I found this article the other day and I’ve been thinking a lot about it ever since.  The article is written by Patty Khuly, a veterinarian that claims to be a “target of many who would question my animal rights status” because she isn’t vegan (or vegetarian for that matter).  She says:

“Because I’m a veterinarian with a penchant for animal welfare themes in my writing, I have a tendency to be the target of many who would question my animal rights status, most often with respect to what I’m willing to eat — as if somehow this were the defining mark of one’s devotion to animal life.

“Are you a vegan? If not, you should shut up, be gone and take your hypocritical opinions with you.”

Hmmm … them’s fighting words. And here I was, thinking I was advancing a civil argument as to why animals deserve to be treated with a modicum of what we like to call “humanity.””

Humanity.  Yes, I agree.  We should treat our animals with humanity.  Let’s first define humanity.  Humanity is the quality of being humane; kindness; benevolence.  Please explain to me how we can treat animals with kindness or benevolence, but still slaughter them in the end?  Nedim C. Buyukmihci, VMD, has this to say about humane slaughter:

“The astronomical number of animals being raised and killed for food makes it essentially impossible to treat the animals in any fashion that the average person would consider humane. Nevertheless, you should also reflect on whether you would consider it accpetable to be eaten even if someone promised to treat you better before killing you.”

And for the record, I believe what you are willing to eat (wear) does define your “mark” of devotion to animal life.  If you justify consuming animal products in any way, then it is ludicrous to say that you are for animal rights.

Khuly justifies her exploitation of animals with statements such as: …”us veterinarians find ourselves fighting an uphill battle when it comes to feeding ourselves and our families. After all, we function in modern society, too. And sometimes, we even shop at Costco” and “I raise my own chickens and goats and buy meat from farms where the animals were humanely raised and killed (preferably on-site). Fashion-lover that I am, I cherish my leather…”

She speaks of criticisms veterinarians get for justifying animal abuse, by creating different moral categories for different animals; It’s OK to kill a cow so you may wear its skin, it’s OK to kill a chicken so you can eat some lean protein, but it is definitely not OK to kick your dog for soiling the carpet, and it is definitely not OK to drown a litter of kittens because you don’t want them.

People, it’s not OK to do any harm to ANY animal.  Telling me that you need to function in modern society and that you cherish leather (oh, and the tanning process does wonders for the environment, right?) doesn’t even come close to convincing me otherwise.  I live in modern society (the midwest is somewhat modern, right?) and I’ve been VEGAN for years now- no problem functioning.  I work, I cook, I clean, I entertain…all without killing cows, chickens, dogs or cats.  I make conscious, informed decisions – I don’t ignore the truth.  I don’t make excuses to justify my greed.

She ends her article with:

“In short, I’m not perfect. None of us should be. We’re only human. Now, if only the naysayers could begin to accept that individual moral progress is far preferable to a slavish adherence to any one particular animal rights dogma … then perhaps veterinarians could catch a break every once in a while when the dinner bell rings.”

Yes, we’re only human.  We flaunt it when it suits us, and then we accentuate our weakness when convenient.  We are human.  Where’s our humanity?  It doesn’t take perfection to understand when other animals hurt and fear.  She wants veterinarians to “catch a break” when the “dinner bell rings”, but what about the animals that died who now reside on her dinner plate?  They certainly didn’t “catch a break”.

We are all animals.  Just because humans have abilities that animals do not, doesn’t mean we are superior.  Sure, we can build airplanes and travel places.  Birds only have to open their wings to fly.  Cheetah’s only have to have the desire to run and they can go up to speeds of 70 mph.  All animals have different abilities that are amazing and we all deserve the right to life.  Making justifications and moral categories about “food animals” doesn’t make killing them right.  The excuses only make it easier for you to distance yourself from the vicious slaughtering that happens every day.

If Ms. Khuly needs reminding, she can watch this video, or any of a number of similar ones located throughout the worldwide web.  Hopefully, if exposed to the cruelty of supposed “humane slaughter”, she might begin to see the truth.  Then maybe all of us really will “catch a break”.

via usatoday.com