Animal Rights Rant: Part I

The other night, I read something online and immediately cried before I finished the only sentence.  The picture was in reference to euthanizing pets when they become too sick.  At the veterinary hospital, the doctor will always give a choice to the owner about whether or not they want to be in the room when the shot is delivered.  In the picture were cats and dogs, each adorned with a halo and pair of wings.  The one sentence said, "Always choose to stay in the room, they look for you once you leave."  I couldn't stop my mind from jumping to those horrible scenes of saying goodbye to a pet.  A pet is never just an animal that's nice to have around - not to me.  They become part of me, another creature I can connect with and talk to just like I would with another person.  Except the bond between my pets and me is deeper, existing on a level that two people can never share.  I feel their absence all of the time, wishing I could hear their cute meows over and over.  But this image in my head traveled further, the image of sad animals looking around for someone to help them.  Many animals around the country, around the world, suffer alone and in pain.  The entire moment made me think about many things I have puzzled over before concerning animal rights and my vegetarianism.  Am I really doing enough in my life to benefit these suffering animals?

I can list off a huge number of industries destroying animals' lives and causing them pain worldwide: factory farming, the fur trade, testing laboratories. . . it goes on and on.  But my mind, my heart, can't handle all of it at once.  I can't face each day knowing that while I enjoy my morning bowl of cereal, puppies around the country go without food as they are imprisoned within puppy mills.  I can't focus during lecture when I picture the slaughterhouses where cows and pigs line up to die, the exact image of a concentration camp.  And I can't sleep at night if I even dare to ponder how many rabbits will be skinned and sliced in the name of science.  Well, it's not science - it's murder.  But like I said, I can't think about it all at once.  It's too heart wrenching, especially when I can't do anything about. . .

But then I thought, what can I do about all of this animal suffering?  I'm a vegetarian, that's enough, isn't it?  No, it's not.  It's really not.  Every time I purchase eggs or dairy or products from a company with their hands in the meat industry, I support their efforts.  It's the wrong message.  So why am I not vegan?  I'm not really sure.  I could take the easy way out and blame my diet on other people or say that it would be too expensive to purchase groceries for a vegan diet with a college student's budget.  Maybe that would be partially true, but in the end, I can only blame myself.  I do have to give myself some credit though, trying my best to buy only cruelty-free household products, ranging from shampoo to lip gloss.  Becoming a full-fledged vegan is my next step, but will that be enough?

I started this blog in hopes of alleviating the pressure on my chest, thinking that I alone have to be the savior of animals.  But the reality is that I can't complete such a huge task alone.  People have been fighting for animal rights for years, before I even thought about a vegetarian lifestyle.  So there is no reason to take the burden upon myself or expect everything to change even within my lifetime.  My dream would be a complete vegan world, but while I love to imagine that type of future, my realistic side knows how unrealistic of a goal that actually is when considering people.  Some cultures are so deeply rooted to ever change the food passed down through generations.  While the youth constantly shake things up with new ideas, some families will never change, no matter the nationality.  

While I can't change everything, there are some things I can do simply from my computer.  I have recently been researching past animal welfare bills, observing which were passed and recording those that were defeated.  The Puppy Protection Act of 2001 was first on my list, noticing that some Iowa senators and representatives actually co-sponsored the bill when it came to a vote.  So I emailed both senators and the district representatives about the Puppy Protection Act, urging them to reintroduce the bill.  And I will keep emailing, discussing defeated bills and other ideas for reform that I want to see completed in Iowa and on the national level.  They might not listen, but I will constantly have things to say, ideas to share, and eventually, someone will hear me out and fight for these causes with as much vigor as I wish I could right now.

I adore animals.  I respect and love them, never wanting to hurt a single paw, feather, or scale.  So it's very difficult for me to accept other people who don't share my point of view.  I'm the first one to think you are a hypocrite (although I probably won't say it) if you say you love animals, yet still choose to eat them.  I don't accept excuses like, "It tastes too good," or "I was raised that way."  Those are cop-out responses.  My boyfriend likes to say that makes me elitist, thinking my vegetarianism makes me better than other people.  But I honestly think it does.  I never want to put the importance of an animal's life above or below mine.  We both feel pain and have the right to our lives.  I have no right to take the natural right of life away from any animal, whether they are furry, feathered, or hominid.  My life is based on selflessness, not selfishness.

