Do you think dogs and cats are happier in the wild, or in captivity?

Question

Do you think dogs and cats are happier in the wild, or in captivity?

Answer 1

Definitely in captivity.

In the wild they have to search for food and with us they don't.

And if you think about it, dogs choose to be in captivity, since they were wolves who hung around humans for table scraps.

Answer 2

Dogs are domesticated and have been for thousands of years. They generally won't survive in the wild.

House cats are domesticated, too, but since they haven't been for as long as dogs, they can go feral a lot quicker.

Answer 3

Cats, probably in the wild, lol, even though my cats love me and love our home and never leave. But most dog breeds would die if left in the wild to fend for themselves. They are just not physically able to hunt or fend for themselves. So they are WAY happier in captivity

Answer 4

See, dogs probably couldn't survive in the wild for long.

In captivity, are they happy?

It really depends.

If it's adopted by a loving, caring family, that loves the dog, then sure, of course dogs will be happy, being cared for and love.

But...there's another thing.

Two words: ANIMAL CRUELTY

If a dog is adopted by someone who is cruel to animals, never feeds the dog, beats it for anything it does wrong, and is not loved, no, it's not going to be happy.

It just depends on the owner.

Mmhm.

Answer 5

In captivity, they are much safer than, say, wandering around our streets. And they have caregivers, but you ask a very good question.

Oh! Another thought! They are probably most happy in the environment that they were raised in.

Answer 6

Gee, lets see.  Which would you prefer?

Having someone take care of your every need, feed you in a neat little bowl, sleep on a bed you didn't have to pay for, in a house you don't have to pay the mortgage on, and not having to worry about anything.

OR...

Having to hunt your food and never being sure when/where your next meal will be.

Having to worry about bigger, meaner, hungrier animals.

Finding a warm place to sleep every night.

Being lonely.

Getting sick or hurt and having no way to help yourself.  Getting more sick and hurting more until you know you're going to die, friendless and alone.

If it's in a city they have to worry about being hit by cars and people who think abusing strays is funny.

So, I'd pick being a pet any dang day of the week.

Answer 7

Dogs are social creatures by nature and as long as they can find food and companionship, I believe they can lead very fulfulling lives. However, I think that if a dog had a choice on whether to live with you in your house or in a forest with a pack of dogs, I believe that they would prefer to live outside.

I have seen wild packs of dogs in the middle of big cities like Lima, Peru. Conditions are very difficult for them yet they manage to run in packs and work to get food. Most of them actually appear to be happy. A working dog is a happy dog as long as he can get food and companionship...