By [email protected]
I am a member of an organization called VON (Vegan
Organic Network) and have much respect for their mission aims. In their
letters page there has been a running debate on the issue of vegans
looking after companion animals. As my dog companion has just recently
passed away I felt committed to give my own response. I must mention
that the recipient (Dave) did not feel it was right for vegans to have
companion animals. Hopefully my thoughts can shed some light on this
rather polemic issue. ~HRH Bertie.
Canis caninam non est .............Maybe the dog furor
has died down by this time but I just couldn�t resist the temptation to
give Darlington Dave some edification on the nature of the canine
species of which he obviously has a problem with. Firstly, I totally
agree that the keeping of animals is wrong and that 90% of people keep
dogs for exploitive or selfish reasons. (I will not transgress to other
species for the sake of brevity). We should be working towards that
ideal as compassionate beings and although there may be more pressing
issues at hand the issue should not be ignored. UNFORTUNATELY that time
is a long way off and there are compromises that have to be made in the
meantime.
Dave makes the distinction between an anthropomorphic
"substitute" relationship with their companion animals (not pets) and
the "interrelationship" we have with natural creatures. This accusation,
whilst obviously true to so many people has now become an old worn out
device for silencing an opponent, a way of avoiding any genuine
discussion. What about anthropomorphic plant lovers. I�ve seen people go
gaa gaa over an aspidistra, suicidal over the loss of African violet,
fondle foliage as if it were a newborn baby�s bottom. What was once a
sensible human being now suddenly singing, dancing and talking to
plants, even taking them upstairs to bed!�..�Makes anthropomorphic dog
lovers appear quite sane.
I for one do not fall into that trap, far from it; I
gained a new insight into the lives of other creatures and the natural
world around me from being with a dog. Dave has not kept an open mind;
he has merely stated a prejudice. He says established facts are few, a
somewhat scientific view perhaps? How about some emotional facts. The
emotional ground between a dog and human is a prescient one. A dog
experiences an emotion to it�s full potential, once it is over, that is
that, then they are ready for the next experience. Dogs do not brood
about the past or fear the future. They are always in the present. The
instinctive love that crosses the species barrier is a remarkable
phenomenon���..The difference is, and here lies the truism of it all,
dogs, unlike most other domesticated animals actually return it. People
identify with their joy and sorrow, as it appears so identical to our
own. Just as it is elusive to enter the mind of a human being, so too
the psyche of the dog. To give Dave some justification, there are a lot
of genetically maladjusted canine species out there who have a hard time
knowing who or what they are supposed to be, and not particularly
desirable to have around�but you could say the same thing about our own
species�.. to a far greater degree.
My situation may be different from most as 18 years ago
I was not vegetarian or vegan and this dog, who was not wanted, came
into my life and was then under my care. I became vegan then he also.
Just as WE have had a physical, mental and spiritual awakening so too
did he. I have never witnessed so many people being so touched upon by a
member of another species. On the subject of man domesticating the dog
for his own benefit we enter the world of mental nihilism. There is
strong evidence to suggest that it was in fact the reverse, and in a
sense we became domesticated. Scavenging humans were not uncommon during
the period when we started to become omnivorous. Lets face it we weren�t
that bright then and certainly hadn�t evolved to become carnivorous
hunters.
I�d like to thank Dave for pushing me into writing this
reply as the aforementioned companion is now no longer with me but I
leave you with this: Questers of the truth, that�s what dogs are:
seekers after the invisible scent of another being�s authentic core.
Guess they sniffed you out pretty quick Dave. ~Bertie of Sunderland.
NB. The Latin title actually translates as "dog does not
eat dog," yet another example of man�s predisposition when relating to
another species.
[Editor's Note: Check with your veterinarian before
making any changes in your dog's diet.]
Go on to Last Call For Hoe Down
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