I hate all zoos, circuses and animal amusement parks, such as Sea World.

[DirkGently]

62. Circuses & amusement parks are not the question.

The question you raised is whether we are "enslaving" animals by keeping them for any purpose.

I noticed you said earlier that cats and dogs are with us "voluntarily." How so? They didn't fill out a form. Leave the door open and a lot of them would leave, maybe to return when they get hungry or because they just don't know anything else, but it's not any kind of formal arrangement where they "agree" to a life circumscribed by humans.

A lot of the "enslavement" talk regarding animals decries domestic animals of any kind. PETA is huge on the idea of "enslavement." They'd rather see a pet dog or cat euthanized than subjugated by their human "masters." I think they're wrong and are anthrompomorphizing the concept. You seem to be on both sides of the line. Which is it? Are we "enslaving" our dogs and cats and cows and goats," or is it possible for humans to "keep" animals in a benign and justifiable way?

No one I know, least of all anyone on DU, would argue in favor of lions forced to jump through hoops of fire or declawed bears made to ride bicycles or elephants kept chained in a damp barn.

But a well-run nature conservancy or research facility -- even a good zoo -- whether or not animals are "on display" is another kettle of fish. We have a unique place in our own ecosystem -- largely, screwing it up -- and as a result, we have a responsibility to raise awareness, protect species, and learn all we can. We can't do that by pretending that animals are always best left alone. It's too late for that. We have to do more.