The case against pets: is it time to give up our cats and dogs?

A growing number of people argue that owning pets is unethical - and that animals can never really have a good life in a human homeTroy Vettese has a parrot in his family. She gets paid a lot of attention, but she wants more. Parrots are clever and social. Vettese says: "She needs to be entertained all the time, otherwise she really is suffering." He sees a possible different life for her: "She could be living with her friends and family in a forest, very happy - but she's not, and that's unfair to her."If that sounds sensible, but you don't see what it has to do with the fluffy, well-exercised and frequently fed love of your life at home, bear with me. Of course, when it comes to owning pets, there are varying shades of grey. On one end of the spectrum: the poor snake I spotted at a party recently, being worn as a necklace. At the other might be your rescue pup, or my rescue cats, one with a damaged cerebellum and the other with one eye; they wouldn't have survived long on the streets. But I still find myself wondering whether it is fair keeping them at all. Continue reading...