Everyone..please take a deep breath ! First of all...Paula...with all due respect ( and I sincerely mean that) I don't think CharmeC was "proudly" advocating buying from a pet store. I believe she was simply thinking about the plight of this poor piggie, and was moved by compassion to save her life.
I think that anyone who comes to a forum such as this one, KNOWING the stance the forum and its members takes on buying from a pet store and openly announces that she BOUGHT a pig, and happily explains her reasons for doing so, is doing so proudly. And, rather rudely, in my opinion. And, you know, as for being "moved by compassion" to save this single pig - fine. What about all the others? What about those that are no doubt in that pig's place right now? Aren't they deserving of a little bit of compassion, too? What about the breeders in the back rooms that are being forced to put out litter after litter to keep up the stock of these animals?
Buying an animal to save that one animal from a terrible fate is easy and it's nothing to be celebrated because doing so supports the very thing that we'd like to see stopped, and it absolutely ensures that there will be more pigs suffering the same fate. Because we cannot be moved by "compassion" to buy them all - can we?
I also think that it is the more "mature" approach to agree to disagree as Beverly stated earlier in the thread, therefore trying to keep the pot from stirring up emotions even further. I also believe it is a matter of respect to respect another's viewpoint.
Speaking of respect. What would you call it that this person came to this forum knowing full well that her CHOICE to buy a pig would NOT be supported, and would in fact be a hot topic for discussion here, and went right ahead and posted it anyway? Because, to me, that's about as disrespectful as it gets. And let's be realistic - as Blackarrow has so eloquently pointed out, the OP has done absolutely nothing worthy of respect. She bought a pig from a pet store because she wanted that pig. Bully for her! She's assured that that store will continue selling animals and putting more and more and more into the same position, because if there's always a person to BUY an animal from the store, why on earth would they stop selling them?
Your reply to Jodie was hurtful and unnecessary, and I sincerely hope it doesn't turn others away from this forum who like myself, are here to learn from you and others more experienced, in the proper care for their piggies. I also hope that it doesn't discourage others from expressing their own true thoughts and feelings. How this thread was handled makes me very sad and very disappointed as well.
What makes me sad and disappointed is that folks who know all the reasons to adopt and not buy still do so for whatever reason they choose to cite at the moment. Sadder still is the fact that there are members, who also know exactly why we shouldn't be buying while there are homeless animals in shelters also facing an unknown fate due to the very sales of these animals, who would choose to condone and celebrate it rather than speak against it for fear of confrontation and would childishly cite "respect" as the reason for doing so. Shameful, really.
My feelings on this is that she saw that this poor pig was going to more then likely either 1. be killed due to lack of sell, 2. be sent back to breeder and bred ( likely to kill her due to hips) or 3. Live out her life stuck in a cage getting attached to other pigs and then have them sold.
To me the choices all were grim but the 3rd one is the worst.
The problem with this line of thinking is that you are neglecting the reality that while there are people willing to buy from these stores they are absolutely guaranteeing that there will always be more pigs facing all three of these scenarios. You are neglecting to acknowledge that while this person has saved a single pig, she has condemned so many more to suffering the same fate she "rescued" the one from.
My issue with the way the thread has diverted from the question is what I am irritated at. People jumped on the poster for how she got the piggie.
This has been stated, but it bears repeating. This poster not only knows the philosophies and ideals of this forum, but she claims to actually subscribe to them, and yet she STILL chose to post - happily - that she BOUGHT this pig anyway. It wasn't a simple question about the pig - it was a slap in the face to those of us who not only believe that seeing the sales of live animals needs to end, but are actually also willing to do what we can to see that it ends. Which does NOT include buying said animals and supporting those stores, no matter how pitiful or how deserving a single animal might be.
How do you expect people to want to come here for advice and information if you jump someone like this. To me its blanten ( excuse my spelling its late where I am) lack of respect for one another as people. I understand expressing your opinion but there is an under current in the way the post are written that really come off as aggressive and attacking.
People coming here for mere advice and information is a far cry from someone coming here and announcing that they bought an animal and also claiming to be "pro adoption." The OP has made her choice, and maybe you and others have too, but to NOT comment on the reasons that the choice should have been different is a disservice to those folks who may come along later, who are perhaps on the fence about buying versus adopting, and may be persuaded not to buy because of something that's said or pointed out as a result of the OP's choices. What point would there be to advocating adoption on this forum if the members are not also willing to speak out when someone buys? What purpose would be served with silence, and by that silence, acceptance?
