The value of life
Discussion
What makes an animals life have value? To explain my thoughts around this question...
Can I kill a cat that keeps coming in to my house and scenting the kitchen and dining room?
- The majority of people have no problem swotting flies or putting down ant powder to kill off insects. Insects lives are therefore worthless
- Some people use mouse traps to kill vermin (mice, rats etc). Their lives must be worthless too
- Farmers will trap foxes
- We kill and eat all manner of animals
Can I kill a cat that keeps coming in to my house and scenting the kitchen and dining room?
RudeDog said:
The cat can work a cat flap (I have a cat that does not scent the house).
So let me get this straight, its OK to kill a mouse, rat or fox but judging by the responses so far, killing a cat is unacceptable. Why is that?
The law says you may not do so.So let me get this straight, its OK to kill a mouse, rat or fox but judging by the responses so far, killing a cat is unacceptable. Why is that?
You can of course go to jail if you prefer. And be sued by the owner of the cat.
Jasandjules said:
The law says you may not do so.
You can of course go to jail if you prefer. And be sued by the owner of the cat.
Does the law apply to only cats that have owners (i.e. pets) or all cats (including ferrel ones)You can of course go to jail if you prefer. And be sued by the owner of the cat.
Marf said:
Now, go buy yourself a microchip cat flap so you don't have to keep cleaning up cat piss. 
I'm changing the catflap for a microchip style one at the weekend. Does anybody have any good advice on how to a) locate the scent and b) Neutralise it once its been located?RudeDog said:
Marf said:
Now, go buy yourself a microchip cat flap so you don't have to keep cleaning up cat piss.
I'm changing the catflap for a microchip style one at the weekend. Does anybody have any good advice on how to a) locate the scent and b) Neutralise it once its been located?b) disinfectant and febreeze
IMHO, we humans perceive the value of life in many ways, especially when it comes to all creatures great and small.
The smaller the animal, the less value is placed upon it. Especially if we believe the critter to be a pest.
I'd happliy get rid of a spider, a fly, and wasp, etc. However I'd not do the same to a hedgehog, badger, fox, etc.
However I'd happily kill a sheep, as that puts food on the table
The smaller the animal, the less value is placed upon it. Especially if we believe the critter to be a pest.
I'd happliy get rid of a spider, a fly, and wasp, etc. However I'd not do the same to a hedgehog, badger, fox, etc.
However I'd happily kill a sheep, as that puts food on the table
Caractacus said:
IMHO, we humans perceive the value of life in many ways, especially when it comes to all creatures great and small.
The smaller the animal, the less value is placed upon it. Especially if we believe the critter to be a pest.
I'd happliy get rid of a spider, a fly, and wasp, etc. However I'd not do the same to a hedgehog, badger, fox, etc.
However I'd happily kill a sheep, as that puts food on the table
We need some sort of equation...The smaller the animal, the less value is placed upon it. Especially if we believe the critter to be a pest.
I'd happliy get rid of a spider, a fly, and wasp, etc. However I'd not do the same to a hedgehog, badger, fox, etc.
However I'd happily kill a sheep, as that puts food on the table
Variables:
Size (1-10)
Recognised food source (1-10)
Furriness (1-10)
Examples:
Fly = 1 x 1 x 1 = 3
Cat = 3 x 1 x 10 = 30
Dog = 4 x 1 x 8 = 32
Cow = 10 x 10 x 2 = 200
Sheep = 6 x 10 x 7 = 420
From this I declare:
Score 3 - 19: May be killed without compunction
Score 20 - 100: May not be killed under any circumstances
Score 101+: It can be killed and eaten, but only if someone else kills it
Rabbits can be pets.
But you get rabbit flavour cat food, so why not cat flavour dog food?
Personally I don't kill flies, wasps, spiders etc. I try to catch them unharmed and release them outside the house.
I take the view that all living things have one thing in common, and that is they come from an unbroken line of winners, strretching back hundreds of millions of years. Every creature on the planet has an unbroken line of ancestors that all lived long enough to find a mate a reproduce. All the way back to the single cell organisms we all came from. If I swat a fly, it might not have bred yet, so I'm ending that long line.
A bit crazy I know.
But you get rabbit flavour cat food, so why not cat flavour dog food?
Personally I don't kill flies, wasps, spiders etc. I try to catch them unharmed and release them outside the house.
I take the view that all living things have one thing in common, and that is they come from an unbroken line of winners, strretching back hundreds of millions of years. Every creature on the planet has an unbroken line of ancestors that all lived long enough to find a mate a reproduce. All the way back to the single cell organisms we all came from. If I swat a fly, it might not have bred yet, so I'm ending that long line.
A bit crazy I know.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff