We’re not going to quit breeding food animals until demand for meat goes down. That is where animal rights people should focus.
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Yes, vegetarianism was seen as a solution for nearly all the environmental issues we discussed in class, and for many years I was one for that reason.
I do think that how we treat animals is a very important discussion. I don’t purchase veal and buy eggs from a farm I can visit nearby that really does free range the chickens (not just access to grass but actually they get put out on different areas of the farm every day). The meat I buy I think I could do a better job of it, and the dairy; for a while I purchased meat through my CSA but it was very expensive with a lot of cuts I ended up not using.
My ex once worked at a major pig farm and although there are issues with how those factory farms work, there’s also a lot of care for those animals that people would be surprised to learn about. Like, the small pigs had a special bus that was modified for them so they could be safely transported (“the pig bus”). So many of the issues had to do with how these animals were bred for production; I never could figure out what ethically was right to do for an animal that was bred so it would topple over if not killed by its expiration date, or which was bred to be so large it would sit on its own piglets if it was not confined to a small space. I think there needs to be a redirection of animal husbandry techniques that includes the animals wellbeing as part of its imperative, and not just more meat, more milk, more eggs.
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That would give John Oliver’s version of the Supreme Court something to rule on…
Someone needs to make this happen!
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You might find this fellow’s views on raising animals for food interesting.
This actually dovetails nicely with the discussion of rights for animals. We’re not talking about voting rights (or Second Amendment rights!), but the idea that animals are in some important ways unlike e.g. cardboard boxes or doormats, and that we have certain duties with respect to them as a consequence of that difference. For instance, I should probably take care of my bicycle, but I must look after my dog (and not, IMO, simply for legal reasons).
On the subject of dogs, I try to give my dog as ‘doggy’ a lifestyle as is consistent with the (somewhat urban) place I live. Chiefly this consists in lots of company, lots of walking, lots of training, the chance to meet (and hopefully play with) other dogs, frequent opportunities to chase and catch things until she’s a limp, panting noodle, and also to sniff (and pee on) lots of stuff. I think she’s a pretty happy creature.
With dogs and other domestic animals, our relationships are much like those we sometimes have with persons who, for reasons of illness, age, or incapability, are not able to take full responsibility for themselves in all circumstances. With them, we act as proxies, making many important decisions for them–and curtailing the exercise of some of their rights–but I doubt many people would argue that e.g. nursing home residents or small children do not or should not have rights. It’s the same with animals.
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