To think you can be an animal lover and eat meat?

[MyOtherUsernameisaPun]

I know I'm going to be flamed, have donned protective gear...

But I think that it's hypocritical to eat meat and claim to be an animal lover. That isn't to say meat eaters don't deeply love their pets - I fully accept that they do! But I think that in those cases they only love certain animals, not animals generally.

We know that pigs are far more intelligent than dogs. We know that cows form close social bonds with specific individuals within the herd. We know enough to confidently state that there is no reason to separate pets from any other species except that we are conventionally accustomed to doing so.

I think everyone is free to make their own choices and whether or not I approve of them is totally irrelevant. But I don't think there is any logical grounds for a meat eater to claim that they are an animal lover when they're happy for some kinds of animals to suffer and be killed.

Surely can see you are the one in the wrong here!

Erm, no. I’m not the sanctimonious one telling people what they should and shouldn’t eat. Who are you to presume that all my food is killed by other people? I don’t have to justify what I eat or why others should eat like me, I really couldn’t care less what anyone else eats. I joked up thread about well done steak but in reality I’m not the one who has to eat it, eat what you enjoy.

@Shootfirstaskquestionslater
Hhmm... I'm not sure the animal enjoys having it's throat slit, either...
we have a right to be self righteous as I can honestly say that I believe vegans/vegetarians are better people (ethically and morally) than meat eaters, as we have consciously decided to not take part in the killing and exploitation of animals-to me, that equates to being a better human being all round.

@reddington
I said, previously in the thread, whether or not you personally are the one doing the killing, or you are paying for someone else to do it, it's still just as bad.
I could give a rats ass who's doing the killing. Killing is killing. The animal didn't want to die, therefore it's actually murder, end of.

we have a right to be self righteous as I can honestly say that I believe vegans/vegetarians are better people (ethically and morally) than meat eaters, as we have consciously decided to not take part in the killing and exploitation of animals-to me, that equates to being a better human being all round

And this is why people loathe vegans, because of smug, sanctimonious nightmares like this one.
It's a shame for all the perfectly lovely vegans out there, but they can take it up with Curious and her ilk.

Animal lover,spend a lot of time on animal welfare.don't eat meat.
Just the thought of those innocent,intelligent,beautiful animals being beaten,tortured and slaughtered makes me feel sick.

Curiousmoi
Maybe we should give up owning pets!

If you are going to use environmental impact as a reason for giving up meat then you should.

Curiousmoi your the reason why I can't stand self righteous smug vegans/ vegetarians your all as bad as the bible bashing brigade you enjoy your sunshine and rainbows and I will enjoy my meat.

IronmansIronButt I couldn't agree more. I know some people who are vegan and they are lovely they don't go round shoving it down peoples throats and trying to make is feel bad for the choices that we have made.

I eat meat because I love to see cows, pigs and sheep in the fields. I don't want to be responsible for them becoming extinct. The main drive is to make sure that they are looked after to high welfare standards, not to wipe them off the face of the planet.

Animal lover and vegan here. DH is an omnivore as are 3 of my 4 DC.

If you are going to use environmental impact as a reason for giving up meat then you should.

Not to mention how pets are kept within limits (house, garden, field) and made to obey their owners or at least live within their rules.
It's just as cruel as raising animals for meat. Poor horses.

Yes you can

The animal didn't want to die, therefore it's actually murder, end of.

Saying “end of” doesn’t actually make something true you know and seeing how the concept of murder only applies when carried out by one human on another I think you should call the police and tell them that there’s poor iccle fluffy wuffy animals being killed to eat. You’re pathetic and as others have said it’s vegans like you that give decent ones a bad name. Most normal people think vegans are tossers - I wonder why that is?

I get where you are coming from but I do eat some meat. What I find really hypocritical is people who ‘love animals’ but buy cheap, low welfare products. There is an issue with affordability for some and I respect that. But for many there’s no reason not to limit consumption a bit and have meat as s treat. I think part of the issue is that many forget that meat was once an animal, it’s just another product you pick up in the supermarket. Take them to a commercial farm and they would see different.

