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Companion Animals
Both human and non-human animals can be great companions for
each other. Just as you would be a guardian for children, be
a guardian to your companion animal. Care for and teach them
how to make good choices and live a happy, healthy life.
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Who is a companion animal? Are
humans their owners or their guardians? Should
people be punished for killing animals? Should
people buy an animal at a "pet store" or adopt one from a shelter?
What problems do breeding and selling animals really
cause? Is spaying or neutering companion animals
really that important? What about exotic animals?
What are the health benefits of feeding
my companion animal a vegetarian/vegan diet?
Who Is a Companion Animal?
A companion animal (more commonly known as a "pet") is a non-human
animal that lives with a human animal (humans are animals too!) that
enjoy each other's company. Non-human animal's have companion's too,
those who provide guardianship. Since the human is the one who can
make the veterinary appointments, buy food at the store, and open
the door to take a walk, therefore, the human is the guardian of the
non-human animal. The term guardian is very important. Non-human animals
are living, breathing & feeling creatures just as we are. People do
not own animals! We are their companions just as they are our companions.
A human animal cannot own a non-human animal, just as humans cannot
own their children. In the same way that parents are guardians of
children, to care for them and teach them how to make good choices
and live a happy and healthy life; humans are to do the same with
companion animals.
Animal "Owner" vs. Animal "Guardian"
The terms we use to define relationships are more important than one
might think. Our perceptions of the world are shaped by the words
we use. Just think of the negative connotation deciphered from "animal
owner" as compared to "animal guardian". In Defense of Animals (IDA)
runs a campaign regarding the following issue: "Owner", Never. "Guardian",
Forever. IDA has information that can help you write a letter to your
city council members to encourage them to change the wording of "owner"
to "guardian" in your local animal care and control ordinance. Please
visit www.idausa.org
to find out more about this wonderful campaign.
People own things, such as cars and houses. We do not own living,
breathing, feeling beings. Inanimate objects can be owned, they have
no rights because they don't need them! A person can punch their hand
through a wall of their house or leave their car outside all day in
the heat because they own it; it has no needs, no feelings. An animal,
on the other hand, is not owned. They have rights, which they do need.
If a human punches an animal or leaves an animal outside all day in
the heat, it is not acceptable. Our companion animals deserve the
right to live happy lives, free of slavery and abuse, just as humans
do. Unfortunately, many people either don't realize this or don't
care. It is for those people that we need to strengthen the penalties
for animal abuse so that they have a sufficient deterrent from committing
these crimes.
Animal Abuse
If a human animal tortures and/or kills a non-human animal, they should
be penalized to the same extent as they would be for abusing another
human. Taking animal abuse seriously ensures human safety as well.
Acting out in such a manner toward any living being is a sign of serious
emotional problems. Acting in an excessively controlling and abusive
manner toward children and spouses is another trait of animal abusers.
Also, cruelty towards animals was the first common link found amongst
serial killers when the FBI began profiling them. Therefore, the act
of animal cruelty should be taken seriously for three reasons: (1)
as a symptom of emotional problems, (2) as a sign
of potential abuse towards humans, and (3) as a terrible violation
to that animal.
If you witness animal abuse, report it! Most likely it will not be
the first or the only time. Stay alert and don't
be afraid to get involved. Oftentimes only one or two neighbors
even have a view of backyard-abuse. In that case, you may be that
animals ONLY hope. If you don't speak out and be a voice for that
animal, who will? Your neighborhood is not the only place to keep
your eyes open for abuse. Anywhere animals are housed has the potential
for neglect and cruelty, including local shelters, pet stores, zoos,
and exhibitors. For a complete list of suggestions to look for, visit
our What You Can Do page.
For more information on the relationship between animal abuse and
human violence visit the Psychologists
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Psyeta) and Humane Society
of the United States (HSUS) First
Strike Campaign.
To be effective animal advocates, we need to know about and become
involved in political issues because it is the law that either protect
animals. or protects those who abuse them due to lack of legislation.
HSUS does a very comprehensive job of reporting how each and every
politician has voted on issues that effect animals on both the federal
level and local level. Take a look at the
scorecard for your local congressmen to see where they stand on
these important issues. Whether you are happy or not with their record,
write to them and let them know. Your congressman needs your input.
Even if they are doing a good job supporting animal issues now, without
your encouragement that you agree with that position, they might not
continue to do so. Click here for contact
information for any of your federal, state, or local representatives.
Animal Adoption
Animal Awareness is dedicated to educating the public about the sale
of animals at pet stores. No one should ever get rich by selling another
life, regardless of whether it is a human or a non-human animal. There
are so many shelter animals that already need homes. We should adopt
the animals that are already on this earth, not breed more! Every
time we choose to "buy" an animal rather than adopt one, an unwanted
shelter animal is put to death. Why does a dog have to be a pure breed?
