Companion Vs. Other Animals
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Companion Vs. Other Animals
Comments by Alicia Richards - 3 Aug 2007

Hello, everyone!

I'm writing because a conversation I had with some friends the other night has left me with a lot on my mind. We were discussing the foods of other cultures. My friend Ryan mentioned that in the Chinese culture, it is common to eat dog, and maybe even cat. I don't know whether that's true or not, but it's not necessarily important to my point.

At any rate, all of us reacted with sounds of sympathy and pity for the animals. My friend Amy began stroking her cat, saying she could never eat one, or a dog for that matter.

That got me thinking, and I asked them all what made the difference in animals: why could they not eat a cat or dog, but they could eat a cow, pig, lamb, chicken, etc.

Of course the answer was that cats and dogs are commonly domestic pets, and therefore we're attached to them. This is true, but shouldn't we share those feelings regarding all animal life, even if it's not domesticated?

Why do we separate the two, like some kinds of animals are different than others?

I've heard people make fun of those from India and other countries who will not eat beef because they hold cows as sacred, or Jews who will not eat pork because their religion says it is unclean according to Old Testament Law. So, how can these same people divide animal life down some invisible line? It made me both angry, and a little confused.

Do you guys have any thoughts?

In His service,
Alicia

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