classrom pets (mice) ethical question - Page 2

[lach]

Originally Posted by zjande

I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling grumpy & judgmental today. I hope that tomorrow is better for you.

I guess it's just a coincidence that she's 100% correct?

[2xy]

Originally Posted by lach

I guess it's just a coincidence that she's 100% correct?

I was thinking something similar. Also, calling someone judgmental is being judgmental in itself, no?

Yes, factory farming is atrocious. Yes, most of our pets eat Frankenmeat. Breeding mice for no good reason only perpetuates the mentality that animals are for us to do with as we wish.

[zjande]

Correct in her harshness? Correct in her tone? The OP was simply asking an honest question. Whether we agree with her or not I don't agree with someone being so rude in response to her.

But you are correct in that my calling her judgmental is being judgmental on my part.

I guess perhaps I don't agree that the mice would be being bred "for no good reason". Being her family's pets or the neighbor's snake's snack is a good enough reason for me. I guess now we're getting into whether having pets itself is ethical... probably way too much for a homeschooling forum! lol

[2xy]

Originally Posted by zjande

Whether we agree with her or not I don't agree with someone being so rude in response to her.

Whether you're aware of it or not, the whole "I'm sorry you're feeling grumpy today" response came across as snarky and condescending. Which, IMO, is also rude.

While I did think that the other poster was not quite as gentle as they like it here on MDC, it sounded to me like her response was due to a visceral reaction to the idea. The reply that was given to her sounded like a syrupy teacher chastising a 3yo.

[zjande]

Man, I'm darned if I do darned if I don't! I actually wanted to reply directly to her that she was "being snarky & mean" but I decided those words would be too harsh, so I chose to give her the benefit of the doubt & assume she was just feeling unhappy & taking it out on an anonymous online stranger. But I do understand reacting with strong emotion to something you feel strongly about. I'm certainly not immune to that myself!

So Betsy, now that your thread has taken off without you, do you regret ever having asked here?? (just kidding!)

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by zjande

The question the OP would have to ask herself is whether she is OK with her kids getting the message that we humans sometimes raise animals to become food for others.

I think there is a huge difference between raising animals to become food for Other People and food for a pet snake. On an emotional level, it's very different for me.

I wouldn't be comfortable having a pet that ate live food, nor would I be comfortable raising food for a captive animal.

My cat likes to hunt, but I wouldn't get a baby mouse and put it in a cage with her. To me, that's just twisted, even though eating mice is a completely natural thing for her to do.

[WhaleinGaloshes]

We are, to various degrees, dancing around the ethical debate surrounding a captive carnivorous pet eating live, tame (in this case hand-raised) prey.

This is not, IMHO, in any stretch of the imagination 'nature's way' nor are either of the animals involved in a state of nature.

So, while I certainly understand that snakes (wild and domesticated) eat mice, I couldn't participate in a captive snake eating live prey or prey that had not been properly euthanized. It's not good snake husbandry, and it's not humane treatment of the mouse.

That's my input on the debate we're not having

Factory farming is at times horrendous, no doubt. I don't think that really mitigates the above, myself. Nor does the fact that I, or a pet dog, or a captive snake eat other animals. I'd 100% prefer the rabbit-for-food project to mice bred for the experience and left with either a pet store or a live-feeding neighbor.