I would like to vote for the freedom of animals but I am a confused guy who likes to see parrots on trees but chicken on my plate. As my voice is quite ironic to my behaviour, so I confine my view on this subject by just saying that some animals can be domesticated, while some cannot.

— Umesh Pandey, Ratopul, Kathmandu

I believe that we as humans should not keep pets when we can’t even keep our own population alive and healthy. The huge amount spent on pets would be put to better use looking after our own species. Animals also pose a danger to human health and safety through disease and parasite such as rabies, herpes B virus and salmonella. Animals by nature are self-sufficient and fare best without our interference.

The instinctive behaviour of animals makes them unsuitable as pets. Every year, countless birds, reptiles and animals suffer and die on the journey to the pet store. Animals are meant to live in the wild may languish in a cramped backyard cage or circle endlessly in a cat carrier or aquarium. I feel that since we humans bred these animals to be our workers, or companions, then we should be able to take full responsibility for their well-being and care.

— Sangita Bhandari, Simpani-8, Lamjung

Pets, especially dogs, are ever known as the most faithful friends of mankind. But in my perspective, keeping pets at home is not so good since bound marginal environment of home cannot be the ultimate habitat for pets. They may get other facilities but cannot get freedom and joy that the creature really deserves. No doubt they get their food and shelter even though their life seems jailed. That is why it is said that free rat enjoys and loves dignified life far more than a caged lion.

Thus, let all creatures live their life in their own habitat. Wisdom and character of civilised human beings is not on making other creature slaves, rather letting them grow and flow with nature.

— Bhakta Laxmi Bhasima, Madhyapur Thimi, Bhaktapur

For animals, getting domesticated in a human’s house is like a human befriending another human, but in a prison. But isn’t a prison merely a ruthless place even if one has a friend there?

If animals were meant to be domesticated and get locked in human’s houses, I am certain God wouldn’t have created these animals. Although animals are also social creatures, they have their own society and community which is not human society. The way we like to live among our friends, the animals also like to live with the companions of their own group and breed. Humans domesticating animals and keeping them as pets and mostly puppets is like aliens in Mars compelling us to join them in their tea parties.

— Anonymous

Animals are divided into two categories — domestic and wild. Being a dog owner feel I feel that dogs as pets compared to others are a friendly companion; they are a joy to be around and protect us from the thieves and other strangers.

People being the wisest animals must know that animals also need love and care. They shouldn’t be cruel to animals. The main thing is that unless we are ready to give the care, love and facility to the pet, it is better not to own them. If we are willing to love them like our own member of the family and provide them with good facilities, only then can we think and take a step to keep a pet.

Talking about the freedom of animals, they can get required freedom if they are under the care of good owners. Moreover we cannot guarantee they are free in their habitat. Who knows whether they are getting proper food, water and protection from other enemies because one animal is the prey of the other in their natural habitat too. Hence, I think domesticating animal isn’t a bad thing at all if proper attention is given to them.

— Sujata Bajracharya, Gongabu-6

Not only human beings, but every organism has the right to live and enjoy its life, but we so-called civilised animals on earth are exhibiting our barbaric nature. We are moving on with the slogan ‘live and let live’ on one hand and are violating the rights of wild animals on the other. Some people are keeping wild animals like snakes (python), crocodiles et cetera as pets but it doesn’t seem to be a good idea, as these animals have an innate behaviour of hunting, sooner or later they are sure to harm their master. As nature loves symmetry, so we must not do any insane work that may alter the symmetry of nature. Every organism is well adapted to its habitat so, we should not attempt to turmoil their habitat.

— Anonymous

I remember my childhood days when I used to enjoy playing with a parrot, which was kept in a small cage. I always wanted to hear human words from the parrot but it never spoke, always cried scattering its wings within narrow boundaries. Once I opened the cage and the bird flew away striking on the walls repeatedly but it never returned. I learnt the joy of freedom.

Like in my case, we find different pets are kept at home detached from their habitat. It is not a good practice. We don’t understand the language of animals but we know no animal wants to be in a prison. We expect human behaviour from innocent animals. As we enjoy our group and share the feelings with each other, likewise animals also can enjoy in their own group. The nature of wild animals can never be adapted in a domestic environment. The wild animals should be preserved for the ecosystem. We shouldn’t keep wild animals as pets and those animals which are wild in nature should be freed.

— Asit Baral, Pokhara-7, Masbar

They are called exotic animals for a reason. Yes, it might be cool to say ‘I have a tiger as a pet’, but the reality is that it’s not safe for you or the people around you. If a simple pet like a dog doesn’t satisfy you, then that’s your problem. It’s dangerous. They need to be in the wild where they belong. It’s not fair on the animals either and it’s not fair for the people who die because of the exotic animal that a person owned.

