When is it cruel to keep animals captive?
Many strange animals are kept as pets. Some have become domesticated over thousands of years, while others are taken from the wild.
Domestic Animals
- Dogs certainly thrive when they are kept as pets, and provided they are well treated there is no cruelty involved – they simply adopt their human family and become part of the pack.
- Cats are different! They seem to retain their independence and simply treat their human associates and their houses as conveniences – being given regular food and a warm place to stay allows them pursue their own interests from a comfortable base.
- Horses do not seem to mind being used as transport, and after centuries of working with them their physical needs can be well anticipated and catered for. Keeping them does not seem to be cruel.
Wild Animals
How much cruelty is involved depends on two factors, how the animals are fed and housed, and how intelligent they are. It is difficult to imagine ways in which a pet insect might suffer – we do not credit them with much intelligence, and assume they have no self-awareness. Intelligent animals (such as the Chimpanzees and Killer Whales) are certainly aware of themselves and can suffer pain and feel emotions. Keeping any of the Great Apes or Whales in captivity can easily become cruel – they need to be with other members of their own species and to have enough space to behave naturally’.
In my own opinion intelligent wild animals should only be removed from their natural environment if there are very good reasons.