I don't aim to make enemies with what I believe, I just want honesty.  So I honestly do wonder if people know where their food comes from.  By now, it is well known the dangers of the popular food in America.  Fast food, processed sugar, trans-fats, MSG, and lists of chemically-concocted ingredients that I can barely decipher using my organic chemistry knowledge (however minuscule it may be).  But do people really know where their meat comes from?  Do they know that veal is made by placing calves in straight jackets and not letting them move their entire lives until they are slaughtered at the tender age of twelve months?  Would people eat chicken if they knew every bird carcass is allowed by USDA standards to have 15% of its weight made up of fecal soup?  (Chickens are dunked in a water bath during processing, allowing fecal matter, blood, and vomit to fall into the water.  The water is not changed between washings, and the next bird to get a bath then absorbs the water, creating a fecal soup).  Do families realize that gestation crates for female pigs raised on pork farms are barely large enough to fit the mother, let alone her new piglets?  Just imagine what it would be like to take the place of any of these animals.  If you honestly couldn't bare the conditions, how can you force this on another creature, fully capable of feeling pain?  And if you don't care at all, that makes you a horrible person, comparable to Hitler and slave owners.

Animals are what give my life meaning, inspiration, and hope.  My pets are my family, tied to me beyond a blood link or name.  I'm not perfect in my ventures toward improving animal rights, but this long road doesn't require perfection, only a caring heart and determined state of mind.  I'm also not asking for conversion, knowing that during my years of vegetarianism, I have not been able to convince anyone to uphold a cruelty-free lifestyle.  I just want people to listen, to give up the comfort of their ignorance and see the truth.  Once we identify all of the atrocities occurring within animal industries, maybe we can finally make the majors steps to eliminate the suffering of millions of animals.

For the love of animals,
~ The Vegetarian Cat

Hungry Cats of All Kinds

I get hungry a lot, anywhere from five to ten times a day.  Nothing really sticks (except hot, cheesy, pineapple pizza), so I often find myself snacking quite a bit.  It can be difficult to find so many different things to eat, especially those that are vegetarian friendly, but hopefully this list will generate some new ideas for daily snack attacks.

~ Apples & Peanut Butter - I know, it's not the most original idea, but the combination of sweet fruit and salty peanuts satisfies most of the time.  Try using Smucker's Natural Peanut Butter swirled with a little caramel for a delicious dip.

~ The Preston - Stolen from a childhood friend, this sandwich consists of a blueberry bagel, topped with a fried egg, slice of cheese, and a piece of veggie bacon (if you want a salty crunch).  This could easily be made using vegan ingredients, depending on what your local grocery store has in stock.  To make the snack healthier, use only egg whites and fry in non-stick spray.

~ Yogurt Smoothie - Your favorite yogurt + frozen fruit + a splash of juice = a vegetarian delight in a cup.  Make sure the yogurt is gelatin-free!  One of my faves: strawberry yogurt, frozen mango, and some orange juice.

~ Toast! - Bread can be combined with anything and be yummy.  Peanut butter pairs well with Nutella, mango jam, and bananas.  The salty route can lead to CLT's (cucumber, lettuce, and tomato), topped with a bit of mayo or mustard.

~ Pasta + Veggies + Sauce - With its quick cooking time, pasta can definitely be a snack, just watch portion size.  Penne with white sauce and broccoli can quickly become Alfredo, and marinara with mushrooms and mozzarella adds flavor and meatiness to spaghetti.

CRITTER WATCH =*_*=

 
Ocelots are small, spotted felines who typically dwell in South and Central America.  They are independent and territorial animals, congregating only to mate or possibly share a nice tree nook with a fellow ocelot of the same sex.  Body sizes range from 2.5 - 3 feet, while the tail adds another foot or so.  Ocelots' nocturnal nature give them an advantage over prey, especially with their keen odor tracking abilities and night vision.  While ocelots are known to eat deer, lizards, birds, and fish, most of their diet is comprised of small mammals.  Perhaps the most famous ocelot, Babou, belonged to Salvador Dali, the Spanish painter known for The Persistence of Memory, a painting featuring melting pocket watches.

Product of the Day  

Olive oil is great for cooking, but also acts as a moisturizer for dry skin and an efficient make-up remover.  I'm a fan of eyeliner (the darker, the better), which can be difficult to remove.  Simply dip a Q-tip into a small amount of olive oil, and swipe across any eye make-up for a clean skin.  Make sure not to get any oil in your eye.

As always, live cruelty-free and think about what you can do to make a difference in every animal's life.

~ The Vegetarian Cat