I am an animal lover and I eat meat. I struggle to get enough iron from other sources. I’m also useless at vegetarian cooking, being brought up by parents whose staple was meat and potatoes and anything green was seen as rabbit food I struggle to meal plan basic vegetarian recipes. If someone wants to write me a months supply of meal plans and find me a good iron source (spinach etc wasn’t giving me enough) I’d happily become vegan today.

we have a right to be self righteous as I can honestly say that I believe vegans/vegetarians are better people (ethically and morally) than meat eaters, as we have consciously decided to not take part in the killing and exploitation of animals-to me, that equates to being a better human being all round

Noooo! I didn't become a veggie because I think I'm a better person or I think I'm self righteous. I've done many things in life that may not earn me a place in Heaven. I became one because it was a personal choice, for me. I just couldn't bring myself to eat meat anymore or be complicit in the killing of animals. As said earlier, it's been nearly 30 years..

However, I have no problem with family members eating it, if they so desire. And, for the record, my children eat it- which again, I have no problem with.

What I do have a problem with is people like you, coming on here with your God Complex. My family mean the world to me and for you to tell me that my Dear Family and DC have no morals because they chose to do something that you don't like, is, frankly, pathetic. Get a grip!

I'm just waiting for you to now tell me that I'm not a 'dedicated' vegetarian or a 'devoted' one...

@NamechangedName, that’s an excellent point. I’ve been told I’m not actually vegan if I allow any of my children to eat meat/dairy, also been told I should be divorcing my husband because he isn’t vegan. Oh and that if you love a supporter of the genocide then you are evil too. Some people are unbearable and they won’t be converting anyone any time soon!

I am fond of animals. I like being around them. I eat meat. I have teeth which allow me to eat it because as a human, I am an omnivore. It's biology. And while I respect your choice to be a vegetarian, I do not want that for myself. And I can still have a fondness for animals.

Nature is not disney. Theres no such thing as an animal old folks home. Animals in the wild are eaten or die horribly. Standards of animal.welfare need to improve dramatically particularly by increasung british farming an not imoorting from europe where we have no say in the welfare standards.

@MarthaArthur
While I agree with the rest, by Europe, you mean EU? Or any old Continental European country?
EU standards are pretty high already and constantly improving.

www.efsa.europa.eu/en/topics/topic/animalwelfare

I'd understand the issue of importing, in terms of welfare during transport, which, quite frankly is also an issue within the UK.

I mean europe in general not specifically the eu. Theres been cases of tempered meat in recent history like the horse meat scandal.

That obvs was supposed to say importing not imooting. Freudian farmyard slip there.

Namechangedname Well said. Everyone has the choice and it shouldn’t be forced on others. And people aren’t evil for eating meat and shouldn’t be told they are.

I'm not an animal lover, I don't like them much either, apart from guinea pigs which are quite cute.

I have been vegetarian most of my life, vegan for the last 15years. I have recently started reintroducing fish and eggs.

The way I choose to eat has little reflection on animal welfare, rather that it suits my digestive system, is cheap and easy. I prefer to eat food that is as unprocessed as possible.

Please don't think all vegetarians are smug and self righteous, wanting to convert you all. I happily cook meat and fish for my family and friends. I even persuaded dh that steak is best eaten pink rather than cremated.

Can I ask @BexConnor how a strict vegetarian differs from an ordinary vegetarian?

Anyway OP, yabu.

I mean europe in general not specifically the eu.

For one, you should make a distinction.
Secondly, the UK is in Europe, even if almost out of the EU.
Then, the UK doesn't import meat only from other European countries.

For poultry it's the Netherlands
www.statista.com/statistics/316543/poultry-meat-import-volume-key-partners-united-kingdom-uk/

Beef, it's Ireland
www.statista.com/statistics/644758/beef-imports-by-origin-united-kingdom-uk/

Lamb, New Zealand
www.statista.com/statistics/298096/import-volume-of-lamb-by-countries-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/

Pork: Denmark,Netherlands, Germany
www.statista.com/statistics/316510/bacon-and-ham-import-volume-from-eu-27-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/

The 2013 horse meat scandal was a scandal across Europe, not an issue of imports from Europe to the UK. And it was detected first in Ireland.