The question is straightforward: Do you eat animals?
But the answer is quite complex.
Many people say they love animals, whether it’s the wildlife
they see at the park, the dog they pass on the street, the cat they cuddle with
on the couch, or the cows they pass along the highway.
they see at the park, the dog they pass on the street, the cat they cuddle with
on the couch, or the cows they pass along the highway.
People do love animals. Animals bring us joy. It’s why we
have therapy animals. It’s why our Facebook timelines are full of cat videos or
firefighters saving animals in distress. It’s also why we’re devastated to see
undercover videos of factory farms.
have therapy animals. It’s why our Facebook timelines are full of cat videos or
firefighters saving animals in distress. It’s also why we’re devastated to see
undercover videos of factory farms.
Unfortunately, too many of us hold conflicting beliefs and
attitudes.
attitudes.
It’s why we’re able
to love our pets and eat cows, pigs, chickens, and other animals.
to love our pets and eat cows, pigs, chickens, and other animals.
But the animals we raise and kill for food are just as smart
and sensitive as the dogs and cats we adore at home. Consider this: Chickens
can recognize more than 100 individual birds, cows form close friendships, and
pigs are thought to have the intelligence of a three-year-old child.
and sensitive as the dogs and cats we adore at home. Consider this: Chickens
can recognize more than 100 individual birds, cows form close friendships, and
pigs are thought to have the intelligence of a three-year-old child.
In all the ways that matter, farmed animals are the same as
dogs and cats. Yet we relegate them to unimaginable cruelties: extreme confinement, brutal
mutilations, and bloody, violent deaths. If we treated one dog or cat the way the
meat, dairy, and egg industries treat billions of farmed animals, we’d go to
jail for animal abuse.
dogs and cats. Yet we relegate them to unimaginable cruelties: extreme confinement, brutal
mutilations, and bloody, violent deaths. If we treated one dog or cat the way the
meat, dairy, and egg industries treat billions of farmed animals, we’d go to
jail for animal abuse.
Thankfully, no one needs to eat animal products to thrive. In
fact, ditching meat, dairy, and eggs greatly benefits our health and
the planet.
fact, ditching meat, dairy, and eggs greatly benefits our health and
the planet.
So if you say you love animals, it’s time to stop eating
them. Start today.
them. Start today.
