Dog Abandonement Problem

Sangmort

For class, we were asked to choose a problem of our society. I obviously chose the Dog Abandonment Problem here in the States.

It's a series of Four, 5-page essays we are suppose to write on it. The first essay is background info, the second is what the problem is, the third is counter-arguments, the fourth is solutions to the problem.

I'm currently on the third essay, but having problems finding "counterarguments."

The point I try to emphasize in my essays is that Dogs are a domestic animal, a by-product of humanity, and thus, we must take responsibility for them. Also, on the importance of when you take in a dog, you are making a commitment to them, a promise to take care of them for the rest of their life.

Dogs only know loyalty, love, & affection...they're man's best friend for a reason. Dogs don't know betrayal...and yet humans betray them all the time.

The main problem I'm emphasizing is that dogs are usually given up right away because they are bought on impulse [ from pet shops, BYBs, etc. ] & then the owners feel "buyer's remorse" later on. Rather then solving the "problems" they just get rid of the dog.

So if anyone has any thoughts / oppinions / resources [ & especially counterarguments! lol ] I'd appreciate it.

The only "counterargument" I can think of is the mindset that "dogs are animals, not people, & thus unimportant." [ in which case my rebuttal is they are still our responsibility ]

Any help appreciated guys ~

dlroberts

I think you've got the right idea with that counterargument. I suspect there's a lot of ethics literature out there that you can find and reference which would argue that since they aren't humans, the rules for ethical treatment are different.

You could also go the "animals are livestock" route. They serve a particular purpose and we have no responsibility to provide anything other than basic needs for them and can give them up if they don't fulfill that purpose.

Another argument could be that animals are possessions. You don't buy children, you make them. We buy animals so just like anything else we buy, we should be able to get rid of it.

Those are the three obvious ones to me, all of which seem easily refutable. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing for your assignment though.

Sangmort

Thanks Dave! That helps a ton! It's difficult for me to think opposite on this one...I mean...how can someone look into a dog's eyes and just throw them away???? It kills me.

Yeah, I need to be able to refute them [ which I can easily do ] so that was a big help!


Damn English Papers. At least they're an easy A! [ got a 100 & a 98 on the first two moihahaha ] ~

animatorshiba

best example (sadly) of pets being abandoned is atlanta pet craigslist. It's really sad, lots of people i see get rid of them because "we didn't think he'd get so big" "he chews on stuff" "too hard to train" "i bought him for my wife but she doesn't wanna deal with the puppy stage" "i got him for my kids on the condition they take care of him, they are too lazy, now he goes" <- (that's agitating because the adult is showing kids that its okay to get rid of dogs, it's her responsibility too, and to force the kids to help) and another one i see a bunch is: "im moving and they don't allow pets"

oh and : "im having a baby" , "someone is allergic" (sometimes its like my grankid who visits every once in a while is allergic)

I haven't had a dog since i was like 6 : ( but I've always had cats and no matter what we don't get rid of them. The only pet I've ever re-homed is a bunny because I took it in as a foster.
I think they should take responsibility, you took a creature in, you should care for it.

The only reason I've seen that I can understand really is if they are dying (shows up alot on CL) or something like home burned down. but even then i'd try to find a temp home...(except the dying one)

i know lots of people who use the "they are not people" argument, but to me that signifies the importance of it being YOUR responsibility. (my wording is terrible) If the human is the "higher" species, shouldn't the human take care of its pet? I hope i'm helping, I am fairly un-educated about the subject so I'm sorry if I say anything stupid/offensive. : )

Personally, I'd go out of my way to take care of any pet i'd get. Even if i got tight on money. I'd eat ramen and make sure my pet got fed/cared for. : ) Possibly get a second job do extra commissions.

Kenshi

Well your counter-arguments are going to be:

1) Every dollar you spend on an unwanted dog, either by donating to animal shelters or rescue organizations, adopting yourself, or even to put a dog down, is a dollar that you are taking away from a human being who is in need of food, shelter, medical research to find a cure for something, etc. This is the logical extension of the "buying a puppy from a breeder condemns a pound puppy to death" argument.

2) Dogs are so weak and ineffective when compared to their wild cousins, that it is essentially cruel to continue to keep them as pets. We should neuter every dog, put and end to all domesticated dog breeding, let this generation of dogs die out, and just stop keeping dogs as pets. This is the "owning pets is inherently cruel" sort of PETA argument.

3) Dogs are loud, dirty, rude things with no dignity that take up too much time and attention. They often take up the warm spots on the bed and leave no room on the couch. They should all die horrible deaths. This is the "I am a cat and see no use for these uncouth beasts" argument.

What else. Oh, you could take a stab at pointing out that Westerners and particularly Americans are a bit dog-wacky. Some places in Asia dogs are viewed as good eating first and foremost, and some people who live in the middle east think they are evil and unclean, so maybe our insistance that dogs be treated humanely is a bit pretentious. Like the whole concept of "Dog Abandonment" shows that have a particular point of view that other cultures would find strange and disgusting.