Animal Writings

A few days after Vice President Dick Cheney uses the "F" word in public to trash a colleague who made a friendly advance, The Bush-Cheney campaign unleashes an ad that tries to tie John Kerry, Al Gore, and Richard Gephardt to Adolph Hitler. This is disgusting. The ad isn't even coherent. It takes a few sound bites of speeches in which Democratic Party leaders vociferously criticize the president, and intermixes film clips of Hitler at his most animated. This is a new low in political mudslinging.

Recall that this is the same administration that defamed war hero and former senator Max Cleland by calling him unpatriotic for his opposition to certain parts of the Patriot Act. In 2002, an anti-Cleland ad juxtapositioned images of Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, and Senator Cleland. It may be relevant to point out that while neither Bush nor Cheney ever fought for their country, Senator Cleland lost three limbs in Vietnam.

This administration has no shame. It's one thing to distinguish your policies, values, or leadership abilities from your opponent. But to suggest that he's in the same boat as someone who exterminated six millions Jews is unconscionable.

I don't expect either Bush or Cheney to apologize. It's not in their character.

I'm no Kerry fan, but this ad just won him my vote.

"There can be no doubt in the mind of any intelligent person that [the Divine empowerment of humanity to derive benefit from nature] does not mean the domination of a harsh ruler, who afflicts his people and servants merely to satisfy his whim and desire, according to the crookedness of his heart. It is unthinkable that the Divine Law would impose such a decree of servitude, sealed for all eternity, upon the world of God, Who is 'good to all, and His mercy is upon all His works' (Psalms 145:9)."

-- Rav Cook, "A Vision of Vegetarianism and Peace"

Atkins dieters, Atkins devotees, Atkins followers (I want to make sure the search engines pick this up): please consider the effect of your diet on the planet, and even more so, on animals.

We have some obligation to consider the ethical ramifications of our food choices. It's not just about taste or even optimum health. You may not know that 95 percent or more of the meat on your plates is the product of severe and prolonged misery.

That piece of bacon? It wasn't always bacon. Before it was bacon, it was part of a live pig. In all likelihood, the pig lived his entire life in a cage not much bigger than he was. He never rooted in the mud, he never made a bed out of straw. He never felt the ground, he never took more than one or two steps forward or background - he couldn't even turn around! He never really got to be a pig. He and thousands of others like him were stuck in a football-field sized warehouse, each one in a cage with a concrete floor.

The piece of bacon used to be a pig who desperately wanted to go outside, but eventually lost all hope of doing so. The piece of bacon belonged to an intelligent, playful, social animal. But all those qualities were suppressed. Just so you could have your bacon.

What about the eggs next to the bacon? If you're at a restaurant, or if you bought them from Publix or Food Lion or Giant or almost any other grocery chain, the hen who laid the eggs suffered profoundly. Her living space was less than the size of a sheet of notebook paper. She never scratched at the ground. In fact, she never saw the ground. The "ground" for her was a wire cage. She had no idea what a sunny day, or for that matter, a rainy day, was. Her life was spent in a giant facility that stunk of ammonia fumes. At one point she was starved for up to 10 days. She looked awful and empty, a reflection of her wasted life. Many of her cousins died in the cages. That's how the eggs got to your plate.

The Atkins diet causes great suffering. No matter what its other virtues, there is no getting around that fact. If you're on Atkins, of if your diet consists of a high proportion of meat and dairy foods, you're contributing to suffering of such magnitude it almost defies description. For a tiny glimpse of the inhumanity of today's intensive animal agriculture, you may want to click on the picture of the cow under the "links" section at the top right of the page. One picture is worth a thousand words.

I hope you feel a little something for all these animals that suffer and die. Perhaps a little sting that you wish would go away. It's easy to not think about it, especially when you're in the company of others like you. But I want you to think about it. It's real.

If you must have a high-protein diet, think right now about substituting mock-meat and high-protein vegetarian foods for animal-derived ingredients.

I can hear your objections already. In fact, I've heard them more times than I can count. I can't respond to every one. I'll respond briefly to a few. But in general, I can tell you that the objections are mostly manufactured and reflect fear of change.

Food choices.

