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More thoughts on vegan companion animals...

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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

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