Can a caged animal be truly happy?

[BarenakedLady]

Discuss.
























*paces water bowl*

[zingaro]

1. Speaking both literally and figuratively, I say no.

I think bars stifle, man. Even when the air gets through.

[BarenakedLady]

3. Hi you.

Write my story!

:hug: :hi:

[zingaro]

7. Oh right.

All I'm going to do is toss your ideas right back at you. Get out the catcher's mitt. You know what I'm saying.

It's all there and I know it is. You do too. Just think of what you could do with it, especially in this literary climate. Just thinking about it makes me giddy!!

:hug:

[BarenakedLady]

8. Well

This is just a assignment for Design class. Small scale, 10-12 pages, emphasis on illustration. More "early reader" stuff.

I hope you are doing well.

:hug:

[zingaro]

9. Aha. Girl,

for you that's cake.

And I'd say well enough is the answer. You? :)

[BarenakedLady]

14. Meh

Same.

I'll work on the story ideas soon...

p.r.o.c.r.a.s.t.i.n.a.t.i.o.n.

[Guava Jelly]

2. no

Unless he is in the same cage as a friend or lover.

People never seem to understand that love can't be bullied or forced.
It is there or it isn't.
:hug: :hi:

[BarenakedLady]

4. Good point.

:loveya: :hug:

[AngryAmish]

5. yes

[BarenakedLady]

6. Ok.

How?

[wickerwoman]

10. I think so.

It's not like many animals have it so great in the wild. They spend most of their lives hungry, scared or injured. As long as the cage is appropriately sized and provides stimulation and regular food and water, I'd say animals can be even happier there.

No one can convince me that my house cats are less happy than the feral cats that live downstairs.

[BarenakedLady]

12. *Meow*

It is a scary world out there. You have a point.

My indoor cats agree. ;)

I was being smartassed and figurative anyway.

:hi:

[Inchworm]

11. I don't think so

I was "caged" for years and years. I was never happy until recently. What sucked is that as it was going on I really had no idea how unhappy I was because of stupid "cult" quotes. I'm not knocking the program, just saying it got embedded in my brain somehow. I looked at my marriage like alcoholism.

Fake it to make it. One day at a time. Keep coming back, it works if you work it. Grant me the serenity. etc...etc...

I'm so glad that is over with.

:hug:

[BarenakedLady]

13. Thank you for your POV.

:hug:

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

15. A caged bird may not be ecstatic ...

... but it isn't food for the uncaged cat.

:scared:

[BarenakedLady]

16. It does sing though

At least that's what Maya Angelou taught me.

;)

[WinkyDink]

17. No.

[BarenakedLady]

20. Aye.

[Deep13]

18. This is actually two questions.

Can an animal be happy?

If so, is it still happy if caged?

I guess any animal that is smart enough to know it is happy would not be so if caged. The desire for freedom is an aspect of our hunter-gatherer nature. We needed space to find food. Consequently, we object to restriction. I can see how some animals might not be bothered as long as their physical needs are met.

edit: corrected comma-splice, spelling.

[BarenakedLady]

21. You make excellent points.

:thumbsup:

[In_The_Wind]

19. No, not truly happy.

perhaps ~ pampered, well cared for
but not happy

[BarenakedLady]

22. ...

:hug:

[Rambis]

23. I don't go to zoos

for this very reason- my wife keeps telling me "it is not about you" (hate that line by the way) but
I will not view caged animals. If they are endangered (most likely because of us) I can see breeding programs in captivity. I have seen otters having a pretty good time but I would bet they would like to be in the ocean or the river and not in a aquarium.

"I hate zoo songs"
Townes Van Zandt

[BarenakedLady]

25. Zoos ook me out.

Especially when I see the Polar Bears or big cats pacing back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth back and forth...

[Crazy Dave]

27. Zoos or the circus here n/t

[snooper2]

24. I had a hamster when I was a kid...

made him a hugh! cage :)

he was happy...and fat..

[BarenakedLady]

26. Well

I have been putting on quite a bit of weight.

;)

[Midlodemocrat]

28. Lord, I hope so. The Midlets live in cages.

:hide:

:just kidding:

Are you talking about a hamster? I just got one for BabyMidlo. :eyes:

[Tommy_Carcetti]

29. Our dog sleeps in his crate at night

And seems to have no problem with it. So I guess so.

[Crabby Appleton]

30. I would let BNL out of her cage if I could.