Guest guest Posted October 6, 2004 Report Share Posted October 6, 2004 Hi again, Just wanted to add some of my personal thoughts on the vegan cats/dogs topic. I noticed someone mentioned in the group that cats and dogs do not have or can not understand morals/ethics and in turn do not care about other animals' suffering/deaths. In the book, Obligate Carnivore, it talks about this a lot and it has opened my eyes to some concepts I had never considered before. The author points out that his cats and dogs are some of the most loving animals he's ever known, much more than most humans he has ever met in his lifetime and that they form loving trusting bonds with him and his other animals. I have observed this as well. Many of us witness this in our homes, the companionship and love among our dogs and cats and other companion animals. My youngest cat for example seems to know when I'm upset and will come and sit on my chest when I'm sad and crying. I don't know about you but that seems like sensitivity and compassion to me. It is as if she can understand my pain/disstress and wants to comfort me. But who is to say whether animals do not have compassion towards all animals (whether companion animals they know or suffering farm animals they don't know)? I have read about and heard cases of cats or dogs befriending pigs, chickens, etc. and loving them as they would one of their own kind, sometimes acting as mothers or protectors to them. This is witnessed at Farm Sanctuary all the time. I tend to believe that animals are very sensitive and compassionate towards all creatures, especially if given the chance to get to know and love them. Getting back to the book, the author goes on to ask the question " Why do we assume cats and dogs are incapable of compassion? " Do we assume this because they can't speak as we do? And because they can't speak, can't understand suffering of others? We may not have concrete verbal proof of compassion directly from our companion animals but the question still lingers. Why do we automactially assume they are incapable of understanding another species suffering? For argument's sake, let's say they weren't born with the predisposition to be compassionate towards other oppressed and suffering species. Many people are also born and raised this way with a lack of awareness and in turn compassion. Later in life, some people are made aware of the torturous suffering animals endure and make personal changes in their lives. Of course some do not. Perhaps cats and dogs would make positive changes too if given the chance to know why vegan food is being offered instead of food containing tortured and slaughtered farm animals and euthanized cats and dogs? What if cats/dogs could witness and be made to understand the suffering of other animals less fortunate than them? If we found a way to somehow communicate to them and they could understand the plight of factory farmed animals in the world, why do we assume they wouldn't try to ease that suffering or do their part such as eating vegan food? At times most cats and dogs have suffered too before being rescued and adopted into loving homes, so perhaps they could relate and feel pity for other animals. Cats and dogs struggle and suffer too through abuse, neglect, experimentation, living as strays, being caged, etc. just as cows, chickens, pigs and any animals oppressed by humans. It may be in different ways as farm animals but it is still suffering and oppression nonetheless. I believe animals have the sensitivity to feel pain and suffering of other animals, in some cases they sense it more than many humans can. If rescued cats and dogs don't need to hunt animals for survival as we provide their food, whether vegan or not, and they may in fact have the ability to understand other species suffering, why wouldn't they choose the cruelty free food over meat-based kind? Simply because of taste? Maybe...but maybe given the awareness of the cruelties experienced by farm animals they wouldn't think it so tasty anymore. I like to give cats and dogs the benefit of the doubt. I believe they have the potential to be just as compassionate and loving of other animals as any human and most undoubtedly if we could communicate effectively with them and show them there is torture and suffering of other less fortunate animals. But that is just my opinion... Peace and Light, Meredith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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