posted September 04, 2009 07:29 PM         

I wouldn't want to eat my dog or cat as I'm not raising them for food.

posted September 04, 2009 08:02 PM         

as is factory farming and the other inhumane practices used to raise animals for consumption and vast profit.

posted September 04, 2009 08:13 PM         

But here's one cow that rebelled against being served at Burger King (and not so sweetly...):
http://www.badassoftheweek.com/molly.html

Anyway, as for your question, carnivores and omnivores seem to prefer eating herbivores when it comes to mammals. This isn't just in humans, but in other species as well. That's not to say they never do eat other carnivores, just that the preferences is to eat those who don't eat meat. Cats and dogs eat meat. Cows don't. Pigs eat whatever.

Plus, there's the partnership thing. Horses can ride & pull, cats are pest control, dogs herd & guard...what do pigs & cows do?

posted September 04, 2009 08:41 PM         

Good question. Ideally, I wouldnt have a dog or cat, especially if it meant that I would be required to feed it meat. But, then, what about these factory farms and the absolute waste that they feed the animals? Is that okay? I mean, its being done on your behalf, so, you must think its okay. You say that deciding how others should live is not our business, but that is precisely what the meat industry makes its business; deciding how these animals should live and, ultimately, die. I dare you to respond. I would be surprised if you did. Also, let me ask you: If your neighbor were beating his child, would you think that it was none of your business, and he should be allowed to do as he pleased without interference from you or the authorities?

Dervish,

lol, good for the cow!
"Do not go gentle into that goodnight!"

Your answer about carnivores prefering herbivores is actually a fairly thoughtful response to my question. I suppose there are obvious reasons for that, though -- herbivores are more peaceful and dont generally have the teeth and claws to fight back. But I still wonder why people can identify so strongly with their cats and dogs.. see them as intelligent, warm-hearted creatures, etc., and then think nothing of killing lamb, pigs, and cows.

I dont need pest control, but, anyway, arent cats more of a nuissance when it comes to dragging dead carcasses into the house and all that? I dunno anybody who uses dogs for herding -- at least, its not a common reason. What do pigs do? They could keep you company, which is 99% of all cat and dog owners' reasons for owning cats and dogs.

I'm sure there are some mean hogs. Does that justify being a mean hog yourself? Or worse? A hog rancher?

posted September 04, 2009 08:41 PM         

???..?

posted September 05, 2009 11:00 AM         

quote:

---

Some animals need to feed off other animals in order to survive. There's a natural order in place where things take care of themselves. It doesn't have to be pretty, or even compassionate. Natural order has nothing to do with the human process unless we perceive that humans are animals too. Are we? And does God lack compassion for creating such a process where creatures need to feed off others? Or is it nature's way of cleaning up the mess and being resourceful? Would I eat my dog? No. If I were truly genuinely starving and had a family to feed and there was no other option for us to survive? I'm grateful that I don't have an answer based on my own reality so far to answer that. But there are those that do. Condemn them?

---

posted September 05, 2009 11:50 AM         

It is so unfair to compare an animal that awards us with "emotional attachment" with "beasts of burden."

Steve, have you ever been on a farm? Have you ever connected with farm animals? Have you ever experienced fishing, hunting, survial?

I have, as well as atleast one other poster on this thread. I have gazed in to the eyes of pigs, sheep, cows, chickens, etc. I have fished and hunted. I have shot birds out of the sky, I have fished (my own) out of lakes and oceans...I have gazed into the eyes of friggin shrimp, crabs and fish!!! I have taken part in the procurement of old dairy cows...

I have gazed into the eyes of my cats and my dogs...the so-called "pets" of our society.

In the beasts of burden, there is a vacancy, and as a Pisces I feel, I feel for each and every living creataure there is. With pets, there is depth, there is emotional attachment placed by us humans.

I love my cats (all 4 of them) as much as I love my daughters and my love, I connect with other animals, but the emotional attachment is not there.

How unfair to compare eating dogs with eating meat in general!

