What if all the animals were rescued?

[Drawingwords]

Well, I am new here and don't mean to step on any toes at all. I just have been contemplating something that I had heard when I was at an Audobon society meeting a couple months back.

They informed us on how many calls they get regarding animals abandoned that are exotics. They said not to buy or support exotic animals. They then told us stories of people calling in saying, "Out in my lawn is a rabbit-squirrel hybrid. I'm afraid to touch it because squirrels are rabid." While this may be funny, it is sad how misinformed people are. And, I, was, as all of us are in the beginning, misinformed. (It was a chinchilla by the way.) I am a proud owner of a bearded dragon (my husbands- bought it as a present), a gecko (He bought that for me also as a symbolic present) and our two girls, Athena is from the humane society and Elise is from a pet store.

I was wondering on what everyone thought, if that our ultimate goal was reached and eventually there were no small animal mills. ( I know this is very unlikely but please, this is a hypothetical question.) What if all the guinea pigs in the rescues were rescued and there were no animals left to purchase. Would you then consider breeding okay? Or, was it okay in the beginning before it became "over populated?"

I guess, I am introspectively looking at myself because I do believe that reptiles should be banned because there are not a lot of people that know how to take care of them. And they can carry diseases. I honestly feel that animals should be left to the wild and I am wondering if I'm selfish because I own animals in captivity. If there were no animals to rescue, would we still be pet owners?

I know I'm rambling (I am tired) but I was really thinking about this and wondered what everyone else thought? I almost feel like I should just let every animal alone and in the wild and stop owning animals as a whole. I used to volunteer at a birds-of-prey rehabilitation and was amazed at how animals handle themselves when left to their own devices. I wonder if it is our own human need to donimate and control that is the reason that there are sooooooooooooooo many unwanted animals in the world. It breaks my heart. I look at my animals, my lizards in their large tanks with all the bells and whistles, and at my guinea pigs, knowing that they would never stand a chance in the wild but...would they be happier sleeping in a nestled bush with their herd, or here-on their soft fleece/sand?
Thanks to everyone who reads this and thinks about the question.
-Natalie

[kathrynj]

Thing is, hypothetically or not, there is no chance of all the animals that needed rescuing being rescued. No point even discussing weather or not views on breeding would change, actually it's a bit heartbreaking to even think about, when there are so many uninformed and misinformed and then of course those that just don't care.

We are in a drought here in Australia, and the changes we have had to make on level 6 water restrictions are 'hopefully' ones that will continue after the drought is declared over. In the same way, if we can influence those who do care about the big picture of animal overpopulation, IF 'hypothetically' the situation eases, it would help to prevent it happening again.

Our pet piggies are so far removed from their natural environment by generations, so although there is that instinct there for survival, I doubt they would be happy set free in the wild, it would be a terrifying experience and likely to end in a speedy death.

[Jennicat]

To me, the situation is so far from ever being resolved, that the question of "what if" is sort of up there with 'What if there were no crime". There's never not going to be crime. I think we will have an overpopulation problem for a LONG time.

The cat and dog overpopulation problem is one of the most widely publicized issues in animal welfare, but here we are, year after year, and there's barely a dent made in it.

That doesn't mean we should stop trying, obviously. Even a few lives made better is worth it. But worrying about what will happen when we succeed against such huge odds seems irrelevant.

[charlie23]

I think one of the main reasons we will never not need rescue homes is because we live in a culture where people love baby animals of any kind. So whilst alot of people see this as a way of making money by breeding and selling as they know there will always be a market for baby animals. The problem is also that 90% of the people that buy the babies dont look into what its going to be like when the animal grows up and 6 months down the line when they are bored with the animal they toss it away like rubbish. A lovely thought that one day no animal would be hurt mistreated or thrown out but its always going to be a very big problem.

[Wheek Weak]

Originally Posted by Drawingwords

What if all the guinea pigs in the rescues were rescued and there were no animals left to purchase.

That would be wonderful!! I dream of that day!

Even without intentional breeding, there would still be accidental pregnancies due to mis-sexing, Fluffy and Spike being left un-supervised for a few minutes, etc.

So there would still be a need for homes. Guinea pigs would not become extinct.

[Cagney]

Hypothetical or not, it's not going to happen. You are still going to get the young child whose friend has a male and they have a girl wondering what would happen if they met each other. Then you have a litter that answers their question.

Injured animals would still be found and cared for and not rereleased. And to be honest if no animals were left to be rescued and they were allowed to roam and live as they wanted among us humans we would be in a heap of trouble. The ferrel cat and dog populations would skyrocket more than they already do. Deer would overrun every single neighborhood and street. In my area guinea pigs and other small exotics wouldn't be a problem due to cold winters. But other so called pets that were once wild would adapt and adjust.

Yes no animal looking for another home ever is a nice thought, but it's not gonna happen. You are best to try to educate who you can about proper pet ownership, and do what you can where and when you can.