Between the Internet and the bookstore, you could eat not just vegetarian but vegan for the rest of your life and never have the same thing twice. Yes, there are lot of foods you give up. But there are even more that you add. Most of us only eat a small percentage of the available foods out there. Probably 50 percent of our diet is the same 30 foods over and over again.

Let's just look at grains — whole grains, that is, full of fiber and nutrients that lower your risk of cancer and heart disease. You've no doubt eaten your fill of wheat and rice. Maybe some rye. What about amaranth, quinoa, and barley? What about soy products? Everyone knows about tofu, but probably not seitan and tempeh. Even vegetables are mostly an untapped resource. How much eggplant, mustard greens, kale, Swiss chard, spaghetti squash, turnips, parsnips, bok choy, or arugula did you eat this month? Unless you're an avid gardener, I'll bet not much, and maybe none.

And so on, through every food group. Don't worry, there is a huge variety of foods out there. Giving up meat actually opens your eyes.

Here is a fantastic development in my book, that makes transitioning away from meat a hundred times easier. Over the last few years, the quality and breadth of fake meat products have improved mightily. I'm not saying every vegetarian substitute for a meat product is as good as the original, but man, it is catching up at a ferocious pace. I think that the prevalence of fake meat selections completely changes the equation. I want to go over some of the ones that I think are most significant.

Gardenburger Riblets. These are amazinq. They taste like spare ribs. Put them on a bun with some cole slaw and you won't believe it. A little too much salt, although it doesn't taste salty. If you're on a low-salt diet, you can only have this once in a while.

Fake ground beef. Put this in tacos, sloppy Joes, or spaghetti sauce and you won't be able to tell the difference. You can also add fake Italian sausage to spaghetti sauce. Too close to call.

Fake chicken nuggets. I've done taste tests on two die-hard carnivores. Both times it was the same verdict: "these taste better than actual chicken nuggets."

Amy's meatloaf dinner. I was very skeptical of this one. Tastes close enough to meatloaf for me. Even has a triangular portion of peas and carrots on the side.

Gardenburger "chikn" patties. Heat it up and pour some top-quality marinara sauce over it. Delicious.

Fake bacon. 80 percent as good as real bacon. Considering you're not making an animal suffer, that's close enough. I recommend pan-frying over microwaving, but if you're late for work, the microwave will do. After two or three tries, in which you either undercook it or overcook it, you'll have the process down pat.

Fake lunchmeat. Between the turkey, ham, and salami, you'll find at least one you like. Very close by the time you add mustard and cherry tomato slices. Makes me hungry just thinking about it.

This is just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. In the last few months I've had fake versions of chicken salad, bratwurst, and pepperoni. All were strong efforts.

Note that I didn't mention veggie burgers. Two reasons. One, everybody knows about them. Two, everything I just mentioned is better. The exception is veggie burgers that you get from a restaurant or make from scratch (and there are some fantastic recipes out there).

The more that people look for alternatives to meat, the better and wider the selections will be. When 50 million people demand a decent-tasting veggie hot dog, you better believe the market will respond. In fact, we may already have a winner. Yves' hot dogs, which I bought at Trader Joe's. Tip: make a slit in the hot dogs and marinate it in Stubb's barbecue for 20 minutes.

[Update - 7/22/2004: I tried the Tofurky Teriyaki Ginger Jerky. It was great. Granted, the last time I had jerky before this was probably at a 7-11 about 25 years ago; still, this was better, hands down. I ordered it here and am planning to try the other flavors soon.]

Dairy substitutes are more uneven, and have more catching up to do. But they'll get there. Same deal with baked goods, although the gap is closing. I could never find good-tasting vegan biscuits. Until now. Diamond Organics sweet potato biscuits are just about the best-tasting biscuit I've ever had. It might even fit into a low-carb regime. The main ingredient is sweet potato. It also has soy milk.

Special mention: Whole Foods. Second place: Trader Joe's. Third place: probably a deli counter near you, if you're in a metropolitan area or college town. It is downright easy these days to walk through Whole Foods supermarkets and pick up vegetarian or vegan meals that are freshly-made, frozen, canned, or in the refrigerated section. Also, all the raw ingredients are there. A lot of supermarkets have started offering time-saver products like already-sliced onions and peppers, or fresh minced garlic. Of course, no one buys heads of lettuce anymore (unless you have a rabbit).

