It really comes down to a question of risk.
There are risks in every environment, cars, mean kids, predators, mean adults, electrical wires, plants, etc.,. I have a friend whose kitten was killed by an ironing board! My cousin's dog was killed in their own backyard by another neighbor's aggressive dog who had broken through their fence.
So, really, the question is what risks are you okay with? And is your pet equipped to deal with those risks? Are you willing to train your pets to avoid those risks?
Personally, after assessing the risks in my neighborhood, I've decided to keep my cats indoors: there are too many dogs, kids, and cars that I don't feel comfortable letting my cats roam. My dad, on the other hand, had an indoor/outdoor cat that lived a full and active life for several years. His home locations had lower risks than mine, and the cat was allowed out at an early age, so it developed the necessary survival skills.
So, I agree with the posters who have said that each situation should be evaluated on its own merits. And anyone else's judgement should generally be reserved.
There are risks in every environment, cars, mean kids, predators, mean adults, electrical wires, plants, etc.,. I have a friend whose kitten was killed by an ironing board! My cousin's dog was killed in their own backyard by another neighbor's aggressive dog who had broken through their fence.
So, really, the question is what risks are you okay with? And is your pet equipped to deal with those risks? Are you willing to train your pets to avoid those risks?
Personally, after assessing the risks in my neighborhood, I've decided to keep my cats indoors: there are too many dogs, kids, and cars that I don't feel comfortable letting my cats roam. My dad, on the other hand, had an indoor/outdoor cat that lived a full and active life for several years. His home locations had lower risks than mine, and the cat was allowed out at an early age, so it developed the necessary survival skills.
So, I agree with the posters who have said that each situation should be evaluated on its own merits. And anyone else's judgement should generally be reserved.