I’m glad you found purpose in the responsibility of caregiving. Truly. But that doesn’t mean your dog loves you, I’m sorry. It is an animal whose entire existence is dependent upon you, and a child of a long line of selective breeding and conditioning designed specifically to perform for you. You chose your dog, your dog had no voice in the matter.
Also, after thinking about it, your argument isn’t really that different than a baby small child being preconditioned to love its family without the cognitive ability to do so.
Don’t love your mom? Well that wasn’t your choice. You were unfairly preconditioned to do so against your will.
I’m glad you found purpose in the responsibility of caregiving. Truly. But that doesn’t mean your dog loves you, I’m sorry. It is an animal whose entire existence is dependent upon you, and a child of a long line of selective breeding and conditioning designed specifically to perform for you. You chose your dog, your dog had no voice in the matter.
Also, after thinking about it, your argument isn’t really that different than a baby small child being preconditioned to love its family without the cognitive ability to do so.
Don’t love your mom? Well that wasn’t your choice. You were unfairly preconditioned to do so against your will.
Did you birth your dog? Do you share DNA? Then these are not equivalent.
My point wasn’t whether the dog loves me or not (he does). I was countering your implication that pets have no value and are a social scourge.
Your view point is incredibly narrow and shortsighted.