Pets, Diet, Exploitation…

It is so interesting to me how some people have no concern for animals while other people treat them as family members.  I had to take my cat to the vet today because he has in injury to his leg.  I know a lot of people wouldn’t want to spend the money and would just let the cat suffer and try to heal on its own.  I see my cats as part of my family though and I will never let them suffer.  To me, it is just cruel.  A friend of mine had to have her elderly cat that had been sick put to sleep today.  A very sad day for her but her kitty is now at peace.  It is a tough decision to make but sometimes it is just necessary.  Another friend told me this evening that she has to put her dog on a diet and cannot feed her “treats” as she has been doing because she needs to lose about 15 or so pounds.  That is tough for the dog and the owner.  The owner feels guilty and the dog is confused.  But I think they can both learn to adapt to the new diet.  Although the dog might not understand.  🙂

I am truly an animal lover at heart and I always have been.  Maybe I can relate to them better than people in some ways.  They have feelings and personalities and souls and I believe all animals have just as much right to be here on Earth as we do.  I overheard a co-worker (whom I really like) talking today about killing a possum last night that was hanging out in his garage. He beat it over the head with a shovel until it died.  That REALLY bothered me.  I understand he didn’t want the animal on his property but why does man feel the need to brutally murder an innocent animal that has just as much right to be here as we do?  Maybe I am just crazy.  Or maybe I just have a heart?

I have been struggling with the fact that I am a carnivore all of my life.  When I eat a steak all I can think about is the poor cow who gave his life and what a sad life it must have been.  The articles I read and news clips I see on this subject have made me desire to become a vegetarian for many years.  Yet I haven’t committed to it therefore I am a true hypocrite in every sense of the word.  I believe it is wrong to kill animals inhumanely and eat them yet I eat them anyway.  I struggle with this daily and I am going to get serious about changing that…I need to make a choice and live with it.  Yes, I understand the circle of life and all of that jazz…but I still feel in my heart it is not right.  Man can survive on plants alone and totally abstain from all animal products and live a very healthy lifestyle. But can I commit to it and follow through?  It will take work.  But don’t most things that are worthwhile?  I think I would sleep better at night anyway knowing that I am being true to my heart and my beliefs.  I will update on this as I progress.