I disagree. Most slave owners would have treated their slaves a prudent farmer would take care of his horses or mules. He would make sure they were fed, clothed, sheltered and if injured their injuries were treated. If they are ill fed, weak or sick, they cannot work for you as they should.
People treat pets as if their children. This is not how slave owners, even the most benevolent would treat slaves.
Being a slave for Thomas Jefferson was probably as good as it could get for a slave. He fired overseers for being “too free with the whip”. Some slaves that ran away were not punished if Jefferson thought they had a good reason to flee. If they tried a second time, thought, they were sold South.
Yours is a better comparison and basically what I meant. Nobody on the thread had said it in the terms I put it so mpy underlying point stands, I hope. Slaves were an investment to maintain, not fodder to abuse.