Is a purebred dog or cat more deserving of a life than a mixed breed
dog or cat? No!!! The soul of an animal, human or non-human, is what
matters, not whether or not they are aesthetically perfect.
Many animals for sale in pet stores come from puppy mills. These dogs
are treated horribly, which results in aggressive and unhealthy animals.
Many have long-term medical problems that are not discovered until
after the dog has been bought. These medical problems can be very
expensive. More information about animals bred in puppy mills will
be discussed in the next section.
Animal advocates should teach others about the importance of adoption.
When a local pet store owner was asked whether they would be willing
to stop selling cats and dogs, their answer was "no". The store owner
mentioned that she treats her animals well, that they are "well bred"
dogs, and that she has them all spayed and neutered before selling
them. After commending her for spay and neutering the dogs, it was
politely explained that for each animal she sells from a breeder,
an adoptable shelter animal dies. The responsible action to take is
to stop the selling of animals from breeders and support the adoption
of shelter animals. The owner's response was "Get real, this will
never end!" Animal Awareness does not agree. We can work together
to put an end to the breeding of animals for sale.
Animal Awareness is working on a program to encourage local "pet stores"
to agree to put an end to selling animals from breeders and instead
to use space in their stores to showcase adoptable animals from shelters.
Our campaign involves contacting independent shelters and animal rescue
groups to ask for their involvement. Animal advocates are urged to
become involved in this endeavor. How wonderful would it be to have
local pet stores no longer buy and sell animals from breeders, but
promote adoption! If you would like more information on this important
issue and/or would like to volunteer some of your time to further
this campaign, please contact Darlene
Spence. The shelter animals and Animal Awareness are waiting anxiously
for your support.
Puppy Mills
Between 250,000 and 500,000 dogs are born in puppy mills each year
while many more than that are euthanized in shelters because they
are unwanted. Puppy mills are places where female dogs are kept constantly
impregnated in order to produce many litters of puppies. They are
treated like machines with no time to recover between pregnancies.
The pups are kept captive in small, overcrowded, dirty and unsanitary
cages.
The treatment of dogs in puppy mills is also horrendous. They have
little or no veterinary care and most are born with serious illnesses
due to the unfavorable treatment. Often, when the dogs are no longer
useful or become ill, they are killed as cheaply as possible in a
variety of inhumane ways including drowning and burning. The puppies
that do survive the mill and the treacherous drive to the pet store,
have had little contact with humans or other dogs. This lack of proper
socialization leads to emotional and aggression problems, which usually
cause those who bought them to get rid of them. If the dog is lucky
they are taken to a shelter. The unlucky ones are abandoned in the
woods. People do this because of the misguided belief that they are
doing the right thing by freeing the animal. But the reality is that
these animals are basically defenseless and unable to care for themselves.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is in charge of
monitoring breeding facilities such as puppy mills, but there are
far too few inspectors resulting in too few inspections that actually
take place. Some inspectors are even denied entry into puppy mills.
Unfortunately, even when puppy mills are found in violation, they
often suffer no consequences!
Why would the people who run puppy mills choose to treat the animals
as horribly as they do? Money, money, money. Since breeders can get
away with not giving the dogs veterinary care or proper nutrition
due to lack of USDA oversight, why would they improve the conditions?
It is cost-effective for breeders to treat dogs poorly. They know
that the average person is not informed about the treatment of dogs
in puppy mills so they don't have to worry about poor public perception.
The breeders take advantage of human ignorance by selling them sick
and poorly socialized dogs.
Many cats suffer from breeding as well. They are bred in the same
type of conditions on a smaller scale. If you see a cat in a pet store,
it is likely they suffered treatment similar to that of a dog in a
puppy mill.
Puppy Protection Act
Currently in congress is a bill that would improve USDA enforcement
of the Animal Welfare Act with regard to dog breeding facilities.
The protection would cover three important areas:
- Encourage strong and quick enforcement against repeat offenders
by creating a "three strikes and you're out" policy for chronic
offenders. This would finally give the USDA the power to take
away the operating license of the worst offenders.
- Give breeding females time to recover between litters and requiring
that a dog be at least one year old before they are allowed to
breed.
- Require that dogs be adequately socialized with other dogs and
with people. This would enhance their well-being and help to prevent
future behavior problems.
This bill is currently in jeopardy because the well-funded and powerful
pet trade industry has launched a massive campaign to mislead the
public. They have scared people into thinking that if their individual
dog has puppies that the government will impose all these rules and
regulations on them, and fine them if they aren't met. That is ridiculous.