Please state your "credentials" in this matter.

To each his/her own...

So be it.

posted September 05, 2009 12:58 PM         

Paul Nison

The Formula For Health

Part1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKf7NwWJ-r0
Part2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukS4DkCf0Y0
Part3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xLHIvdR23g
Part4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ5KKc2fouE
Part5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsU_owGaV9I
Part6 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fERSCjGjcR8
Part7 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q46n_01evfA
Part8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbWwDGp7txQ
Part9 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcFptUF6VYY

"We all have discipline for what we love." ~ Paul Nison

posted September 05, 2009 01:08 PM         

After reading about the Inuit and their lifestyle, I understand a little about them. I wouldn't judge them for their hunting/eating seals.

I think that we need to keep self righteousness from infringing on other's cultures. That's the main problem on our planet.

------------------
“It is absolutely the perfect name,” Dr. Brown said, given the continuing discord among astronomers and the public over whether Pluto should have retained its planetary status.

In mythology, Eris ignited discord that led to the Trojan War.

“She causes strife by causing arguments among men, by making them think their opinions are right and everyone else’s is wrong,” Dr. Brown said. “It really is just perfect.”

posted September 05, 2009 01:47 PM         

With ALL due respect!!!

Again, I beg, what are YOUR (personal) credentials???

Have YOU slaughtered animals? Have YOU been a slaughtered animal???

I have taken part in the extermination of (animals), for human consumption, and who knows maybe in a past life, mabye I have even been killed!

(as I am shooing away my most recent love-cat a kitten who I rescued from a tree!)

I just want to know what are your credentials for making such statements?

I have stated mine, I have lived the use of animals for human consumption, I have experienced the connection with other living be-ings...

Have YOU?

geeezz........

Please! We all have a right to experience our place here on earth! We all have the cultural right to be!

Glacus...

golly....

should be watching LMN movies as I usually do on my last day off before going back to the human torture chamber of an ICU I work in...

blessings anyway.

posted September 05, 2009 01:53 PM         

once, while talking with a friend of mine, the son of a farmer who's got "bufflonnes" (femelle of "buffle"-may be buffalos in english!??, anyway, someone used to see real animals, i was being politically correct as usual, or just annoyingly uranian, and i argued in favor of vegetarianism (while im a meat eater); well, i dont remember how i was trying to convince him about my point, but his reply was that while with his dad, he had seen cows giving birth many times;

his point was clear, you take life but it's a process with all it's aspects;

i understand vegetarianism; i do;
when i had a mystical experience, vegetarianism was obvious, it lasted a few weeks before i went back home and during a family diner, i tried to explain to my grandma about my choice, until i figured out that there was some things over which i could open her eyes, like politics, ecology, but there was others which, either she would not comprehend (although she's a spiritual and religious person) or would be counterproductive if she started to be put off by my philosophy for being too dogmatic;

posted September 05, 2009 02:43 PM         

well my post was all of two sentences, but you don't seem to have read the second. or any of my other posts where i have mentioned that though i DO eat a little meat, AND fish, i do not consume factory fodder. i have not eaten anything that was not raised naturally in about 30 years, with the possible exception of chocolate, and now even that is organic.

my diet is largely raw and consists of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and sprouts, honey...also dairy and some meat and fish. i do indulge in dark brown sugar and i love coffee. organic with lots of milk!

let's not get romantic about the inuit. they eat what is available in their environment.

i repeat after hippichick, do you live on a farm? have you ever grown your own? snuggled up to a cow? i have. and i have caught crayfish with my bare hands, fish on a line...i would not touch a bivalve for food though some consider them luxuries. snails, on the other hand...!

WHERE DO YOU THINK THE PRACTICE OF EATING MEAT COMES FROM? cruelty? try necessity. maybe YOUR environment makes it possible not to eat meat, but many people are not in your ENVIABLE position.

linda mccartney wouldn't eat meat because she had a little lamb. she died of cancer which is largely attributable to too much soy...and being overweight.