to tell you that you are wrong on a number of counts. You have set up an argument based on apples and oranges. (Humans are human and Dogs are, well, only dogs. So your point is that dogs are not humans?)

Dogs are not humans but neither are they "owned" by humans like a house or car or some other inanimate object. The simple fact that dogs, or elephants for that matter can be dominated/domesticated by humans who have exploited their natural species tendencies does not make it o.k. to kill them if their "owner" decides to on some whim, unless somehow the dog or the elephant has become crazed and is dangerous to others. I don't really have any problem if you personally want to wear a dead dog coat or elephant skin shoes, that's your choice, but please make sure that that dead dog/elephant died of natural causes.

If on the other hand we create a market for dog carcasses or the fur of dog you can be sure that some wrong-ideaed human will figure out a way to make a profit from it and establish the dog fur trading and coat making industry. A fine end for man's best friend and he doesn't have very many. And as far as dogs and other animals not having rights, who said they asked for any?

Go on about how every human being has worth and rights partly because he can think and explore new and fascinating ideas and there is no problem with that. But leave the dogs, cats, and elephants alone when it comes to the human fashion industry.

Or maybe you think we should harvest ivory, make cat head amulets to ward off evil spirits, or make dog fighting a national sport. I could make a case for each of those possibilities philosophically but it wouldn't make any of it morally right.

Of course you aren't talking about killing real dogs, only theoretical ones. So for the sake of argument go on about how you think dog fur is a wonderful all-weather coat for us naked apes. I don't mind one whit.