Think a bit - Should crackheads have pets?

[Inchworm]

Heavy drinkers, meth fiends, raved Xtc types, oversexed Viagra users... etc.

(I am mulling over an issue I may have to defend in the morning)

Share your reasons if possible. I needs ammo :P

:hi:

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. If they can't care for it properly and keep it safe, then people should not have a pet.

[joeybee12]

2. That probably applies to about half the population of this country...

...sadly.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I know :^( But there is no test for being allowed to have pets.. or kids.

[joeybee12]

4. True...and if I won the lottery, I would use it start an education campaign about

this...especially about having your pet spayed or neutered...if more people saw how bad a problem abused and unwanted cats and dogs was, they'd understand...maybe it's not stupidity, but unawareness.

[Inchworm]

5. That is my opinion too

But being an addict shouldn't be a dealbreaker in itself.

Or... should it?

:hi:

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Maybe it should, if the addiction is of the sort where the person wanders off frequently or

is often just so out of it for so long that the animal in question could be harmed by the neglect.

I don't know. It's tricky. You want to care for the animal but you don't want to trample on the person's rights to be autonomous either.

On the other hand, if this crack addict had children we wouldn't hesitate to remove them from the home would we?

[Roon]

6. A crackhead will buy crack

before buying pet supplies. No way should they have a pet.

[Inchworm]

11. What if they have money for both?

Just stirring a bit here

:hi:

[EndersDame]

16. If we are talking about a serious crackhead they wont because

They won't be able to hold down a job

[Inchworm]

20. And all alcoholics drive scooters

because they can't keep a license.

:+

[EndersDame]

27. I used to do drugs with people who were on some hardcore shit

I mainly smoked pot and took pills but I was hanging with people who were shootin up (i was young and dumb but never shot up thank god) Sure they got occasional work but there is no way they could hold down a job because
A They were too cracked out on the job
B A job took time away from getting high
They mostly were enabled by parents who let them live in the basement or garage

[Roon]

23. I managed a crack motel for 18 months..

and I know a lot about crack addicts. Their apartments will be bare of electronics,their couches and chairs will be sliced up (looking for rock) and they will sift through the front lawn (looking for rock) Not a one of them had a pet.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

8. oversexed Viagra users??? are similar to crack addicts?

not so much

people who cant take care of their pets shouldnt have them. addicts, selfish people, children etc

[Inchworm]

12. No, but that is what I'm driving at

I just used the viagra thing to close a door for lables. It may have seemed silly, but I built that in to the question intentionally :P

What if the "addict" is good with animals?

Should the fact they are sick still red flag them?

I'm battling with this in my head is why I ask.

:hi:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

15. addictions are different. cig addicts for instance are perfectly capable of taking care of others

addictions which significantly alter your state of mind, are different

[Inchworm]

18. Right, but..

People are different too.

That word "functional" comes to mind. I've known many functional addicts. Heroin, coke, meth, oxys, and alkys each can be addicted to their monkey and still manage to funtion in society properly.

Should it be black and white, or should we play in the greys?

:thumbsup: <= for you
(Thanks for your points)

:Hi:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

19. i think my original point stand. if they can take care of the creature, they should have it

addict or others

[Inchworm]

25. Thanks Lioness

I agree. The hard thing for me is going to be determining that. So much is done on faith and vibes when it comes to paperwork and judgement. I hope to be able to decide if this person is able before I stick up for him/her.

Thats what is sucking. I feel a big fat NO coming on from others in the process before the person even has a chance.

:banghead:

[Mr. Ected]

9. If crackheads are not disallowed from having children

Then crackheads should not be disallowed from having pets.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

10. we exert more control over animals than people's reproductive systems

not that i necessarily disagree with you, but i think the argument doesnt really hold

[Inchworm]

13. Offspring are different

But.. there are times when having a child cause a 180 in a person's life.

Could a pet have the same effect?

:hi:

[snooper2]

14. Crack heads need lovin too..

Some homeless drunk guys only have their dog and take care of them better than themselves...

[Inchworm]

17. Bingo!

I've witnessed this.

It is why I may push for this. I am just fishing opinions because much of what has been mentioned in this thread is why it might not go through. Humans are just weird sometimes and I need to be able to get a hold of the discussion when it comes up tomorrow :P

:hi:

[snooper2]

22. Just say this....

Could you imagine losing your job, family, life; ending up homeless with a bottle in your hand then some motherfucker wants to take your dog too!

[bigwillq]

21. I find it possible

that a "crackhead" can still be a good "parent" to a pet. Some can be. Some may not be. It all depends on that specific person.

[snooper2]

24. Crackheads can only have cats though...

Many many years ago I had one weekend of lets say- we didn't sleep...

Had I had a dog and not my cats during those 72 hours, he would have pissed and shit everywhere cause I wouldn't have walked him :P

[Inchworm]

28. I agree

Thanks, bigwillq

:hi:

[dugaresa]

26. They shouldn't have pets or kids.

Having personally seen relatives who had drug and alcohol problems, the last thing those folks need are pets or kids.

[Inchworm]

29. I'm a drunk

My dogs are my kids. I found out through my daughter that I practice "attachment parenting" with them. That is just a fancy term for being a good parent if you ask me. :P

:hi:

[Kali]

30. I have been thinking about this for a little while.

I think there is wonderful opportunity for therapy and growth in allowing an addict to have a pet. There has been work done on pet therapy with mental health and certainly the wild horse program in prisons has been positive.

Just dumping a puppy in an unsupervised situation - no, but with some work and other interaction I think it would be a potentially good move.

[Inchworm]

32. Good point

Hmm..

Extra follow-up would need to be arranged...

:think:

[meow2u3]

31. A crackhead would be too busy worrying about his or her next fix

to provide for the basic needs of a pet. There have been too many horror stories about crackheads neglecting their kids, so if an addict will neglect kids, he or she will sure neglect the dog or cat.

[Inchworm]

33. Crackheads recover though

There usually a reason.

I blame hope.

Bad thing is that addiction is vicious. Without hope it is a hard thing to beat and stay ahead of.

Can a dog/cat be hope?

:hi:

[backtoblue]

34. Yes, but only to keep them from having kids.

:hi:

[Inchworm]

35. Hey now

Don't confuse me so late in the thread :D

:hi:

[backtoblue]

36. ...

:rofl:

:hi:

[coconuted]

37. No

I have a lot of experience with crack-heads. If the animal has ANY value, it will be sold to buy crack or traded directly for crack.