July 28th, 2011 
LeeAnn On Wednesday, I drove to the North Carolina mountains. There is one thing that I really dread about that drive – it is that I almost always get behind a truck carrying animals, either pigs or chickens. This time it was chickens. I apologize for the poor quality picture below, but I snapped it with my cell phone while driving.
This breaks my heart. I try not to look, but it is forced on me. The chickens were so crammed into this truck that they could not move. I could see them struggle to get room. I have seen the same situation with pigs. I sit in my car and wonder what they are thinking; what they are feeling; are they panicked? Are they in pain?
As you know if you have read my blog, I am a vegetarian. I have been one, off and on, for about twenty years. The times that I have gone back to eating white meat, I did so for health reasons as I was not getting enough protein. In other words, I was a lazy vegetarian. I struggled with my reason for being a vegetarian. Was it to be healthy? Was it because I didn’t like the taste? Or was it because of my incredible love for animals? Reading “The Kind Life” by Alicia Silverstone several years ago cemented it for me; it is because of my love for animals. And I am no longer lazy about it – eating enough protein is not a problem.
On days like Wednesday, I feel very good about my decision and I know it is right for me. I also know that it is not the right decision for everyone. What I ask and hope is that people will become more thoughtful in their meat choices. Seek out the more humanely treated options. When you go to restaurants, ask if the meat is from farms that treat their animals ethically – even if you know it is not. Let people in the industry know that this is important.
In this crazy world of ours right now, wouldn’t a little more kindness and gentleness be a good thing?
If you are still with me, thank you for reading this post, which I know is a little different from my other posts. The animals in my life have made me passionate about this issue.
On a completely different note, I arrived in the mountains to this incredible garden. I get no credit whatsoever – my husband has the talent.
Posted in 
Tags: 
I believe in Karma. Those who have such utter disregard for chickens or pigs or any other defenseless creature may pay for that lack of compassion. Can’t we strike a balance between a reliable, relatively inexpensive food source and some marginal quality of life for these animals?
I love that idea of karma! I agree with you totally on the balance issue too. Sad how we seem to have lost balance in a number of arenas.
I second the karma comment. I am a big believer in it. Love your post! Its too bad more people don’t think about where there food comes from and how it was raised. Recently I have watched several documentaries on our food. Food matters and Food Inc are a couple that come to mind. I learned a alot and was surprised to hear of the conditions some animals are put in. Its very sad but its good to know there are other people out there who are and want to be educated on where their food comes from.
thank you f-stop mama! You are a brave soul to watch those movies – I cannot make it through them. Very, very disturbing. I agree, though, it is very reassuring to know that there are others who are conscious of the issues, and acting responsibly.
I hate seeing those trucks too! Oddly, I’ve yet to see one in NZ, but the ethical treatment of animals is a HUGE, hot-button issue here. Interestingly, some of it has been driven by the culinary association. The high-end restaurants (not all, but some) will only use ethically sourced meat for two reasons. One, from a marketing perspective, it’s better. Two (and this is the real reason), the meat from an animal that has not been slaughtered ethically and humanely doesn’t taste as good. I’m not making that up. There’s a whole science behind it.
But on non-meat related topics, the garden is gorgeous! I can just imagine it, too.
Jenn – I love that about NZ. I wonder why we can’t get it made into a hot issue here. Thank you about the garden!! xoxo