The intent of this protection is for legitimate breeders only. There
are clear guidelines as to what is a breeder, for example, you have
to have more than 3 breeding females and you have to be selling the
puppies regularly.
The Puppy Protection Act was introduced as an amendment to the 2002
Farm Bill but was not passed in the final version, even though it
passed in the Senate. You can make a difference for the animals by
writing a polite letter to your congressmen. Ask your senators for
their support of S.
1478 and ask your House of Representative member to support H.R.
3058. You can find contact information and tips about writing
a letter in our What You Can Do section.
Spay and Neuter
Breeding facilities are one major reason why there is such a severe
overpopulation problem among companion animals. Another big contributing
factor is the fact that so many animals are not being spayed or neutered.
One active female can produce a hundred or more offspring in her lifetime.
If those offspring reproduce, the result is thousands of animals all
descendent from that one female. If she had been spayed or neutered
originally, all those homeless animals would never have to suffer
the fate of being a domesticated animal forced to live in the wild.
Hundreds of thousands of these lovable but unwanted animals suffer
each year either as homeless wanders or are killed by shelters when
no one adopts them.
Anyone can help shelter and stray animals when they choose to adopt
instead of buying animals at a pet store! Spread the word about why
we need to end the breeding and selling of animals. Let them know
about the terribly inhumane conditions in puppy mills, the fact that
breeding animals leads to the overpopulation problem, and that they
should have their companion animals spayed and neutered.. Far too
many animals sit in a lonely, small cage until they are euthanized
due to the overpopulation. Let people know that there are health benefits
for their companion as a result of having them spayed or neutered.
Believe it or not, most people don't know this information. Your short
conversation with them could be their deciding factor to adopt instead
of buying from a pet store and/or to spay or neuter instead of breed.
Don't sell yourself short; your words can make a difference!
Coming this September is another easy way for you to educate others
about the importance of spaying and neutering their animals. On September
20, 2002 the United States Postal Service will begin the sale of Spay
and Neuter Stamps! This is a huge step! Animal Awareness thanks the
U. S. Postal Service for this important public education campaign.
And, many thanks to American Partnership for Pets! They worked tirelessly
to have this stamp made. For further information about this program
and their tremendous partners, contact American
Partnership for Pets.
More Companion Animals
Aside from cats and dogs, many other domestic animals are kept as
"pets", such as: rabbits, ferrets, turtles, birds, pigs, horses, hedgehogs,
fish, snakes, and many others. Even exotic animals are taken from
the wild only to be kept captive for the rest of their lives. Examples
of these animals are: various reptiles, parrots, monkeys, tigers and
leopards. These animals will either be bred or torn from their homes
and families. Regardless, it is a lifetime of captivity.
Any animal that you have as a companion should be adopted or rescued
so that you don't promote the pet trade. Furthermore, animals kept
at pet stores for sale are often not cared for appropriately and many
become ill and/or die. Recently Petco has been in the spotlight for
its treatment
of the animals in its store. Animal Awareness has had discussions
with a former Petco employee who quit when she learned about the atrocious
conditions, especially with their lizards. The employee stated that
Petco's internal policy was to not give veterinary care to an animal
if that care cost more than the price of the animal, therefore leaving
them to die slowly or to be sold to unsuspecting customers.
Before many animals arrive at the pet store they have been abducted
from their homes in the wild. Often sticky material is put on tree
limbs to catch birds. Exotic birds are packed into boxes and transported
to other countries. The conditions are harsh and many of the birds
do not live through the trip. Exotic birds, as with most other animals,
are not domesticated animals like dogs and cats. All forms of captivity
cause them great amounts of stress and psychological disorders, which
makes many people decide to give them up. There are not enough sanctuaries
to care for the large amount of these unwanted animals causing many
to be turned away. People have been known to leave exotic animals,
such as big cats, at roadside circuses not knowing how horrendous
their treatment will be! Overpopulation continues due to the fact
that many people are not aware of the problems associated with the
pet trade.
The breeding of exotic animals has been the cause of many physical
disabilities. For example, hip displasia is a common result of inappropriate
breeding, which can be debilitating for animals. Breeders have also
been known to inbreed and cross breed animals to get the results they
want. The results can be disasterous! For example, Ligertown was reproducing
tigers crossed with lions which are called "ligers". They had also
crossbred wolves with dogs. This would not happen in the wild. The
ligers attacked their "owner" (who lived) and many ligers got loose.
Many of the ligers and wolfdogs were shot and killed. Those who were
not killed were either adopted or euthanized due to neurological problems
from poor breeding.
Most people do not know how to care for unconventional domestic or
exotic animals properly. They have specific nutritional and environmental
needs. Exotic animals are not easily kept captive. Birds need to fly,
monkeys need to climb trees and big cats need to roam their territory.
