A couple of happenings have pets and animals in my thoughts today. First, this whole pet food recall thing. Several of the pet owners who lost their pets to the tainted food are now looking into law suits. Legal talking heads say that the pet owners are likely to see small amounts of money because pets are valued as property only. They are all watching to see if the law suits are successful at winning damages based on the emotional harm inflicted by the loss of a beloved pet.
Coupled with this stuff was an interaction the evil side kick was subjected to over the weekend. She was offering hospitality to a woman (which is what southerners do best - offer hospitality) and the woman was a member of some group called PETA. The woman asked Evil Side Kick if she had pets. ESK (evil side kick) said yes. And this weird woman launched into some tirade about cruelty to animals simply by "owning" them.
I find it an interesting contrast. On one hand, legal types saying that pets have no value beyond their price tag or vet bills -- and on the other some fringe group feeling that animals should be afforded rights similar to humans. I suspect the truth lies somewhere in the middle. I think the courts will recognize that pets are worth more than their vet bills but at the same time humans aren't quite ready to grant voting rights to Fluffy, yet.
(I think voting rights will have to be won species by species - and you know that means we monkeys will be first - the miracle of thumbs and all.)
1 comment:
For the record, PETA peeps are weird. And on this note of thinking, you and ESK should read "Before You Know Kindness" by Chris Bojahalian. It's fiction, but it will make you see animal rights people in a whole new light.
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