The post about an escaped python found in the UK (here) raised an itneresting point about when is it cruel to keep a pet.

Personally, the animals I often feel most sorry for are birds that are kept in cages. When you go into a garden centre and see three or four birds couped up in a tiny cage I think that has crossed the barrier of what is cruel and what is not. Usually when I see birds in peoples homes they are kept in good condition with bigger cages and more room to fly in, which is much better. When birds are kept in aviaries I think it's fine.

I think it also depends on the individual case. With the example of snakes, if people own them and don't give them the right environment to live in, and don't handle them, and don't know enough about the snake to keep it leading a healthy life then I feel sorry for it being kept like that. If people are willing to get the snakes out and handle them (if possible), and know enough about snakes to look after it properly I would think the snake would lead a happy life and I don't have any problem with that.

This post was last modified: 18-06-2007 07:06 AM by riana.

Birds being kept in cages without adequate room to stretch wings is cruel. Social birds (like budgies) should not be kept alone, but have at least one companion. Most of the birds kept as pets are social birds...

Snakes, on the other hand, aren't really social creatures. I know that mine (milk and kingsnakes) don't like being handled overly much, and are very shy. They do have optimum conditions, and have lived considerably longer than they would in the wild. Pythons do seem to enjoy being handled, but it's difficult when the python is quite large. Pythons get a bit difficult around the ten foot mark, as they are then large enough to constrict rabbits and other small mammals, including cats and small dogs.

Kingfisher

I feel that some pets kept in habitats that are not adequate.We have a couple of rescue rabbits & I try to keep them in the best conditions that I can.
I don't particularly like birds in cages apart from emergency accommodation. I much prefer them in aviaries. Cages tend to be sparse horrible things.
As for snakes I do not know much about them but we have a leopard gecko, she seems to be thriving & not having trouble shedding her skin so we must be doing something right.

I think that whether keeping a certain pet or not cruel is entirely down to the conditions the pet is kept in, and whether it is suitable and healthy for the pet. For birds, keeping them in a small cage that dosen't allow them to fly is obviously not healthy and I think is cruel.