Jaybeecee

They appear more and more as accessories in smart homes on TV and in adverts. But animals are not meant to be ornaments. They have their own natural habitats and to confine fish in what must appear to them to be outer space must be enough to drive them mad. Why should they be condemned to spend their lives just going round in circles with nothing to do. It is like putting a person into solitary confinement with no activity or anything to look at but empty space. Or a dog permanently tied up with no exercise. Or any animal in a cage. It was not meant to be.

Goldfish are not cuddly like cats and dogs, or particularly entertaining but some people like to keep them as easy pets. Such people usually keep them in tanks that provide a pleasant and spacious environment to live in. This is still not ideal, but goldfish bowls are there purely for ornament, and as such would be better used for plants and flowers.

Birds in cages must suffer just as much. Whether you believe they were created by God or just evolved the fact is that birds were provided with wings because they were meant to fly and be free, and fish were given the means to swim and be free. Just as dogs need to be taken for walks and cats need to climb.

Animals may or may not have rights, but humans certainly do have a duty to protect and care for them and see that they do not suffer.