Animals Are Not Ours To Buy And Sell
Print This Post
Mary Martin tells a story:
“A [friend] saw an ailing dog in a pet store window, and checked on her the next day and she wasn’t there. The woman asked about the dog and was told there was no such dog. She also asked to use the rest room, at which point she found the dog in a back room. Her only concern was the dog. She didn’t want to anger the pet store owner so she paid full price for the dog, who was near death. After several thousand dollars and a couple of surgeries, the dog is thriving and happy, running around 20 acres with other dogs and also horses.”
I completely understand this kind of animal rescue. I myself have “rescued” pets from pet stores. When I was a kid, I bought “feeder” rats to save their lives. I think what this woman did was fine. I think buying the puppy was morally acceptable.
However, I’d never suggest to anyone that it’s a good way to spend our time and resources if our goal is to rescue animals. I do not support buying animals, period. They are not merchandise like a t-shirt or a television, they are living, breathing, sentient beings. When we see neglect like this, I think it’s better to make a formal complaint with the city Animal Control and/or another organization that can do more to save animals’ lives (like the ALDF). When we see things like animal neglect or abuse, our first thought shouldn’t be: how can I use my money to save a life? Our first thought should be: how can I save a life?
The woman in Mary Martin’s story could have reported the animal cruelty. Or she could have “stolen” the dog. She could have offered to pay for veterinary care. She could have offered below full price. She could have photographed the dog and posted it on a website. She could have written a letter to the pet store explaining why she won’t shop there anymore. She could have written something for the local newspaper, an expose perhaps. She could have organized a protest. She could have simply asked if she could take the dog. My point is simply that she had other options.
She made a fine choice and I respect her decision. It’s far easier, when you have the money, to simply buy an animals’ freedom than to seek alternatives. However, Schindler’s List style animal rescue will NOT result in long term changes for animals’ lives. In order to see long term changes, we have to stop treating animals as commodities. We have to adopt the vegan perspective that animals are not ours to buy and sell.
I too think this woman’s heart was in the right place. But by giving money to the pet shop was not a wise decision. Pet shops, like any retail store in a capatilist society, work via the principles of supply and demand. By paying for the dog, the woman essentially increased demand for puppies as commodoties to be purchased. In response, the pet store will increase its supply of puppies to be sold, this increasing the demand for puppies from breeders and puppy mills.
By purchasing that one puppy, the woman inadvertanly gave monetary support (and hence approval) for breeders and puppy mills that will continue the cycle of suffering for other animals.
As far as that one dog is concerned, she did a nice thing. As far as the other dogs in puppy mills and pet stores, what she did was a mistake.
Capitalism is much more complicated than simply “supply and
demand” (as recent bailouts evidence), but your point remains that the woman not only financially supported the notion that animals are things to be bought and sold (commodities/chattel/slaves), she also philosophically supported it by willingly exchanging money for a dog’s life.
However, I understand her actions. And even if she didn’t save the lives of thousands of future puppymill dogs, and in fact possibility contributed towards their suffering, what she did made a difference for the one she saved.
And who knows? Her story might encourage other people to do the alternatives I listed above: report animal cruelty, rescue needy animals, pay for veterinary care, post about animal abuse on websites, write letters, organize a protest…
I’ve rescued my last 2 dogs, greyhounds. Probably one if not the most exploited breeds of dogs out there. So what have I done? I’ve given a dog a life beyond what he could have expected since he was primarily bred for one purpose..to race. So if this cycle continues and that particular breeder knows that there will always be someone to adopt his greyhounds when their racing career is over am I enabling the breeder to continue? Am I too not “buying” him from the adoption group? Sure no profit is being made or if so a small margin but at the same time money is being exchanged. I see the point with the puppy mill breeding dogs with the sole purpose of making money off the dogs they produce and in turn the pet shops make a profit with the sale of the dog to the customer. So where does the responsible breeder stand? He produces a litter of dogs and sells to hopefully responsible people where the dog will live out the rest of his life. Yes he makes a profit but isn’t it up to the person buying the dog who then becomes responsible for that dog’s livelihood? Furthermore..all this talk about buying a “being” My wife and I are going to adopt a child…won’t I be “buying” this child? Certainly many people involved with all the documentation are making some profit from our chosen actions..not just the adopting agencies from this country and abroad. Is this a better option than producing our own in an over populated world?? I used to think like this…if you’re wanting the companionship of a dog in your life then by all means you should go to a shelter..but then…I must think now…should I be held liable for the mistakes of others? What if I want a puppy? Is it okay to go to a responsible breeder? Even with my greyhounds I “chose” which ones I wanted. In the shelter you’re most likely still going to choose the dog who best fits “your needs.” We all want to do what we feel is best and as vegans we think far beyond our fellow omnivores in doing so.
John,
You ask: “What if I want a puppy?”
I’ll answer: http://www.petfinder.com/ search by age and enter “baby”
You ask, “So if this cycle continues and that particular breeder knows that there will always be someone to adopt his greyhounds when their racing career is over am I enabling the breeder to continue?”
I’ll answer: The breeder doesn’t care what happens to the dog after the sale. They were breeding dogs before you became an “aftermarket.” By rescuing dogs in need, you are NOT encouraging breeders. You’re simply making a bad situation a little better.
You ask, “My wife and I are going to adopt a child…won’t I be “buying” this child?”
I’ll answer: The child will not be literally your property according to law. Money may or may not be exchanged depending on the kind of adoption you choose, but money is not the only issue here, the legal status of the adopted individual matters.