I drive past the Norwood Our Pets store on the way to university almost every day. I was surprised to read about the protest that happened outside the store. I didn’t see the protest. I only found out about it by reading The North Eastern Tribune.
This article was informative and objective towards the debates around ethical animal trading. The protestors’ argument about how pets are bred in unethical ways and how they are kept in cages since they are young is upsetting to think about.
Sadly the cages are there to protect pets from the outside world. From my own experience putting up burglar bars offers protection and makes you feel safer as it prevents unwanted visitors from coming in. It’s a Catch-22 situation, seeing that animals rely on the dominant species – humans.
We keep danger at bay by locking it out. A lot of animals that belong to people are kept restricted from what they actually want to do, by being locked up in backyards for their own protection.
Since we cannot speak to animals and ask them what they want it makes it impossible to tell our pets to behave the way we need them to in a specific situation. The question of freedom comes up. Even though we are the dominant species we are not able to walk in our own streets without fear and the possibility of danger. How then can we expect animals to be free if we are not free ourselves?
It has been easy to notice that there are not a lot of pet stores around anymore. I personally feel that pet stores have the potential to increase the knowledge about different types of animals. My pet came from the SPCA. She was a very sweet natured and friendly dog. My family and I made the choice to go to a shelter rather than a pet store to get a puppy. However animals are kept in cages there too.
Our Pets is the only pet store that I am aware of that exists around my area. What surprised me is that I have always thought and have the impression that it is a well-run store. The store manages to keep claustrophobia out of it, it’s well spaced and it has big windows. The owners and staff are friendly and they know a substantial amount about each animal that they keep in that shop.
When reading about the protest I understood what the argument is but I still can see the value in having pet stores and dog breeders for the continuation of the different types of dog species. Some pet owners would like to know what they can expect from their pets in order to research as much as they can about what type of dog would fit into their homes and be comfortable in their homes naturally. I disagreed with the idea that pets are made to look like they are given for free in pet shelters. You have to pay to get an animal from pet shelters as well. It makes sense to pay for your animals as you have to be able to afford pets in order to give them the life they deserve.
Otherwise pets would have a much lower survival rate. Pets belong to human beings no matter what way you look at it.
What should be introduced are stricter controls over the up-keep of pets by pet stores and breeders to ensure their well being and that they are only subjected to a minimal amount of discomfort before they are sold to customers.
