Mercifully for the reader, I have to get to work so hopefully that will keep this from being way too long!
To each his own re: being a carnivore or a vegetarian. My dream is simply for all humans to treat all other beings with respect while they are walking the earth and ideally that they give them a decent length life.
I would just like to take a moment to dispense with the implausibility of humans being vegetarian and healthy. I've been a vegetarian for 40 years so far and am not dead yet. Others I know have been vegetarians for much longer and they are not dead yet, not even close. It's entirely possible to be healthy and a vegetarian. I don't claim to be nearly as healthy as other vegetarians I know but that's entirely my fault from too much of an "on the run" diet of chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and pizza in between (oh, and I did I mention the ice cream, pasta, and BBQ chips?)
As to our feathered and furry friends, and the OP's initial question, I am not interested in debating anyone as and seek only to answer the question from where I sit, understanding that we don't all view from the same perch. I bring any and all beings in my care or in my path to the vet if they need it (competent vets for feathered souls are far and few between and so thankfully, some BYC folk have themselves learned the necessary skills to treat their birds and that is fantastic and just as good if not better a lot of the time). I choose to work extra jobs so I can provide the best care possible to all. It matters not to me whether they are human, furry or feathered. They all feel pain, joy, and fear just like us. It is very difficult to work so much but it is what I choose to do as I don't want to deny care if it is within my power to give it. One of my cats (who unfortunately turned out to have a very serious heart problem and did not make it) was just in the hospital and 48 hours cost $2,500. It always costs that and commonly much more for anything but the simplest of problems. When my roo was attacked by careless people's dogs in the past, his care was equally expensive each time but I felt he deserved the best I could give him (I was not able to ID the dog "owners"). To see him thrive again was a joy. I just met hen Ellie in July and she came to me compromised and almost right away there was a $500 vet bill for her care. I do a goodly amount of rescuing strays and pay for their medical care with the extra jobs, trying to help those forsaken by my species.
It's all very, very difficult and stressful - vet costs are in the stratosphere these days - can never seem to get ahead before the next medical crisis happens. The costs of veterinary care these days truly saddens me greatly as I know a lot of creatures out there in the world are therefore not getting this care. I don't spend money on things like going to the movies, vacations are rare, I don't buy anything fancy for myself or the house, I live in a very humble home, and focus my resources on my family - human, furry and feathered - makes no difference to me - and also on my rescues, as many as I can possibly manage to help. And also on presving land for wildlife so they can continue to have a home. It feels good, other than being exhausted! It's not perfect - I could certainly do a heck of a lot more if I bought less far less chocolate.
Off to the races, job #1.
JJ