— Anonymous

People like keeping pets for their interest. I’m also one of them. Pets like dogs and some species of fish are kept at home. Dogs are kept mainly for the reason of safety of our homes, whereas fishes are for attraction as well as focus. I have been taking good care of them because both are important for not just to me but even for our entire house. It was not my decision to keep both, I have become habituated to them. I really do have thoughts of love, care and respect for them. Besides, I have also taken the duty of feeding them as per the schedule. One thing which I can say without any doubt is I have become a good friend of my dog which is originally from mountainous region of Nepal.

— Pratik Shrestha, Buddhanagar, Baneshwor

When we talk about pets, we are looking for a companion, a friend that we can talk to, whether it be a bird or an animal or an insect. But not all animals or birds are meant to be kept as pets. Some animals prefer to live in the wild while some prefer to live domestically. Taking dogs for an example, they are meant to be pets. They simply enjoy playing with the humans and surprisingly they even seem to understand human beings. While on the other hand, if we try to keep a lion or a tiger as a pet, we will end up being their dinner rather than their master because they are not used to being tamed by humans. So before keeping any sort of animal as a pet in the house, one should know about its nature and the kind of environment it is comfortable in.

— Malisha Shrestha, Sanepa, Lalitpur

Keeping animals as a pet is wrong, speaking in the favour of animal freedom. First of all, animals have their own specified environment and society so they surely feel hard to adjust in the human society. Humans torture and dominate the animals and their feelings. If they were provided freedom, they will live independently, happily and help to maintain ecosystem in the natural habitat.

Being superior and the most intelligent animals on the planet, we humans should also respect feelings of other living beings.

— Rahul Karki

Before keeping an animal as a pet, one should consider if the animal would be happier in the wild or need love and care at home. While keeping birds as pets is inhumane in my opinion, animals like dogs, cats, et cetera are meant to be kept as pets though. Birds look graceful soaring in the sky rather than being captivated in a cage. Also, there are some animals that should be free in the wild. But cats and dogs, among others, do not cherish living in the wild. Although they need certain freedom, they love being with humans. They are happier with us. However, the way they are treated at home, also makes a difference. I urge everyone to be committed as an animal lover before planning to be a pet owner. That way, you’ll be able to make the right decision.

— r2oh2o

I agree that keeping animals is a matter of choice and we cannot keep all kinds of animals as pets at home, but some do keep exotic pets at home away from their habitat. I think keeping animals like as cat, dog, rabbit et cetera is good but keeping exotic animals which are wild in nature like tiger, python, leopard is not good as they are wild in nature. And it may be dangerous to keep such animals for humans.

— Sangita Mijar, Nuwakot

Like we humans animals too have every right to become wild and free. They should be let to live their life in their own way and in their own world. But, one can keep a pet if the person vows to take proper care and give freedom that they benefit from wild. The owner must not keep his/her dog tied up in chain or kennel day and night. Pets should be treated as a part of the family not a piece of meat.

— Anonymous

I love pets. I love watching them doing stupid things. But I think that whether they are animals or human beings, they get immense pleasure only in their natural habitat. We, human beings are considered to be the superior offshoot of nature and comparing us with animals may be an insult for some of us. But for me, if we can compare their loyalty and honesty with that of ours then we must keep ourselves in their place to realising their pain in this matter too. We can never be happy away from our home because it is not meant to be. I just want to know if any of the warmest pillow can give dogs the warmth of their mum’s hug. Away from their home, away from their nature, even the royal treatment can’t give you the slightest pleasure.

—Anonymous

Keeping animals as pets is a matter of choice but it is true that we cannot keep all kinds of animals as pets at home. Some people and children are fond of keeping pets at home. Actually it does not matter if those pets are nurtured well by those people who keep the pets at home. All animals are not meant to be wild like rabbit, dog, cat et cetera. They can be easily domesticated. It happens sometimes that these animals are not safe in their own habitat but are safer when kept as pets. In this sense it is good to keep them as pets.

— Shilpi Agrawal, Kalaiya-5

Caging animals of wild habitat for self-recreation is a crime. I think the most important thing all animals owe is freedom just like we human beings.

Once I used to have a parrot caged at my home. I used to feed him with different grains and munchies, so that he would speak with me frequently. One day, all of a sudden he felt sick, I tried so hard but could not wake him up. The very next day I found him dead in the same cage. My heart was really broken, tears did not stop and I felt ashamed of myself. I was the one who stole his freedom. From that day I realised that freedom is everything just Like Tennessee Williams said “Caged birds accept each other but flight is what they long for.”

— Nirmal Aryal, Jitpurfedi, Tarkeshwor-7, Kathmandu

Well, keeping animals at home depends upon the paradigm of the owner but I think it is a matter of freedom right of the animals. Every animal is born to live freely in its own habitat but not as a pet. For instance, imagine ourselves as animals and think we were being bought by someone wealthy as their pet. It’s will like being bought as slaves. Does anybody like to be bought? Of course, not. So it’s the same in case of animals.

