“Tell us about the experience of being outside, looking in — however you’d like to interpret that.” -The Daily Post
I’ve spent some time thinking about “pets” lately and I’ve been trying to figure out what makes us think we have the right to contain animals for our own good. Whether we trap animals for their meat or house them as our pets, it’s all the same thing- we take away their freedom.
I’m no vegetarian or vegan or anything like that and I have had numerous pets throughout my life and perhaps I’m a hypocrite for saying this but I feel like it’s a little unfair how we trap all of these animals and make them spend the rest of their lives in a confined environment.
We stand outside the bars of the cage. We’re not the ones surrounded by a fence all day. It’s difficult to imagine how that must feel.
It’s sad though. When I start living on my own, I have my heart set on owning a bird… and I probably will get one. But why would I do that if I know that the bird would actually be happier on the outside? Maybe I feel like I’m saving one more bird from the possibility of being purchased by an uneducated bird owner.
And to think I’m even going out tonight for Buffalo Wings. I feel bad now.
I love this post – and wanted to say, remember that captive birds need us. They don’t know the beauty of the wild, even if that’s where they belong. The best way to counteract this is to adopt. Millions of homeless parrots are desperate for a home. You would make a great birdie slave (again)!
You know what, you’re right! I sometimes forget that most of our (legal) pet birds are already indoors from the moment they’re born vs. being captured out in the wild. They really don’t know what lies beyond the window.
As for the suggestion to adopt, that’s definitely a great option. I wish more people considered it. Looking forward to the day I become a birdie slave again! 😉
I love your interpretation of the prompt; I was expecting something more introspective, but your take on animal rights took me by surprise. While I need to do more research on this topic, I think your awareness will fuel your ability to help any animal you adopt and it will guide you in making a difference for animals, however small that difference may be.
Hi Thomas! 🙂 I’m glad you liked my response! Doesn’t this topic make you look at animals differently? I can only hope I’m making a little bit of a difference in some way, shape, or form!
Nice writing. We human are very clever we always invent some excuse and justify our behavior. I love birds and animals but when want to eat non-veg I go for frozen one on the pretext that it is already killed.
Why, thanks! What you say is true. We certainly do have a natural tendency to try to justify our wrongdoings.
You are welcome dear, yours is a nice blog, enjoyed reading.