--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pet ownership is an absolutely abysmal…" description: "\"Pet ownership is an absolutely abysmal situation brought about by human manipulation.\" — Ingrid Newkirk" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/ingrid-newkirk-3962_animal_pet-ownership-is-an-absolutely-abysmal-s_765607.png" --- # Pet ownership is an absolutely abysmal situation brought… ![“Pet ownership is an absolutely abysmal situation brought about by human manipulation.” quote by Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/ingrid-newkirk-3962_animal_pet-ownership-is-an-absolutely-abysmal-s_765607.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/ingrid-newkirk-3962_animal_pet-ownership-is-an-absolutely-abysmal-s_765607.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/ingrid-newkirk-3962_animal_pet-ownership-is-an-absolutely-abysmal-s_765607.png) > “Pet ownership is an absolutely abysmal situation brought about by human manipulation.” [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Pet ownership can be seen as a human‑driven exploitation, reflecting ethical concerns about animal welfare. **In simple terms:** Pet ownership may exploit animals. Key Takeaway Consider ethical implications before adopting pets. Themes animal rights ethics human‑animal relationship exploitation Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - adopting pets - animal rescue - policy advocacy - educational campaigns Key Concepts animal welfare environmental ethics responsible stewardship Questions to Reflect On - Are there humane ways to keep pets? - How can we balance companionship with animal rights? A Different Perspective Pets can provide companionship and emotional support, complicating the critique. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absolutely Abysmal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absolutely-abysmal-5928242/) [Abysmal Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abysmal-situation-5928240/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal - rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-rights/) [Animal activist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-activist/) [Animal rights activists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-rights-activists/) [Human Manipulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-manipulation-5928241/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Manipulation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manipulation/) [Ownership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ownership/) [Pet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pet/) [Pet animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pet-animals/) [Pet Ownership](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pet-ownership-935831/) [Peta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peta/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) ## Related quotes > [One day, we would like an end to pet shops and the breeding of animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/one-day-we-would-like-an-end-to-pet-shops-and-the-breeding-of-animals/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [You dont have to own squirrels and starlings to get enjoyment from them ... One day, we would like an end to pet shops…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/you-dont-have-to-own-squirrels-and-starlings-to-get-enjoyment-from/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [I don't have a hands-on fondness for animals. I did not grow up bonded to any particular nonhuman animal. I like them and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-pacelle/i-don-t-have-a-hands-on-fondness-for-animals-i-did-not-grow-up-bonded/) [Wayne Pacelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-pacelle/) > [Pet ownership is slavery. Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or be entertained by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/pet-ownership-is-slavery-animals-are-not-ours-to-eat-wear-experiment/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Eventually companion animals would be phased out, and we would return to a more symbiotic relationship, enjoyment at a distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/eventually-companion-animals-would-be-phased-out-and-we-would-return/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Our nonviolent tactics are not as effective. We ask nicely for years and get nothing. Someone makes a threat, and it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/our-nonviolent-tactics-are-not-as-effective-we-ask-nicely-for-years/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [I am not only uninterested in having children. I am opposed to having children. Having a purebred human baby is like having a purebred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/i-am-not-only-uninterested-in-having-children-i-am-opposed-to-having/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Even if animal tests produced a cure for AIDS, we'd be against it,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/even-if-animal-tests-produced-a-cure-for-aids-we-d-be-against-it/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Eating meat is primitive, barbaric, and arrogant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/eating-meat-is-primitive-barbaric-and-arrogant/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [In the end, I think it would be lovely if we stopped this whole notion of pets altogether,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/in-the-end-i-think-it-would-be-lovely-if-we-stopped-this-whole-notion/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Six million Jews died in concentration camps, but six billion broiler chickens will die this year in slaughter houses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/six-million-jews-died-in-concentration-camps-but-six-billion-broiler/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [The bottom line is that people dont have the right to manipulate or to breed dogs and cats ... If people want toys, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/the-bottom-line-is-that-people-dont-have-the-right-to-manipulate-or/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Probably everything we do is a publicity stunt ... we are not here to gather members, to please, to placate, to make