Life is compicated
So what set me off on my thinking binge today was looking at this website:
http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/
On the face of it, nobody wants an animal to suffer like this donkey did. So laws against it seem like a good idea.
http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/PASADOSTORY/Pasado_story.htm
But what caught my attention was the bit about farm animals. I like my meat, dairy and eggs, and I know animals who provide these things do not always have the best lives. In an attempt to improve the lives of farm animals, I choose organic products. Now after a bit of research I have discovered that organic animals are not necessarily treated less cruelly.
In addition, since organic products can't have antibiotics in them, any sick animals are not treated with antibiotics. They receive whatever other treatment is available, but that is it. Incidentally, if an animal contracts tetanus, the treatment is antibiotics. Without treatment, the animal likely dies.
So, do I go vegan and avoid all animal products?
Well, I don't want to.
I don't want animals to suffer, but I do like my animal products. And before anybody posts about how I wouldn't want to eat meat after seeing a cow cut up, I've helped my parents butcher deer. I'm not blind to how meat appears at the grocery store.
I thought about finding a local farm who raised their animals in a way I could live with and purchasing from them. It isn't impossible, Seattle has a ton of farmer's markets in addition to Pike Place Market.
But would the additional trip, adding that much extra pollution from my car, really be worth it? I don't know. I suppose I could ride my bike, but I have this fear of being hit. Seattle has a lot of bikers, bless them, but I'm a coward.
Then I got to thinking about my cats' food. Where does it come from? Who/what suffers from its creation?
To be honest, if I gave up my cats, I would then have spare money to donate to needy people somewhere, or pay off my credit card.
I don't want to give up my cats. In fact, I volunteer at the Seattle Animal Shelter for the sole purpose of getting cats adopted.
But seriously, if people in general quit spending so much on their pets, there would be a lot more money available for needy people.
So, it seems to be that my desire to live with cats ends up causing (in a general way) suffering of other animals and people.
Now I'm not on some self-destructive kick, but I like to try to be reasonably responsible with my life choices. We all affect each other, doncha know?
So with all this, I started wondering exactly how far I (and everyone else who's doing okay or better) would have to lower our standard of living in order to bring up the standard of living for all people (and maybe some animals) around the world.
I don't know.
In the end, I decided that life is complicated. I won't stop researching or asking questions, but I did buy my usual milk at the grocery store this evening.
http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/
On the face of it, nobody wants an animal to suffer like this donkey did. So laws against it seem like a good idea.
http://www.pasadosafehaven.org/PASADOSTORY/Pasado_story.htm
But what caught my attention was the bit about farm animals. I like my meat, dairy and eggs, and I know animals who provide these things do not always have the best lives. In an attempt to improve the lives of farm animals, I choose organic products. Now after a bit of research I have discovered that organic animals are not necessarily treated less cruelly.
In addition, since organic products can't have antibiotics in them, any sick animals are not treated with antibiotics. They receive whatever other treatment is available, but that is it. Incidentally, if an animal contracts tetanus, the treatment is antibiotics. Without treatment, the animal likely dies.
So, do I go vegan and avoid all animal products?
Well, I don't want to.
I don't want animals to suffer, but I do like my animal products. And before anybody posts about how I wouldn't want to eat meat after seeing a cow cut up, I've helped my parents butcher deer. I'm not blind to how meat appears at the grocery store.
I thought about finding a local farm who raised their animals in a way I could live with and purchasing from them. It isn't impossible, Seattle has a ton of farmer's markets in addition to Pike Place Market.
But would the additional trip, adding that much extra pollution from my car, really be worth it? I don't know. I suppose I could ride my bike, but I have this fear of being hit. Seattle has a lot of bikers, bless them, but I'm a coward.
Then I got to thinking about my cats' food. Where does it come from? Who/what suffers from its creation?
To be honest, if I gave up my cats, I would then have spare money to donate to needy people somewhere, or pay off my credit card.
I don't want to give up my cats. In fact, I volunteer at the Seattle Animal Shelter for the sole purpose of getting cats adopted.
But seriously, if people in general quit spending so much on their pets, there would be a lot more money available for needy people.
So, it seems to be that my desire to live with cats ends up causing (in a general way) suffering of other animals and people.
Now I'm not on some self-destructive kick, but I like to try to be reasonably responsible with my life choices. We all affect each other, doncha know?
So with all this, I started wondering exactly how far I (and everyone else who's doing okay or better) would have to lower our standard of living in order to bring up the standard of living for all people (and maybe some animals) around the world.
I don't know.
In the end, I decided that life is complicated. I won't stop researching or asking questions, but I did buy my usual milk at the grocery store this evening.