Pigs and cows are quite different from dogs in a few ways. Dogs have been bred for various roles, like being our friends, helpers, or protectors, while pigs and cows have been raised mainly for food like meat.

This view comes from people who have never had to consider how their meat gets on their table, and it’s one of the reasons I have such a strong distaste for the modern factory farming culture.

I grew up in rural Asia before moving to Europe. We had to raise any meat we wanted to eat. Pigs, cows, chickens are no different than dogs in that they all unique beings that have their own distinct personalities, likes, dislikes, and even favourite people. Yes, we still ate them, but we treated them like living beings that were giving their lives for our sustenance and survival. They were treated with respect, and no part of them was wasted. This is really not a mentality you see in society nowadays.

I still eat meat, but I try to find small, local farmers and don’t really eat meat when I eat out. I wish I could take care of my own livestock again, as they were truly our family’s companions that were essential for our survival at the time. They were just as important to me as my cat and dog sitting at my feet currently. The commodification of these animal’s lives as it relates to human profit is just a sad thought to me.

I know this is probably not a popular view, or maybe even a well thought out one. But it’s mine.