Though some may keep it because they like it but they also should think about animals’ intention once. Animals also love to live with their family, play with their siblings and wander in their habitat like we people do.

— Sandesh Shrestha, Banasthali, Kathmandu

In a home they get love, attention, food, shelter, medical care, toys, and exercise. In the wild they will be vulnerable. They would have bellies full of worms, backs full of fleas. They would have no treatment. They would also procreate without moderation.

It would also have bad repercussions on humans. Dogs would form packs to stay alive. Anyone who goes into their territory would be a threat and would be at risk of getting attacked, this includes other dogs and people, even children. Dogs have also been bred to be unafraid of humans. The only animals that shouldn’t be kept as pets are exotic animals. Domesticated animals are different.

— Saroj Kharel

Dogs and cats or colourful aquarium fish and birds that are carefully bred by the certified and registered pet trade breeders; are not a threat to the conservation of any vulnerable or endangered rare, endemic, exotic or indigenous species. However, under no circumstance can the local wildlife that constitute an important part of the regional and global biodiversity can be allowed to be used or traded as pets and should be punishable under national wildlife acts and legislation. The international illegal pet trade and trafficking of endangered wildlife species including small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, endemic fishes (marine and fresh water), insects (colourful beetles, moths and butterflies) and several marine invertebrates have been causing devastating impacts on the global wildlife populations.

Every year an unrecorded number of such endangered species are illegally transported from several developing and under developed nations that are rich in biodiversity but are economically poor to different first world nations as pets. A significant percentage of these helpless animals die during their capture from their original habitats and during transpiration and suffer from several contagious disease and acute malnutrition. Hence, wildlife as pets are not acceptable.

— Saikat Kumar Basu, Lethbridge AB, Canada

By nature they are meant to be wild and free, but with the changing time both human and animal habitat have been transformed. To be honest they ought to be left to live in the wild, however, with the gradual disappearance of forest and rivers, it becomes our responsibility to preserve them since they are not safe in the wild as poaching has been increased.

Animals add to the beauty of the nature, so we need to protect them. Having pet is not a bad idea despite of its raising expenses. Pets can be both useful and friendly. I had once seen a documentary film of a person who found a cub while strolling in the jungle and took it home to raise. To do so that person had to buy a home near a forest so that the tiger can go for hunting during the day and could return home at night to rest. It sounds little awkward, but there are many such examples of people raising wild animals like giraffe, elephant for the sake of protection in their locality with the help of neighbours. I think this is important to keep balance in the food chain.

— Pratibha Bhandari

The idea of pets are unlimited from cats and dogs to birds, rabbits, tortoise et cetera are included in pet categories. I am experiencing joy and enrichment with my cat named Samee. Of course, we should have pets as they are the creatures with whom we share a world and we rejoice in their companionship.

Caressing pets and just spending some quality time with pets is known to lower one’s blood pressure, especially when it comes to cats. If we are wise enough to see, they teach us about humility, empathy, and love. Their eyes hold the spark of life, the same as ours. My pet has also acted as a great source of stress buster. No matter how tired and stressed out I feel when I return after a long day of work, the affection the pet gives is bound to make you feel better and happy.

— Thirendra kumar Subedi, Kalyan-5, Surkhet

The primary purpose of domestication was born out somewhat of a necessity for early hunter-gatherers. Domestication process includes modification of species genetically through selective breeding and ultimately allows humans to have control over animal’s behaviour.

For years we have successfully kept dozens of species of wild animal alive in captive settings. Captivity doesn’t necessarily imply domestication. Obviously, there is an indisputable difference between owing a pet animal such as cat and dog and confining a exotic species such as lion, tiger, snakes to a captive life. For me, keeping exotic pet out of their natural habitat is a sin and merely a reflection of self-gratification. Every wild animal should be able to live in the wild. This ensures their diet pattern, breeding, social hierarchies. Meanwhile, it is equally crucial to understand the fact that there is biological and evolutionary difference between our domestic pet and exotic pets.

— Abiral Pritam Bhandari

I think only those animals less dangerous like as dog, mouse, rabbit et cetera should be domesticated and I think those animals which are wild should not be domesticated. Many people are adopting the trait of western habitat as some are keeping tiger, python, lion as a pet but it might be dangerous to human beings because they are wild in nature. They can devour their owner too. So, I think wild dangerous animal should not be domesticated, if anyone wants to keep them as pet then it should be in a secured environment.

— Nirajan Mijar, Nuwakot

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

We probably rate among the lowest in our civic sense and etiquette. Littering, spitting and peeing against boundary walls is nothing but another daily activity for most of us. However, this is not how we should be behaving, should we? How do you think is it possible to put a stop or at least curb this habit of ours? Illustrate with practical solutions.

­Send your replies in not more than 200 words by Friday, October 2 by 2 pm to Features Department, The Himalayan Times, e-mail: features@thehimalayantimes.com