Do true Vegans own pets?

This came up in conversation today when I was talking to my son about the many branches of Vegetarianism.  I understand most of it, but I was teasing about our dog today and then it occured to me that perhaps Vegans don't even choose to own pets. 

Does anyone know for sure and what do the Vegans here think of having pets?

i am vegan. i have a cat and a bunny. my cat was a stray and my bunny was a birthday present (unfortunately).

i think owning pets is fine. i don't agree in breeding animals for pets. but i know my cat reena has a way better life living here than she would as a stray. and there are fewer strays because she is fixed and off of the street.

my bunny chauncy was a birthday gift. even though i don't agree with giving animals as gifts or buying animals from pet stores i love my bunny and am glad that he lives with me. what can i say? i grew attached and simply could not say 'send him back'.

i wish my bunny could be a wild bunny but the fact is that he isn't and can't survive in the wild so i don't feel bad taking care of him. he gets to go outside on a bunny leash and feel the sunshine and eat grass.

I think it's fine to have pets as long as you treat them well.

I think if they're adopted or otherwise rescued, I don't see the problem.  I would think a vegan would prefer to rescue an animal and have it live a comfortable life rather than have it be euthanized in a shelter or reproducing more and more strays as a feral animal.  I know that PETA has an issue with zoos and using animals for entertainment, but I am pretty sure they don't care about household pets as long as they're well cared-for.

We have Guniea Pigs as pets because they are vegetarian...we don't have to buy meat in a can for a cat or a dog.

Original Post by madetoshine:

I think if they're adopted or otherwise rescued, I don't see the problem. I would think a vegan would prefer to rescue an animal and have it live a comfortable life rather than have it be euthanized in a shelter or reproducing more and more strays as a feral animal. I know that PETA has an issue with zoos and using animals for entertainment, but I am pretty sure they don't care about household pets as long as they're well cared-for.

I agree with adopting animals wholeheartedly. I have two bunnies that I love dearly and I adopted both of them. I also think it's important to have your animals neutered/spayed because I really hate it when I hear "well we just want to have one litter of adorable _insert animal here_ before fixing them." And then what? What happens to those adorable creatures when they get bigger and you don't find them so cute? Sorry- end mini rant!

i'm vegan and don't see the problem with owning pets. i have a huge golden retriever and my brother has a bunny (i used to have my own but it died.)

I don't agree with owning wild animals, unless the animal has been rescued and cannot live on its own due to living in captivity for a long time and/or being ill or injured.  Also only people specially trained to handle wild animals should have them, not just anyone.  Cats and dogs, etc. are domesticated and it's fine to have one as a pet.  They cannot be expected to survive in the wild, and most of them live a much better life in someone's home than on their own.  I also don't think people should breed animals or buy from breeders, given the millions that are given a death sentence every year due to overpopulation from irresponsible and uncontrolled breeding.  Save a life - adopt!

How about pet chickens, bees or sheep?  Vegans wouldn't use the resulting eggs, honey or wool presumably.  I've seen the word 'domesticated' used and wonder what's the moral difference between a domesticated cow and a domesticated cat......

Vegans might have one as a pet but they would not use the products they produce.  A vegetarian might!

I totally agree with the concept of rescue, but I also have a few thoughts about purchase vs. rescue..

1)  I am active in several cavy (guinea pig) forums.  The people there are pretty stern about NOT purchasing pets from stores or breeders.  And I do totally understand their points.

However, what about the animals that are already in the stores?  They didn't ask to be born.  But if someone doesn't purchase them before they reach maturity, what happens then?  You don't see old pets being sold at the stores, so my guess is they're destroyed to make room for new babies.

It's hard not to feel compassion for these animals.  And, I know I provide a very pampered life for my animals, and they're much better off with me then the avg person who buys them.

2)  The people who rescue animals are very, very particular about who they allow to adopt the rescued animals.  I certainly understand this point, but at the same token they're pushing people to the pet store route by making it difficult to adopt.

3)  Sometimes rescuers can be insulting.  One came to my home for a pre-adoption visit.  I didn't mind this, but she started asking my daughter questions about how we care for animals.  I've got nothing to hide, but I thought asking a 5 year old child these questions was insulting.  Maybe I'm too sensitive?

4)  Rescuers (if you read the forums) are extremely judgmental.  If someone can't keep an animal they adopt, they bastardize them without any investigation as to WHY they can't keep the animal.  What if they just had a kid and can't give the pet the attn it needs.  What if that pet doesn't get along an existing pet or household member?  What if they just found out the have cancer?

Many don't ask these questions or differentiate between people with personal tragedies, and those who just decide they no longer want the pet.

I still support rescues...  I just don't like the attitudes of some of the people who rescue animals.

Original Post by bugink:

We have Guniea Pigs as pets because they are vegetarian...we don't have to buy meat in a can for a cat or a dog.

 Just a quick note ... I have a beautiful dog who is herself vegan - there are more and more foods for dogs (and cats) that have other protein sources other than meat.  There are also numerous home made recipes that can be made - both vegan and vegetarian for pets. 

I'm not vegan/vegetarian, but I just had to comment on the 'vegan' cat food.  Don't feed your carnivores a veggie diet.  Niether cats nor dogs can digest vegetable matter properly. Although dogs can get by because they don't have the taurine dependancy cats do, cats will die a slow painful death because of it.  Point is, feed yourself whatever makes you happy/healthy, but please don't try to enforce your dietary decisions on the animals you care for. 

Pets are a complicated issue from an animal rights/cruelty perspective.  Obviously the intention is to improve an animal's life, not to cause suffering.  But unfortunately the demand for pets has created a market that is not always ethical in how it produces them.  And buying and selling animals as a commodity, even a luxury item, has the side-effect of creating cast-offs and discards. 

I was both surprised and impressed that the Earthlings movie began with pet ownership.  It's a touchy issue that people don't really like to think about, and I applaud the filmmakers for introducing the topic right at the starting gate.

I had no idea they make vegan cat food...how awful. I mean, of course it's ok if a person chooses not to eat animal products, but..the poor cat, I promise if you let it choose, it would choose to eat meat because it needs it to survive!

As far as vegans owning pets...I think it's a great idea, because likely they'll treat their pets very well! :) I know I do.

I'm vegan and I own two dogs, a rescued staffordshire pit bull and a bichon frise given up by a friend of mine. Personally I have no moral issues with having pets, as long as they are treated well and kept healthy. My bichon, Angel (I didn't pick the name...), came obese and I'm still trying to work his weight down with lots of long walks and dairy free/meat free dry food. I gave my staffie Nelson the normal food, but he actually preffered the vegan stuff so I let him have it. They are now vegan by their own choice, and seem happy with it. I don't think I would ever force vegan food on them though, unless of course it was necessary for health reasons.

L

double post

Why the heck wouldn't vegans own pets?  I LOVE animals... that's why I'm vegan.  I choose only to own pets that need ownership... such as my two kitties. I don't think anyone should own birds that are constantly kept in cages... it makes them go crazy.  And I don't support the animal breeding industry. I only buy animals from a pound so that they won't be killed eventually.  As long as our ownership is helpful in giving the animal a fulfilling life then of course we should own pets. Otherwise, they should be in the wild, where they belong.