We can agree on this at least, Fester.

>>Most slaves were kept for their utility, not for the amusement of their owners.<<

But surely it would have been worse, from an ethical perspective, if they had been kept merely for their entertainment value?

>>So why then regard keeping an animal for its utility acceptable, yet keeping an animal for amusement as unacceptable?<<

In the same way that you - presumably - would consider keeping humans as pets to be unacceptable, while happily taking them on as employees in your business, with all the concomitant responsibilities.

>>Dogs are bred to enjoy their human company (a type of genetically modified organism), whereas a slave has the same aspirations as other humans<<

An interesting perspective.

It would appear that your response to human slavery would have been, not to set them free, but instead to breed them to the point where they are able to enjoy their status, right?

That insight certainly helps me understand your position better.

>>And nor would I see any reason to deny people the right to patronise Andre Rieu if they so choose, so why deny others the right to choose to have a pet?<<

You are comparing the "right" to listen to Andre Rieu with the "right" to enslave a living creature, for no other reason than they both entertain you.

That's dangerous ground, surely.

>>So why couldn't such a civilisation produce a pet which meets those measures and appeals to people?<<

For the same reason that they should not genetically modify humans to enjoy being slaves.

Are you familiar with Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World"?

>>As I said before, I think that people weigh the value of pets against the fact that some pets will sadly be produced in poor circumstances.<<

So you did.

But my question to you was "do you support the existence of puppy farms?"

Come to that, do you support the breeding of puppies so that they can fit into Paris Hilton's handbag?

Jewely: But I think humans might need something cuddlier or more lifelike. I’ve watched documentaries on those adult women dolls some very intense seeming men keep as their partners and recently one about very real human baby dolls that similar intense seeming females keep as pseudo children.

I think we are breaking into a type of mental illness there.

I, for some strange reason, seem to have an affinity with amimals & small children, or should I say, more to the point, they seem to have an affinity with me. I get ferocious dog come up & lick my hand & wild animals come up & sit close by me. I even had a dove fly into my hand exausted from trying to get away from a hawk. I can even pick up wasps & put them outside without getting stung. I do like amimals & I don't like to see them suffer or being harmed. My neighbours dog had a brain tumour. On the day he was put down my neighbour was putting him in the car when he broke loose & came & sat on me. He was a big dog. He laid his head on me & licked my face. He knew where he was going & he was saying goodbye. Yes, I cried & so did he & the neighbour.

On to dog breeders. Some of them should be put down! Some have very good arrangements for their breeding dogs. I have no problem with them.

As for owning pets. My opinion. No dog larger than 1/2 way up your leg should be in the modern house block. Hence the need for the Handbag type dog. Cats, all cats should be put down! Birds need least 4m of horozontal fly space & 3m of vertical. When pet are beyond help it is kinder to put them down

jb/quote

""seeming females
keep as pseudo children.

I think we are breaking into a type of mental illness there.

I, for some strange reason,""

mental illness comes to mind

YOU...""seem to have an affinity with amimals & small children,""

i think you obsess too muchabout children

but lets face it...
'woman..phesdo children''
you...''affinity with animals''

you affinity
with..''small children''

""or should I say,
more to the point,
they seem to have an affinity with me.""

and
they tell you this....how?

ps
the topic is euthanasia
not youth in asio

keep as pseudo children.

Under one God that was Jewely, not me.

Under one God I get a hint that you are sugesting that I'm a pedophile because small children & amimals have an afinity with me. Hmmm, coming from a God Botherer, that'd be calling the kettle black. ;-) The mention of mental illness arced you up. Sorry. I didn't know.

I was trying to show that I have feelings for animals & they seem to sense that, or so I've been told. If I see someone mistreating an animal or child for that matter, I'm in there waving a big stick. (that's just a saying, not literaly, for those who are a bit thick.) ;-)

Under one God: ps. the topic is euthanasia not youth in asio. "?"

Didn't you read my last 12 lines. Or was that too much to understand.

“As for owning pets. My opinion. No dog larger than 1/2 way up your leg should be in the modern house block. Hence the need for the Handbag type dog.”

Yep I’ve always thought the same, small dogs in cities – keeps everyone safe and I’m sure the pets are happier.

Watching the stuff about dolls being substitutes for the real thing it sort of reminded me of being young enough to believe my doll was real, I certainly treated her like she was real. My little sister if in a bad mood with me would go beat my doll up and I would have a bloody fit.

I’m not sure how grownups fill gaps with these life-like dolls but it seems a harmless mental illness if it is one.

One woman went to the States from Britain to get her new baby doll (amazing things really, they breath etc) and to bond with it for a weekend before bringing it home, I think it was day 2 of bonding when she saw the back of its head was cracked – it quickly got stuffed back in the box to be returned for a new one. Now that part I found slightly cold.

Similar to people getting rid of pets who are naughty or sick I suppose.

Jewely: when she saw the back of its head was cracked – it quickly got stuffed back in the box to be returned for a new one.

Hmmm. Pity ya couldn't that for real. ;-) Just kidding, just kidding. Gawd struth! Sorry U1G. Don't get yer Kuh-nickers in a kuh-not.

I support euthanasia for mentaly ill pets & humans. Humans because they frighten the bejesus outa me. Just to keep it on the subject. ;-) hehehe!