I think there are areas in life which cannot be painted black or white. There is a wonderful book called "A Fine Balance" and this expression often comes to me when I am pondering difficult issues such as pets and domesticated animals.

We need to reach a Fine Balance. It is very difficult. The scales tip rapidly and then the situation is even worse. When there is overpopulation - whether it be animal or human overpopulation, the most humane methods should be considered and implemented so that the Fine Balance is kept. China introduced a one-child policy for instance which is a more humane method than, for example, forced sterilisation. Allowing cats and dogs to get overpopulated in cities for instance, or on some islands where they destroy the natural eco-system, is not a good idea. I believe it is doing them a favour to take care that they do not reproduce more than the environment is able to cope with.

We as humans have the ability to reason and the gift of logic and we must use these in order to carry out our duties towards our fellow animals to ensure that they live the best possible life in the conditions which we live in at present in the 21st century, and in the particular ecosystem or social structure we live in. We cannot fight the wind. We can only build barriers to prevent the wind from blowing down our houses.

Is is important to have ideals. Without ideals, we will never grow, and never evolve. And sometimes we just damn well have to choose between the Devil and The Deep Blue Sea. Spaying and neutering domestic animals is the best solution we have available to us, for the sake of the animals.

PEOPLE WHO BREED ANIMALS IN ORDER TO SELL THEM ARE DISGUSTING! (Yes, I know I'm shouting, but breeders are to me in the same category as fur farmers, although a bit lower down the scale. They just use animals for monetary purposes and that is SOOOOOOO disgusting.)

I have absolutely nothing against domestic pets per se. I do not exploit my cat. He does not exploit me either. We both give each other what we need. I give him shelter, food, love, medical care and a warm pillow to sleep on at night (and you all know that when a cat shares a pillow, the human does not have much of it left - LOL!!!!), and he gives me love, enjoyment, laughs, warmth and happiness. It's a win win situation. He appeared one day in my life all thin, full of fleas and ticks and hungry. I found him asleep on my bed. I woke him gently and he started to purr.... and he has not stopped purring since!