Yes, I am aware of all the cute internet videos but those are exceptions, not the norm.
I kept a couple of potbellies to help clearing and digging a small terrain, kept them well taken care for, fed, sheltered, clean, safe, and one of systematically tried to bite or headbut me.
Other breeds are openly hostile towards humans and some are borderline dangerous, especially around children and other small animals.
Not really, at least as far as I know.
A pet is an animal that can be kept around human beings, usually in close quarters, normally indoors, that does not pose an immediate threat.
For the sake of conversation, I do not consider reptiles, insects, large felines or, in general, large animals as pets.
Did you mistreat the animals in any way? Starved them? Let them exposed to the elements or dangers? Or did you cared for their needs and health?
Because if you did, you were a better caretaker than 90% of those I know and live nearby. Be proud of that.
Okay, so I’m going to dive a little into a book I read a long time ago where the consumption of dogs and cats in Asia was tied, to different degrees, to the traditional medicine used there, paired with older superstitions that upheld that by consuming a given animal, a person would somehow acquire their traits.
For what it may concern, to this day, although it has been banned, in Vietnam, cat soup is literally called little tiger soup, and is sought after not by the newer generations but by the older ones, as it is believed eating it prolongues life and keeps ones youth.
Not culture: superstition.
By comparison, even in the darkest of times, in western countries, dogs and cats were very rarely seen as viable food options. Dogs were always seen as companions, as well as cats, although those enjoyed less favour by association with witches.
(Superstitious bunch we are, universally.)
One last remark: besides cats and dogs, the other animals we managed to tame throughout our history don’t really like humans. They either fear or, at best, tolerate humans.
Tying this with the first part of my reply: which are?
That’s a falsely romantic picture you painted of western countries when dog meat is still regularly consumed in rural Switzerland.
Pigs
No way. No way in this life, the next nor the next over.
Pigs are not pets. Pigs are the only farm animals capable of receding into feral state in a matter of months if left to fend for themselves. And any pig herder knows taking a nap within reach of pigs is not safe.
Yes, I am aware of all the cute internet videos but those are exceptions, not the norm.
I kept a couple of potbellies to help clearing and digging a small terrain, kept them well taken care for, fed, sheltered, clean, safe, and one of systematically tried to bite or headbut me. Other breeds are openly hostile towards humans and some are borderline dangerous, especially around children and other small animals.
So, again: pigs are not pets.
Pigs do not deserve to be exploited and slaughtered just because they cannot be companions animals that you can have around the house.