Pet health depends on responsible breeding. It includes choosing healthy, genetically sound animals with desirable traits and avoiding inbreeding, which can cause health issues. Breeders should value animal welfare over profit.
Puppy mills and other mass breeding businesses are unethical. These shelters overcrowd and filthy animals, causing health and behavioral issues.
Pets are a luxury. Pet owners must provide food, drink, shelter, exercise, and medical care. Neglecting these duties is animal abuse.
The demand for animals from cruel breeding operations can be lowered if more people bought pets from respectable breeders or adopted from shelters.
Designer breeds like teacup dogs and flat-faced cats have bred animals with health issues like breathing problems, hip dysplasia, and teeth issues. These animals may need expensive lifelong medical care for chronic pain.
Some breeds, such as brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs, may require surgery to correct genetic health problems. This can be expensive and dangerous for the beast.
Many shelters have high euthanasia rates due to cat overpopulation. Breeding animals adds to this issue, so owners should spay or neuter their pets to reduce the number of unwanted animals.
Some say having pets is exploitation and that humans shouldn't keep animals for pleasure. However, many pet owners say their pets offer them joy and companionship and give homeless animals a loving home.
Pets should be viewed as people, not property, according to animal welfare advocates. This could lead to laws that allow animals to sue their owners for abuse.
Breeding and owning pets requires balancing animal care and human needs. Responsible breeding, proper care, and adoption or rescue from shelters can help dogs get the respect they deserve.