Is there really a distinction between torturing humans and torturing pets? Aside from torture being torture, pets are members of people's families!
reply> pets are members of people's families!
replyIf you could only rescue one member from some kind of deadly emergency and they had equal chances, would you prioritize the pet over a human member of your family?
>> pets are members of people's families!
reply> If you could only rescue one member from some kind of deadly emergency and they had equal chances, would you prioritize the pet over a human member of your family?
If you could only rescue one family member from some kind of deadly emergency and they had equal chances, would you prioritize a stranger over a member of your family?
Legal/social consequences weight into your question.
replyA more straightforward angle could be money spent: would someone spend more for the wellbeing of their pet than for a family member (elderlies included).
Why not? There's a difference between castrating a human and castrating an animal, right?
replyIf I had to choose between my cat and my daughter...
replyHell, if I had to choose between MY cat and YOUR daughter, the choice would will be easy