The situation of slaves has always been very differentiated according to times and places. Some of them, in ancient Rome, in the Roman empire an in Islam lived inside families, and were freed after some time. Compared to the other ancient peoples in the Mediterranean area, the Romans were extremely liberal in freeing slaves and granting Roman citizenships. In fact, freedmen (liberti) formed about 5% of the population in Rome during the Imperial Age of Rome. In the Southern states of North America, on the contrary, slaves were treated generally in a brutal way, while in the Catholic Spanish colonies they were somehow protected by the Church. Intermarriage was allowed as is proven by the mixed nature of the populations in Brazil, Cuba etc.
But animals? I often have observed goats treated affectionately by old women and children of a farm, while males would take charge of slaughtering them at some time. Having been a child in a little farm for one year I have seen these things, with my horror and despair.
But the little dog? In the last year she has entered massively in my life, staying with me most of the time, but I don’t see a clear cut solution in the immediate future.
Later: little dog is back and I must admit that I made a fuss out of proportion.
Being in the spectrum doesn't mean being mad. But is it not the spectrum producing madness sometimes?