Post written by VegBlogger. Follow me on Twitter.
I am always amazed by the number of people I come across who support the idea of
ending animal cruelty. Today I noticed people on Facebook becoming a fan of a page/group about ending animal cruelty. So I inquired with one of the people as to whether or not it was a vegetarian or vegan-based group. I checked out the pictures the group has up and it was dogs and cats.
Rather than people saying they are against animal cruelty and then dining a piece of flesh soon after, perhaps they should re-phrase that to say that they are against animal cruelty to pets/dogs/cats/rabbits, etc. Because if they eat meat they are absolutely not against animal cruelty (either that or they are extremely ignorant about what they eat). Or at least they are engaging in behavior that is in conflict with their views.
I love animals, but I don't love them to death and want them dished up on a plate. Nor do I want them skinned so that I can use their fur to make a coat. Heck, I don't even love all animals, to be quite honest. Anyone that knows me is aware of my strong dislike for dogs. Even so, I still have compassion for dogs and would never want them harmed.
When someone asks me why I'm a vegetarian, my reply for several years now has been "because I'm against animal cruelty." And for me, that's what it boils down to and I believe it makes people think. Because most people see themselves as also being against animal cruelty, yet they have just never made the connection. Eating animals is engaging in animal cruelty. There is no way around that.
Being against animal cruelty should mean you are against it for all animals. Or you should be a more specific about which animals you don't mind harming and which you prefer to be protected. Because to me, to hear a meat eater say they are against animal cruelty is more than a bit naive on their part.
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