Why we fight: It gets very personal.
PETA has this ad campaign that states, "If you wouldn't wear your dog... please don't wear any fur." Unfortunately, as this expose footage shot in southern China shows, there is so much more truth to that tagline than you realize.
The demand for fur unfortunately rebounded in the last few years as animal rights groups focused on other issues after successfully pummeling it in the late 1980's. Much of that demand has been answered by supply from China and they have become, how shall we say, very resourceful in being able to satisfy the demand for fur.
Most people know what is like to have compassion for their companion animals. This compassion comes from getting to know eachother. It comes from realizing that your cat is a sucker for awarm sunny spot and your dog just wants to be the center of attention. It comes from the fact that they are loyal friends and just want some cuddles and love (and generous allotments of food and treats of course, please).
Sure, animal rights people think there is a disconnect between how the average person treats and considers their companion animals and how they treat and regard other animals, such as farm animals but we are animals too and are affected by proximity and familiarity.
So when I saw the video of cats and dogs being harvested for their fur by the thousands in southern China the other day, the images tore at my heart. I cried with rage as my eyes shifted back and forth from my Tennyson, curled up sleeping on the edge of the futon next to me, to the computer screen where cats - just as adorable as my Tenny and just as beautiful as my Sonora - were crammed - 10 or
more -in wire cages and thrown 10 feet or more onto the hard concrete floors where their limbs would shatter. And then being pulled out of the wire cages with what look like bull hooks to be skinned for U.S. retail.
How could I not build the bridge between the beautiful blue eyes on the left to the beautiful blue eyes on the right? And no, those eyes are not lifeless.... she gets so excited and so thrilled when I play airplane with her, I can see the urgency in her eyes when she is ** really** hungry or the frustration with daddy when he's just pissing her highness off. As for the eyes on the right, all I can see is "Why?" I don't have an answer for you, hon. I am so sorry. I weep for you, the sister of my adopted daughter. I weep with rage.
Please watch the video - and remember - the fur you see this season may very well be them and then remember yours.
The demand for fur unfortunately rebounded in the last few years as animal rights groups focused on other issues after successfully pummeling it in the late 1980's. Much of that demand has been answered by supply from China and they have become, how shall we say, very resourceful in being able to satisfy the demand for fur.
Most people know what is like to have compassion for their companion animals. This compassion comes from getting to know eachother. It comes from realizing that your cat is a sucker for awarm sunny spot and your dog just wants to be the center of attention. It comes from the fact that they are loyal friends and just want some cuddles and love (and generous allotments of food and treats of course, please).
Sure, animal rights people think there is a disconnect between how the average person treats and considers their companion animals and how they treat and regard other animals, such as farm animals but we are animals too and are affected by proximity and familiarity.
So when I saw the video of cats and dogs being harvested for their fur by the thousands in southern China the other day, the images tore at my heart. I cried with rage as my eyes shifted back and forth from my Tennyson, curled up sleeping on the edge of the futon next to me, to the computer screen where cats - just as adorable as my Tenny and just as beautiful as my Sonora - were crammed - 10 or
more -in wire cages and thrown 10 feet or more onto the hard concrete floors where their limbs would shatter. And then being pulled out of the wire cages with what look like bull hooks to be skinned for U.S. retail.How could I not build the bridge between the beautiful blue eyes on the left to the beautiful blue eyes on the right? And no, those eyes are not lifeless.... she gets so excited and so thrilled when I play airplane with her, I can see the urgency in her eyes when she is ** really** hungry or the frustration with daddy when he's just pissing her highness off. As for the eyes on the right, all I can see is "Why?" I don't have an answer for you, hon. I am so sorry. I weep for you, the sister of my adopted daughter. I weep with rage.
Please watch the video - and remember - the fur you see this season may very well be them and then remember yours.
posted by Ed at 2:30 PM
2 Comments:
So well written and very touching.
I went vegetarian (nothing with eyes) after I read that the local Haitians eat cat's here in St. Petersburg, Florida. I did not judge them, I judged myself and quit eating the flesh of a being. I went vegan after finding out that dairy cows, their offspring, and hens have it worse than "meat" animals (and that's horrendous already).
Great site!
Please add a 40px pad at the very top of your page, the blogger search bar covers up your header in my gecko browser.
peaceofmeat:
thank you for the layout tip and the comments. hope you come back now and then.
2 comments
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