‘Dog-Owning Has Had Its Day’

McCarthy’s premise should be extended to its logical conclusion. If we are to forbid dog ownership as McCarthy suggests, then we should also forbid other household pets. What benefits do cats offer, for example? They fight and howl at night, overturn trash cans and often must be cared for at public expense. All cats should be banned.

Let’s not stop here! If we as a nation have decided that it’s morally wrong for animals in America to have a higher standard of living than some human beings, then we should impose a complete moratorium on all pets. Besides dogs and cats, nobody needs goldfish, hamsters, canaries or horses which are used for recreational riding. Forbid ownership of them all just as pet elephants or lions are forbidden.

SANDRA STEACY

Pasadena