AQUINO Journal of Philosophy

Humans have coexisted with animals for thousands of years, but the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries are when the word "pet" was first coined to mean domesticated animal. Pet ownership is for companionship or pleasure, comfort, amusement, and security. It is good for a child's sense of value, social skills, and cognitive development. There are ethical issues with keeping animals as pets. These problems mean that neglecting animals poses a threat to humans and animals. Pets keeping may be unpleasant but not a sufficient reason to enslave them. This essay contends that having pets is beneficial, but there is an urgent need to investigate moral issues that violate the rights of animals. The moral discussions of petting sparked assessments of the nature of "beingness" and the treatment of confined animals. This study makes the utilitarian case that, if pet ownership serves the interests of the greatest number of animals and their keeper, it should be permitted for the mutual worthy of humanity.

Open Full Text (PDF)