Whether it’s animals in zoos for your viewing pleasure, sedated animals for your holiday snaps, animals locked up for your riding pleasure. Why are we all so okay with animal slavery?
Someone who kept their dog like that in the US could be arrested for animal cruelty
You are presupposing that people view animals as equals. Even though some people (including you, presumably) do believe that animals deserve the same respect and dignity as humans, the vast majority of humanity does not. Until a significant number of people feel the same way, this is unlikely to change.
Do we have to treat them as equals to afford them a little respect?
Maybe I should have said “afford them a little respect” instead as “treat them as equals,” but my point is still the same.