Monday, May 8, 2017

So you want that cute, exotic or wild animal for your own?


Folks, one of the things that gets me a bit worked up is people who want to own every non-human animal they see. I'm OK with pet rescue. I'm OK with saving, rehabilitating and releasing wild animals as well. Those are both positive endeavors.

Domesticated animals like house cats and dogs do not do well in the wild as a general rule. So, when they are already incorporated into domesticity, it's better for them to be adopted and lovingly cared for. But wild animals are a different story.

Taking wild or exotic beings as pets inhibits their ability to live as nature intended. It throws off the natural balance. Which not only hurts the animal itself, it hurts us too, though environmental impact.

Now, some justify “harvesting” wild animals to add to their family by saying they will be regularly fed and cared for, more so than if they lived in the wild. Problem is, the more we do this, the less helpful we are being in the scheme of things.

As more and more animals become domesticated, more are removed from the natural order and their skill set. Thus, they are less able to care for themselves and play their intended role in nature.

This creates a whole snowball effect. When we start removing other animals from nature, nature stops working like the well oiled machine it's intended to be. Sometimes, we start over-breeding other animals to feed them which throws nature off even more. Our environment is jeopardized.

Remember, the first animal we removed from natural order of things was ourselves. And we all know how badly that has gone. We are now slaves to our creature comforts. Maintaining those comforts is killing the planet quite effectively. Plus, we are also over-breeding other animals to feed ourselves, which adds to the impact.

Every animal on this earth has a contribution to make. That goal is best accomplished in their natural environment.

Part of my peace path involves leaving other beings alone to play their intended natural role so that the earth and every being on it, including human beings, will survive as long as possible.

And once again, yes, if we have the capability, we should help other animals who are under duress.

But we have to realize that other animals do not belong to us, just as other human animals do not belong to us. They are not possessions. They have lives of their own and also families of their own that we may be taking them away from.

We should show respect for their role in nature by not taking them out of their habitats and letting them play that role.

Because not only is it better for them, it's better for the entire ecosystem.

Humans included.

No comments:

Post a Comment