Animal Awareness does not condone buying and/or selling any animals,
nor do we promote adopting exotic animals such as big cats and monkeys
from people that no longer want the animal. It is a huge responsibility
to care for exotic animals! Leave it to the professionals. Only a
professional sanctuary is capable of providing the animal with the
proper care that he deserves. There are also many reputable
shelters for farm animal.
It is easy to see an animal in a pet store and fall in love with it,
or see a beautiful big cat and want one of your own. But, that's not
realistic. Those wanting a companion animal should head straight to
a shelter to adopt. People who care about exotic animals should only
support them through a financial
adoption or reading
about their wonderful lives. Public education is vital. Encourage
others to only adopt shelter animals. Take the time to discuss these
issues with your friends and family.
Companion Animal Food
When making decisions about what food your companion animal will eat,
make conscious intelligent decisions. Don't just buy out of habit,
what is on sale, or because you saw a slick TV commercial. Think about
it. If you choose to share your life with a companion animal, you
probably love animals, right? You don't have to support the suffering
of other animals. It's not necessary. As with humans, companion animals
can benefit greatly from a vegetarian diet. Make a statement with
your money every time you make a purchase. Choose to support a company
who makes healthy vegetarian food for companion animals. Your companions
depend on you to make the right choice for their health. Make the
right choice ethically for the many farm animals as well.
Take a look at the facts. Ever wonder why so many dogs and cats die
from cancer or other diet related illnesses? Many commercial dog and
cat foods contain meat that is deemed not fit for humans. It contains
parts of slaughtered animals that most humans would never want to
feed their dog. And, the animals ground up for the food may have died
from cancer or other diseases. Yet they are still being used to fill
dog and cat food cans and bags. Plus, potentially cancer causing preservatives
such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene
(BHT) are often used in companion animal food. It is up to us to research
this information and make informed decisions about what we want going
into our companion animal's body. For more information regarding "pet
food" and what veterinarians had to say about "pet food", please visit
The Animal Protection Institute's report on What's
Really in Pet Food.
Some people incorrectly assume that it is not healthy to feed cats
and dogs a vegetarian diet. On the contrary, dogs are omnivores, which
means they can eat either plants or animals. Luckily, dogs can get
the appropriate nutrition from a vegetarian or even a vegan diet.
Cats on the other hand are carnivores. This makes it more difficult
to get the appropriate nutrition for cats using a vegetarian/vegan
diet. Taurine is vital for feline health, so it is important to find
a brand that meets complete nutritional requirements. Taurine is commonly
found in fish but can also come from yeast sources so that the food
remains vegan. Two companies Harbingers
of a New Age and Evolution
state that they have made a nutritionally complete vegan food and
a food supplement for cats. Visit our pet
food page for more information about vegan cat and dog food. People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) also has very comprehensive
information about companion
animal food.
Guess what? Not all vegan dog food has to be ordered. Nature's Recipe
is conveniently available at many PetsMmart and Petco stores!
Please remember Animal Awareness does not give medical information.
AA is not a hospital and does not have a doctor on staff. For medical
advice please see a licensed veterinarian.
Commercial Vegan Dog and Cat Food
(Below is PETA's list of companies that sell vegan dog and/or cat
food.)
Boss Bars
P.O. Box 517
Patagonia, AZ 85624
888-207-9114, fax: 888-207-9114
(100% certified organic dog biscuits, 4 flavors, including wheat-
and corn-free)
Evolution
287 E. 6th St., Ste. 70
St.Paul, MN 55101
800-659-0104, 651-228-0632
(Dog and cat kibble and canned food, ferret kibble, fish food)
Harbingers of a New Age
717 E. Missoula Ave.
Troy, MT 59935
406-295-4944
(Vegecat, Vegekit, and Vegedog supplements, recipes for homemade vegan
dog, cat, and kitten food, digestive enzymes, and acidifying nutritional
yeast)
Natural Life Pet Products
1601 W. McKay
Frontenac, KS 66763
800-367-2391, fax: 316-231-0071
(Canned and kibble dog food)
Nature's Recipe
341 Bonnie Cir.
Corona, CA 91720
800-843-4008, fax: 909-278-9727
(Canned and kibble dog food - call for closest distributor)
Pet Guard
P.O. Box 728
Orange Park, FL 32067-0728
800-874-3221, fax: 904-264-0802
(Canned dog food and biscuits, digestive enzymes)
Wow-Bow Distributors
13-B Lucon Dr.
Deer Park, NY 11729
516-254-6064, fax: 516-254-6036
(Canned and kibble dog food and biscuits, nutritional supplements)
Wysong Corporation
1880 N. Eastman Rd.
Midland, MI 48642
800-748-0188, fax: 517-631-8801
(Dog and cat kibble)
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