Semantics and Rhetoric essay

kamfam · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:52 pm Post subject:

Wow. This is really interesting and stirs up a WHOLE load of feelings and opinions. It's sad what the world has turned into.

There are so many ways to look at this. We obviously all love our animals, but me personally, no they are not my kids. I would never make my kids obey a command in order to get love from me. That's just absurd! For my kids, well, I'd throw myself in front of a bus if necessary, but I'd do that for no one else. However, I don't think I love my dogs less than anyone else loves theirs. But I could be wrong.

youhavenoidea · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject:

Trene · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:08 pm Post subject:

The "expression" was more fitting of the point I intended to get across.
OK, i don't think of Hippy as an expression, more like ones lifestyle. As in someone being a "rocker" or "soccer mom" or "activist" or "veteran", "executive" etc.

And you don't know anything about me, nor what may or may not be "like" me. I'm just saying people are people, chill out.

You haven't exactly proven yourself to be the most open-minded person on other threads here, for that matter. *Hello pot?* HI, I believe the pit-bull discussion you are referring to, I always wrote "to each his own"

I live in a province affected by BSL; I have lived through the process of seeing my rights unfairly taken away. I own my second dog targeted by the close-minded laws my government has implemented due to uneducated and bigoted peoples' whinings, and live every day with the inability to have my dog even leave my house, for fear that someone will maliciously accuse him of something, and force him to be taken away. I have earned my right to speak out. You have earned your right to speak, but can I ask WHY is everyone who doesn't agree w/ you uneducated, bigoted, and whining?

youhavenoidea · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject:

Trene · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:21 pm Post subject:

absurd! Got better things to do now... gotta run. xoxo

kamfam · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:33 pm Post subject:

Back to the topic...I guess I'm confused as to why anyone would object to being called a "pet owner" and considering the pet as "property"? That just seems like most logical way to go, and protects us and our animals. I've read over the articles several times now, but I keep hearing the same thing.

youhavenoidea · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:37 pm Post subject:

Dunno. If I'm paying $1500 for something, and being declared in writing as "owner", I'm not sure what else you would call it . . .

You can treat your dogs like kids (in terms of how much you love them and what they mean to you) . . . but to profess them in actuality to be so . . . is biologically impossible, no? Wink

Phoenix1705 · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:48 pm Post subject:

I might sound like a bit of a hypocrite here given my background but I don't disagree with the article because of the legality risks, much like Anne.

I am a member of PETA, ASPCA, ACLU, and NOW. I am extremely active in all of these organizations but I do not agree with all of their views. I am very pro-spay/neuter your pet but I think it's obsurd to make that mandatory, same thing with vaccinations. Taking away human rights to justify animal rights is the wrong approach in my opinion. It's unforunate that there are so many irresponsible pet owners out there that are forcing the gov't to think they need to step in. Education is the best way, not legislation. Sure educating might take longer but I believe the results are much more beneficial for all parties.

It should be our right as the pet owners to determine what's best for our pets. I know plenty of people who do not believe in spaying/neutering their animals because of some of the proven health benefits to keeping the natural hormonal balance of the animal in check. I do not disagree with that at all as they are very responsible and do not let their animals run wild through the neighborhood allowing the potential threat of an unwanted pregnancy of their dog or someone else's. Working with rescues for the past ten years I have seen hundreds of abandoned litters and pregnant mamas so I tend to push neuter/spay unless you have a valid reason for not. The gov't doesn't want to see it like that because they are piss ants when it comes to exceptions, still once again in my opinion. Like someone else had said, there is no case by case basis which is unfortunate.

I wouldn't call myself a hippy, I would call my dad one Laughing

. I have bene called a tree hugger or a granola girl but the whole title thing has never sat well with me. What I know is my animals are part of the family whether they were rescued or purchased, my daughters call them their brothers and sisters but when it comes down to it, I own them and I don't want to see that right ever taken away from me.

youhavenoidea · Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject: