When I was a kid, most of the animals we owned had ear piercings, and it never seemed to bother them — we gave the cows ear tags which were IDs, but more so insecticides, so they were quite likely better off for them. I also remember branding the horn buds off our goat kids — which they definitely did not like, but were also likely better off for having it done.
That said, I’m not so convinced that this rat is better off with his body modification and I’m actually surprised it didn’t bother him. However, the rat’s keeper writes, “it healed quickly and with the tiny jewelery I put in it, he didn’t even notice he had it.”
On one hand, I think we live in a culture of pervasive animal cruelty, be it the simple reality of killing and eating animals, or the even more perverse reality of professing to love animals, keeping one as a slave while having others killed to feed that slave, so I’m not convinced on the scale of things little Dawson the pierced rat is the biggest problem for real animal lovers. On the other hand, I can predict the response to this post already…
Comments
166 responses to “How do you feel about this?”
Pshhh, it’s not your rat ear.
OMG!!NOOO!!! This poor little dumbo rat!! He dosen’t need an indy!! I’m sure this was painful, and what if he catches it on something? Please,please, TAKE IT OUT!! NOW!!!
That’s fucked up! I hope that rat eats it’s owners face off! Animal cruelty should not be tolerated!!!
Incisors-of-doom:
I understand the reasoning behind sparking a debate about the welfare of animals; we can learn alot from both points of views. However, this topic is clearly undebatable as there is no solid reasoning or justification behind what is being discussed. The ratio of people who think this is downright ridiculous to those who think it’s “cool” shows us that there really is no debate. I really don’t think this was posted to cause a debate, but rather a reaction.
oh really?? it didn’t hurt the rat? well everytime I get pierced I can certainly feel feel it. what an asshole. i guess them animuls ain’t gots no brains and no feelers.
Poor rat…
It’s a fucking RAT…who cares?
if we all agree that the rat is suffering and in pain, we should encourage its owner to do the humane thing and put it out of its misery by smashing its little rat head with a ball peen hammer. any day of the week its still just a fucking rat.
every single day a factory farmed cow/pig/chicken is alive is quite a bit more suffering than you or that fucking rat can imagine. so fuck the rat and enjoy a cheeseburger, i know i am
ha, i love the person who said “it’s just as bad as tattooing a dog or BAPTIZING A CHILD.” But yeah, I would say this isn’t fair to the rat, and also agree with the person who said it’s like piercing a baby’s ears.
modify yourself…thats awesome
leave the animals alone, we do enough to destroy them
Wow..I have 3 pet rats..and I WOULD NEVER do that to them..I think thats horrible…you have your own body modify that..don’t do it to your pet. What if that rat had an allergic reaction to the jewelry?…I bet you wouldn’t think it was so great then.
If it’s done with love and care, fair enough.
I’ve had things happen to me that might constitute ‘Animal Cruelty’ and no one ever complained on my behalf.
It’s not a matter of actions, but the reasons behind the actions.
Who the fuck cares? It’s a rat.
That is not cool. What the fuck. Poor rat. If you wanna pierce an ear then pierce YOUR ear. Not your smelly little pet rats. What if you where a little rat and your giant moron owner stabbed you with a needle? You would be PISSED. And not know why they did that. Death to you.
thats not okay 🙁 a rat feels pain and it can hurt its self with the metal-stig
IT’S A FUCKING RAT. GET THE FUCK OVER IT!