# Having a Pet is Cruel? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 14, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228 "2008-05-14T01:28:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/41 "2008-05-14T12:13:03Z")
What is sad is that he clearly has never owned a pet. For someone who ‘loves’ animals so much it is strange that he has never really expierenced it. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/42 "2008-05-14T13:03:04Z")
I’d trade places with the Neville kitties in a minute. Let them go out to work, let me stay at home and sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Duhkecco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@Duhkecco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duhkecco)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/43 "2008-05-14T13:05:52Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] The roasting and shooting is almost inevitable here. The best I dare hope for is that people would hang back at least until it’s justified (or they have justified it). [/QUOTE] Perhaps it’s “inevitable” when people are intolerant of other people’s intolerance. ---
**Author:** ![Contrary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/db5fbb/32.png) [@Contrary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrary)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/44 "2008-05-14T13:06:43Z")
[QUOTE=pbbth] [Oliver](http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=154877&l=0e686&id=638028496) - He doesn’t believe in holding still so all of my pictures of him are blurry [Joey](http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=142771&l=ea561&id=638028496) - He is very photogenic but for some reason this picture came out smaller than the others [/QUOTE] –slight hijack– Oh my goodness, you are right. Your kitties look like mine–mine are litter mates and are 14 months old; [Wally](http://picasaweb.google.com/elizabeth.d.johnson/Kitties/photo?authkey=SyJjpqEh55I#5181088000461592082) climbs, and [Eddie](http://picasaweb.google.com/elizabeth.d.johnson/Kitties/photo?authkey=SyJjpqEh55I#5194299123640167474) follows. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/45 "2008-05-14T13:17:34Z")
Maybe he wanted pets as a child and that’s just what his parents told him as a reason why he couldn’t have them. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/46 "2008-05-14T13:54:57Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by **CairoCarol** > > You of course realize, **pbbth** , that having started this you are going to have to tell us all about the date. > > I will be checking the boards hourly. We are supposed to go out on Thursday night so I will certianly update the thread and let you know what happens. If we can have an intellectual conversation about it and he can say, “You know, I see your point of view and understand why you feel that way” even if he doesn’t agree with me or change his mind that would say a lot about him as a person. If he can’t understand and also tells me that 9-11 was an inside job I will run screaming into the night. Also if he comments on my food choice or makes faces or something when I order the chicken then that will be the last I see of him. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/47 "2008-05-14T13:59:50Z")
[QUOTE=DianaG] but he certainly isn’t a suitable life partner. [/QUOTE] I wasn’t aware that she was trying to decide on his marriage proposal. Maybe she could go out on a short date with him instead. ---
**Author:** ![Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bites_when_provoked/32/18073_2.png) [@Bites\_When\_Provoked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bites_When_Provoked)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/48 "2008-05-14T14:01:25Z")
[QUOTE=Contrary] Yeah my [boys](http://picasaweb.google.com/elizabeth.d.johnson/Kitties/photo?authkey=SyJjpqEh55I#5189225383663559458) sure look like they are being tortured. [/QUOTE] Hey, not only do you have one cat that looks exactly like mine (the stripy tabby) you have a green couch and orange-striped cushions too. That’s _eerie_, that is. If not for the fact that my other cat is a seal-point instead of a ginger kitty I’d be the second person in this thread to accuse you of break-and-enter-and-photography. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/49 "2008-05-14T14:06:48Z")
[QUOTE=Bites When Provoked] Hey, not only do you have one cat that looks exactly like mine (the stripy tabby) you have a green couch and orange-striped cushions too. That’s _eerie_, that is. [/QUOTE] You might want to have a look around your place, and, you know, see if you’ve acquired a roommate or two. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/50 "2008-05-14T14:07:16Z")
[QUOTE=tdn] I wasn’t aware that she was trying to decide on his marriage proposal. Maybe she could go out on a short date with him instead. [/QUOTE] Wow, I really should be utilizing smilies, shouldn’t I? For anyone who is ever reading one of my posts, and is unsure… when in doubt, assume :dubious: 😉😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/51 "2008-05-14T14:09:24Z")
[QUOTE=Duhkecco] Perhaps it’s “inevitable” when people are intolerant of other people’s intolerance. [/QUOTE] I don’t see any reason to _be_ tolerant of other people’s intolerance. I just happen to think it’s better to confirm the existence of said intolerance before reacting to it. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/52 "2008-05-14T14:11:00Z")
Well, if he truly believes what he said, and he’s not a vegan, then he’s a hypocrite, and you should dump him. Of course, if he truly believes it, he’s a nutcase anyway, and you should dump him. But I’d find out first, if he’s all you think he is otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/53 "2008-05-14T14:13:28Z")
[QUOTE=DianaG] Wow, I really should be utilizing smilies, shouldn’t I? For anyone who is ever reading one of my posts, and is unsure… when in doubt, assume :dubious: 😉😃 [/QUOTE] You have the cutest dimples. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/54 "2008-05-14T14:15:31Z")
You should see me flutter my eyelashes. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/55 "2008-05-14T14:21:57Z")
[QUOTE=DianaG] You should see me flutter my eyelashes. [/QUOTE] Yes, I probably should. Does it look anything like this? :dubious: 😉 :dubious: 😉 :dubious: 😉 :dubious: 😉 Or maybe this? :o :eek: :o :eek: :o :eek: :o :eek: :o ---
**Author:** ![Duhkecco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8491ac/32.png) [@Duhkecco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duhkecco)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/56 "2008-05-14T15:08:48Z")
[QUOTE=Mangetout] I don’t see any reason to _be_ tolerant of other people’s intolerance. [/QUOTE] I get that. I just disagree with you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/57 "2008-05-14T15:23:59Z")
How is it possible that this thread hasn’t yet turned into a thrash? Are animal righties really all that uncommon on the Dope? ---
**Author:** ![Daithi\_Lacha](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/daithi_lacha/32/5430_2.png) [@Daithi\_Lacha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daithi_Lacha)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/58 "2008-05-14T15:32:41Z")
My Poppa Lacha was a big pet-person. We always had an animal of some sort or another around the house: dogs, cats, lizards, mice, newts, toads – but he drew the line at birds. “Birds were meant to fly,” he’d say. “To keep them in a cage with clipped feathers is cruel.” ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/59 "2008-05-14T15:33:55Z")
I’m all for animal rights (against racing, circuses, sport hunting, etc.), but being against having a pet you love and care for and treat well is insane. If pets have it so bad, why don’t they spend all their time trying to escape? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2008, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228/60 "2008-05-14T15:41:07Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] If pets have it so bad, why don’t they spend all their time trying to escape? [/QUOTE] You obviously never met Snooky, my childhood dog. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/having-a-pet-is-cruel/449228.md?page=4)