Wader's Squirrel Army post reminded me..... I devised an animal categorization system some years ago by which I live, and encourage others to follow. Just thought I'd share:
All animals (aside from humans) fit into at least one of the following categories: Livestock, Pets, Wildlife, Vermin. ...and should be treated accordingly.
(note: which category an animal belongs to CAN vary by culture. (Pets in Asia might be livestock in the west, and vice versa). So, when in Rome.... )
By and large, an animal should NOT belong to more than one category.
Pigs should not be kept as pets.
Dogs should not be left to roam as wildlife.
Think long and hard before you begin transitioning an animal from its "proper" category into another.
Keeping a mountain lion or chimpanzee as a pet can be disastrous.
Note: Rabbits are special: they can, and do, belong in all 4 categories... and thus they are actually demons. (j/k about that last part)
Anyway, follow these simple rules and life for you and animals will be much more enjoyable. People break these rules, and it works... sometimes... for a while. If nothing else, social pressure ends up overtaking them.
endnote: Initially I was going to refer to Wader's squirrel army in the house as an abomination, but I'm glad to hear they are back in the wild and regaining their proper fear of humans.
So, whaddya think? What are some other "special" animals which do well in more than one category?
All animals (aside from humans) fit into at least one of the following categories: Livestock, Pets, Wildlife, Vermin. ...and should be treated accordingly.
(note: which category an animal belongs to CAN vary by culture. (Pets in Asia might be livestock in the west, and vice versa). So, when in Rome.... )
By and large, an animal should NOT belong to more than one category.
Pigs should not be kept as pets.
Dogs should not be left to roam as wildlife.
Think long and hard before you begin transitioning an animal from its "proper" category into another.
Keeping a mountain lion or chimpanzee as a pet can be disastrous.
Note: Rabbits are special: they can, and do, belong in all 4 categories... and thus they are actually demons. (j/k about that last part)
Anyway, follow these simple rules and life for you and animals will be much more enjoyable. People break these rules, and it works... sometimes... for a while. If nothing else, social pressure ends up overtaking them.
endnote: Initially I was going to refer to Wader's squirrel army in the house as an abomination, but I'm glad to hear they are back in the wild and regaining their proper fear of humans.
So, whaddya think? What are some other "special" animals which do well in more than one category?