Flags Really???????

[piggiepigpigs75]

I know, this is a pig forum but i do have two lovable piggies and while looking on craigslist for some good used pet supplies and found this:

She is using them as feeders and as pets too.... PLEASE REPORT FOR ME!!!!!!!!

(broken link removed)

 

[MochaAndMoo]

Disgusting.

I have flagged.

 

[piggiepigpigs75]

mochaandmoo, i sent an email from a default account saying how mean it is and it is against the rules....

 

[Paula]

I saw the ad before it was removed and it seemed she was raising mice and rats as food for her reptiles or snakes. That said, there are a lot of animals raised as food for other animals (including humans) in this country. For example, I rely on someone to raise cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and other meats for me to feed as food for my dogs. It's really no different. If I had the time, money and resources, I'd prefer to raise and kill the meat I feed them, too. I remember there being a post on this a while back, and the idea of someone raising animals as food for their other pet animals might seem a bit foreign to some, but isn't really any different than buying meat for your pets (or yourself) from another source. If it were a person selling chickens for meat, I doubt it would seem so cruel, but it's really the same principle and practice.

 

[asnnbrg]

I saw the ad before it was removed and it seemed she was raising mice and rats as food for her reptiles or snakes. That said, there are a lot of animals raised as food for other animals (including humans) in this country. For example, I rely on someone to raise cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, and other meats for me to feed as food for my dogs. It's really no different. If I had the time, money and resources, I'd prefer to raise and kill the meat I feed them, too. I remember there being a post on this a while back, and the idea of someone raising animals as food for their other pet animals might seem a bit foreign to some, but isn't really any different than buying meat for your pets (or yourself) from another source. If it were a person selling chickens for meat, I doubt it would seem so cruel, but it's really the same principle and practice.

I have a friend who lives on a small farm/urban homestead of sorts. She and her family raise free range (truly free range not farm-version free range) chickens and goats. Her kids interact with the animals, they're all fed well and loved, and then they become food for the family. On one level, that's hard for me to comprehend. On another, I have to be honest and acknowledge that her animals live a long, happy life before they become food while the animals my family eats (because we do eat meat) probably don't live a long or happy life at all even though I do try to buy locally and organically whenever possible.

(done rambling and not entirely the same thing, but it struck me as similar)

 

[Paula]

On one level, that's hard for me to comprehend. On another, I have to be honest and acknowledge that her animals live a long, happy life before they become food while the animals my family eats (because we do eat meat) probably don't live a long or happy life at all even though I do try to buy locally and organically whenever possible.

My husband and I don't eat meat, so the idea of feeding our dogs raw meat was a nasty proposition in the first place, but I really do feel better knowing that the meat they are eating comes from a local place where they are treated with kindness and respect. Part of the reason we stopped eating meat years ago was because of the idea that if we couldn't bring ourselves to kill it, we shouldn't be willing to eat it, and I have tremendous respect for those who can and do. In recent months, I've made myself be present for the death of the most recent cow and horse that I've fed to my dogs (killed and butchered quite humanely by a local farmer). As an animal lover, it's not easy or pleasant, but I think that if they are giving their life, in part, to feed my pets, it's important to respect and honor that by being present when they die.

It's no different to me for people who raise rodents to feed to their snakes and reptiles so long as those rodents live decent lives prior to death - I know those raised as "feeders" in pet stores most certainly don't. Whether you agree with keeping reptiles as pets, those who do have to feed them somehow, and I think it's very respectful to be able to raise and kill them humanely for that effort.

 

[asnnbrg]

My husband and I don't eat meat, so the idea of feeding our dogs raw meat was a nasty proposition in the first place, but I really do feel better knowing that the meat they are eating comes from a local place where they are treated with kindness and respect. Part of the reason we stopped eating meat years ago was because of the idea that if we couldn't bring ourselves to kill it, we shouldn't be willing to eat it, and I have tremendous respect for those who can and do. In recent months, I've made myself be present for the death of the most recent cow and horse that I've fed to my dogs (killed and butchered quite humanely by a local farmer). As an animal lover, it's not easy or pleasant, but I think that if they are giving their life, in part, to feed my pets, it's important to respect and honor that by being present when they die.

It's no different to me for people who raise rodents to feed to their snakes and reptiles so long as those rodents live decent lives prior to death - I know those raised as "feeders" in pet stores most certainly don't. Whether you agree with keeping reptiles as pets, those who do have to feed them somehow, and I think it's very respectful to be able to raise and kill them humanely for that effort.

I like the Native American tradition of giving thanks to the animals whose lives were lost to bring us sustenance. It *is* our goal to someday own a small farm. We're not there yet. But this brings me renewed commitment to start buying not just locally but from people I actually know who raise and kill their animals humanely.

 

[CinnyMinnyMommy]

Just curious @Paula if your views are the same about people raising guinea pigs to feed to their dogs and cats?