Any stock based investment is more risky for short-term saving as there is no guarantees of returns and potential drops in value. For long term savings, the dips can be waited out and on average have historically gotten good return over the long run. For shorter term savings you could consider fixed income like CDs. While the rates are lower, they are guaranteed so you will have your money when you need it
If it takes unethical practices to provide for an animal, it’s unethical to have the animal.
That being said, supervised outside team seems like a reasonable choice.