I whole-heartedly agree with Timothy Auman's assessment of the horrendousness of animal domestication ("No real difference between circus, pets," April 18).

We can no longer infringe on the rights of the weiner dog to roam in its native habitat of Germany.

We should send them all back to Germany in a quasi-loony attempt to absolve ourselves of imaginary guilt.

The will of the house pet is being belittled. No longer can they lick themselves in freedom.

Even though most pets receive more love and affection, and live longer lives, than animals in the wild, their rights are being violated, you fascists. So what if many domesticated animals live better, healthier lives than many human beings in the world?

Get your priorities straight and liberate your pets. People in poverty can wait. But why stop with pets?

There are other living things which are being senselessly stripped of their rights to breed and forced to ignore their natural instincts -- that's right, let's not forget about plants.

Now, I'm no horticulturist, but I don't think nature intended the reproductive organs of plants to be savagely torn off and placed in prominence for sale at the local Wal-Mart. As if that weren't enough, the offspring, and sometimes appendages, of these poor plants are also being sold ... as food!

Any plant attempt at some "'60s free love" will only have the result eaten and pooped out.

Oh wait, I think that is what nature intended.

I guess, in retrospect, this all sounds kind of ridiculous. Well, so did Timothy Auman's letter.