friends. We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/probably-everything-we-do-is-a-publicity-stunt-we-are-not-here-to/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [When it comes to the great either/or of pet ownership, I am definitely a cat person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-reid/when-it-comes-to-the-great-either-or-of-pet-ownership-i-am-definitely/) [Susanna Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-reid/) > [But if there were two dogs left in the universe and it were up to us as to whether they were allowed to breed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/but-if-there-were-two-dogs-left-in-the-universe-and-it-were-up-to-us/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) ## More by Ingrid Newkirk > [When it comes to having a central nervous system, and the ability to feel pain, hunger, and thirst, a rat is a pig is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/when-it-comes-to-having-a-central-nervous-system-and-the-ability-to/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [We all have prejudices to dispel: the need to get away from thinking that 'I' am important and special and 'you' are not, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/we-all-have-prejudices-to-dispel-the-need-to-get-away-from-thinking/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [The extinction of Homo Sapiens would mean survival for millions, if not billions, of Earth-dwelling species. Phasing out the human race will solve every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/the-extinction-of-homo-sapiens-would-mean-survival-for-millions-if/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Pet ownership is slavery. Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or be entertained by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/pet-ownership-is-slavery-animals-are-not-ours-to-eat-wear-experiment/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Perhaps measuring animal intelligence by comparing it to human intelligence isn't the best litmus test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/perhaps-measuring-animal-intelligence-by-comparing-it-to-human/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [One hates to be absolute, but in my view, there is no such thing as humane meat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/one-hates-to-be-absolute-but-in-my-view-there-is-no-such-thing-as/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [It's interesting that one of the definitions of the word 'human' is 'sympathetic.' More and more people are beginning to show that they understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/it-s-interesting-that-one-of-the-definitions-of-the-word-human-is/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > […we would like an end to pet shops and the breeding of animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/we-would-like-an-end-to-pet-shops-and-the-breeding-of-animals/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Never doubt that one person can make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/never-doubt-that-one-person-can-make-a-difference/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Probably everything we do is a publicity stunt ... we are not here to gather members, to please, to placate, to make friends. We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/probably-everything-we-do-is-a-publicity-stunt-we-are-not-here-to/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [The bottom line is that people dont have the right to manipulate or to breed dogs and cats ... If people want toys, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/the-bottom-line-is-that-people-dont-have-the-right-to-manipulate-or/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Even painless research is fascism, supremacism, because the act of confinement is traumatizing in itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/even-painless-research-is-fascism-supremacism-because-the-act-of/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [All of us in society are supposed to believe that cruelty to animals is wrong and that it is a good thing to prevent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/all-of-us-in-society-are-supposed-to-believe-that-cruelty-to-animals/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [I think if you're against cruelty and you look at what happens to animals in slaughterhouses and on factory farms, you have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/i-think-if-you-re-against-cruelty-and-you-look-at-what-happens-to/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Humans have grown like a cancer. We're the biggest blight on the face of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/humans-have-grown-like-a-cancer-we-re-the-biggest-blight-on-the-face/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) [Explore all 118 Ingrid Newkirk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Pet ownership is an absolutely abysmal situation brought about by human manipulation.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ingrid Newkirk" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/pet-ownership-is-an-absolutely-abysmal-situation-brought-about-by/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/pet-ownership-is-an-absolutely-abysmal-situation-brought-about-by/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/ingrid-newkirk-3962_animal_pet-ownership-is-an-absolutely-abysmal-s_765607.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/ingrid-newkirk-3962_animal_pet-ownership-is-an-absolutely-abysmal-s_765607.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/96a/ingrid-newkirk-3962_animal_pet-ownership-is-an-absolutely-abysmal-s_765607.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Pet ownership is an absolutely abysmal situation brought about by human manipulation.” — Ingrid Newkirk", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ingrid Newkirk", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Pet ownership is an absolutely abysmal...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/pet-ownership-is-an-absolutely-abysmal-situation-brought-about-by/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/pet-ownership-is-an-absolutely-abysmal-situation-brought-about-by/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```