Thank you, Jamie, for this well thought out and reasoned article.

You are absolutely right on so many levels.

If it has to be in a cage, then, no.

On the other hand - there are so many dogs and cats that have been abandoned, or their humans have met with bad times or ill fortune, and those creatures would be happy to share what space you have.

Your young child could benefit from such a relationship, and you could be offering sanctuary to a creature who finds themselves without love or home.

Just saying. XXO