Animal Rights Groups Discussion

[tttaylorrr]

Haha, have a similar thing come up in a topic on the BYC forums. A guy who raises his own chickens for meat had a big family BBQ and served the birds he harvested humanely from his flock. A relative (I think a cousin???) was appalled that he would kill his chickens when there was perfectly good meat that they "made" at the grocery store.

i think a huge issue with animal rights and the livestock/farming industry is that we as consumers are sooooo far removed from our food we don't even think about it unless it's literally SHOVED in our faces. we only see the worst of things, and i feel that turns people off and makes them throw their hands up like "well gosh it's so bad there's nothing we can do" when in fact there is.

as a society we are groomed to want the best deal, even if that means lowering the welfare of our food. "NO WAIT LOOK! it's only $1.99/lb tho wow look! don't think about why just BUY!!!!!!" if i had the ability i would gladly raise my own animals and prepare them as food; i would know everything about them and know they lived happy lives and were well cared for.

[FlynnTheBP]

i think a huge issue with animal rights and the livestock/farming industry is that we as consumers are sooooo far removed from our food we don't even think about it unless it's literally SHOVED in our faces. we only see the worst of things, and i feel that turns people off and makes them throw their hands up like "well gosh it's so bad there's nothing we can do" when in fact there is.

as a society we are groomed to want the best deal, even if that means lowering the welfare of our food. "NO WAIT LOOK! it's only $1.99/lb tho wow look!!!!!" if i had the ability i would gladly raise my own animals and prepare them as food; i would know everything about them and know they lived happy lives and were well cared for.

[bcr229]

So we all know the side where PETA is the devil, but are there not portions of even this hobby that are pretty inhumane? The first thing that comes to mind is the wild importation and mass collection side of the industry. I try not to speak in absolutes so I am sure there are factions that accomplish this in a humane manor, but the terrible conditions in this part of the industry is pretty well detailed. It not only makes all of us responsible owners look bad to the general public, but also gives these over the top groups ammunition to tear us down. Now it seems that we are mostly for animal welfare so who are the groups that excel in this area?

Many of the exotic animals we keep originate in parts of the world where people treat each other with less regard than we treat our pets. I won't argue that that side of the industry doesn't have its issues - because it does - but for that reason I also don't purchase from those sources.

[Lizardlicks]

Yeah, the best thing we can do, we're already doing. Making conscientious purchases from reliable breeders, practicing responsible keeping and breeding, and educating the public. Legislation that I would like to see is more regulation on wild caught imports. The commercial pet chain store industry is not only exploiting the animals, but as bcr pointed out they also exploit the local people by paying them pennies then up marking the inferior product to resell. Some places have been taking steps to make sure they get their animals from ethical sources, but not enough.

[Lizardlicks]

i think a huge issue with animal rights and the livestock/farming industry is that we as consumers are sooooo far removed from our food we don't even think about it unless it's literally SHOVED in our faces. we only see the worst of things, and i feel that turns people off and makes them throw their hands up like "well gosh it's so bad there's nothing we can do" when in fact there is.

as a society we are groomed to want the best deal, even if that means lowering the welfare of our food. "NO WAIT LOOK! it's only $1.99/lb tho wow look! don't think about why just BUY!!!!!!" if i had the ability i would gladly raise my own animals and prepare them as food; i would know everything about them and know they lived happy lives and were well cared for.

My dream goal is to start a permaculture based eco commune and eventually collaborate with city planners in areas of urban food deserts to bring food forest based intentional communities into impoverished areas of our country. Ideally it would create jobs, housing and better food security in to places that need it most. Food security and youth education are huge hot button issues for me, and it may be a long shot of a goal, but the way I see it, the worst thing I could do is nothing at all.

You're on BYC too?! I didn't think I would find a fellow chicken lover here. I haven't been active for a while but I love those forums.

Ya, I just won a dozen hatching eggs through a photo contest, too! Excited to get new chicks in April

[tttaylorrr]

My dream goal is to start a permaculture based eco commune and eventually collaborate with city planners in areas of urban food deserts to bring food forest based intentional communities into impoverished areas of our country. Ideally it would create jobs, housing and better food security in to places that need it most. Food security and youth education are huge hot button issues for me, and it may be a long shot of a goal, but the way I see it, the worst thing I could do is nothing at all.

that's a fantastic idea. you can have at-risk youth volunteer after school: educate them, give them responsibilities, and working with animals is proven to help troubled people. eventually you could even hire them. you seem very passionate about helping people, i feel this is something that would not be beyond your abilities to accomplish.

[FlynnTheBP]

My dream goal is to start a permaculture based eco commune and eventually collaborate with city planners in areas of urban food deserts to bring food forest based intentional communities into impoverished areas of our country. Ideally it would create jobs, housing and better food security in to places that need it most. Food security and youth education are huge hot button issues for me, and it may be a long shot of a goal, but the way I see it, the worst thing I could do is nothing at all.



Ya, I just won a dozen hatching eggs through a photo contest, too! Excited to get new chicks in April

Ooh, I love the photo contests! What breed did you get? I recently hatched out some mixed eggs but I ended up giving away the chicks I hatched. More to the topic, I have a couple of runner ducks and several animal welfare groups have started petitions to "release" all domestic ducks, saying that they should be wild. Well, I don't know about other breeds, but my runner ducks can't fly and certainly can't protect themselves against predators. They wouldn't last a minute out on a lake. Heck. I worry about leaving them out of their pen too late in my own yard. (They free range most days and I lock them in at night.)

[JodanOrNoDan]

Deeply embedded in the human mind are the desires to belong to, believe, and exist for something. That thing could be a religion, a political view, animal rights, gun control etc. This combined with a low IQ and an agenda create a perfect storm that produces radicals on both sides of an issue. No matter what we do as long as we are human we will have these problems. The only things that really helps is always understanding both sides of an issue even if the other side lives in fantasy land. In order for your opinion to be respected you have to be willing to call BS on your own side when it is. For example, with reptiles, I believe people should be able to own and do what they want as long as they are not hurting others. Where I flip "sides" on this issue is with burms in Florida. We have issues here, the origin can be argued forever, but we have a problem. I would only make myself look like a fool if I argued anyone should be able to buy a burm here. Problems that we have here only give activists more ammunition. Don't argue with these people when on the rare occasion they are right, but fight them tooth an nail when they are not.

[FlynnTheBP]

Deeply embedded in the human mind are the desires to belong to, believe, and exist for something. That thing could be a religion, a political view, animal rights, gun control etc. This combined with a low IQ and an agenda create a perfect storm that produces radicals on both sides of an issue. No matter what we do as long as we are human we will have these problems. The only things that really helps is always understanding both sides of an issue even if the other side lives in fantasy land. In order for your opinion to be respected you have to be willing to call BS on your own side when it is. For example, with reptiles, I believe people should be able to own and do what they want as long as they are not hurting others. Where I flip "sides" on this issue is with burms in Florida. We have issues here, the origin can be argued forever, but we have a problem. I would only make myself look like a fool if I argued anyone should be able to buy a burm here. Problems that we have here only give activists more ammunition. Don't argue with these people when on the rare occasion they are right, but fight them tooth an nail when they are not.

Good point. Even a broken clock is right twice a day. (Lol I meant the crazy animal rights people, not you!)

[Lizardlicks]

It's going to be a mix of australorps, sliver laced wyandottes, buff orpingtons, and speckled sussex. I already have a slw roo and hen, and a buff orp hen, but I'm really excited for the australorps and sussex! I'm probably just going to keep a couple I like of each and sell the rest. Might also try hatching out some of my own eggs this year.