Special note / news flash: Sticky Fingers Bakery has found the secret of making cakes and pies - even cheescake - without eggs or dairy and having them come out delicious! This is a major breakthrough. They're only in D.C., but since they're discovered the secret, I know others will soon. More readily available is Ivy Mae's pies. Vegan and good enough. Nope, not quite as good as classic. Then again, it might be because they're healthier; the first four ingredients on the "Bumbleberry Pie" flavor are blueberries, strawberries, apples, and raspberries.

Speaking of fruit. Fruit makes a good dessert. Speaking of familiar foods — most are still there.

Before I forget: the majority of meat and dairy substitutes come in both vegetarian and vegan varieties. Of course I want you to go animal-free, but for now anything will do.

Bottom line on food choices: plenty, and the adjustment is not as hard as you think.

Yuck, low-fat.

Want more fat in your diet? Go right ahead. Add olives to pasta sauce. Add sesame oil to stir-fries. Add sunflower seeds to salads. Add crushed peanuts to Thai food. Sprinkle toasted coconut over almost any dessert. Guacamole, anyone? Plant-based oils are good for you. High-fat and vegetarian is almost too easy. Like anything, you can overdo it.

Is it tofu every night?

Yep. Just kidding. I eat tofu about once a week, including pre-made meals that have tofu as an ingredient. I'm probably average.

Don't rule out tofu. There are about 90 million recipes for tofu on the net, and with marinades, sauces, and cooking methods you can get it to taste like almost anything. Texture, by the time you're done cooking, can range from puree to crispy.

It's weird.

Here's what's weird. Genetically turn a chicken into an overgrown, flightless bird that's all breasts and not much else. Amputate its beak so it can't clean its feathers. Raise several thousand of these birds in one room. Give them so little space that by the time they're fully grown, they're squashed next to each other at all times. Legally include ground up cow parts in the chicken feed. Pick up the chickens by their legs. Hang the frightened birds upside down on a conveyer belt. Paralyze them. Put them in scalding hot water. Slit their throats. Take out their bones. Package their boneless breasts in a soup of feces and salmonella. Advertise the product as "all natural."

I'm not going to lie to you. The transition out of Meatland is not effortless. We live in a meat-oriented society. It may not be until you're on the outside that you realize the extent to which meat permeates our culture. Every ten minutes on TV, and I'm not exaggerating, there's a commercial for meat, dairy or both. The first items, always "above the fold" in the Thursday grocery ads, are meat products. Every refrigerator has a "meat" and "dairy" compartment. The food pyramid has a dairy component. No good reason. Church social event? Meat-based. Company picnic? Ditto. Super Bowl party? Friend's barbeque? Block party? Predictable. It's a meat world.

But...all this is slowly changing. Once you get a threshold of people eating vegetarian dishes on a regular basis, you'll see prime-time commercials for veggie alternatives. Already, veggie burgers are starting to become commonplace in sports bars, diners, and bars. Burger King has the BK Veggie. The next big step is fake chicken offerings, either nuggets or sandwiches, at the aforementioned outlets. I think that will signal a major milestone, because for so many people, chicken is the last stop on the meat express. Once they find out that the plant-based replacement tastes better and is healthier, look out.

Which brings us to the next fear.

Estrangement from friends.

Don't worry about it. Be confident. Maintain your sense of humor. Your friends might resent you because they feel guilty and you remind them of their guilt. Tell them the way out. Guilt can be a positive force, if channeled correctly. It can be the catalyst to beneficial lifestyle changes. Guilt: pathway to compassion.

Let me end up where I began. Please understand that your meat-centered diet causes massive suffering, both physical and emotional, in animals. It also happens to consume huge quantities of energy and produce enormous amounts of water pollution. What we eat has a huge impact beyond us. I'm not a fan of high-protein diets. My diet
is just about the opposite; I'm healthy and have never had a weight problem. Just for the record. So I'm meeting you halfway. Stay with the high-protein, low-carb thing if
you want. Just do it in a way that doesn't ruin so many animals' lives.

I love to watch my cat kick up a pile of cardboard shreddings as he gets in a good scratching workout on his Cosmic Catnip scratcher (available at every pet supply store in the country). He really gets into it, and if I encourage him by saying "good scratcher," he shows off by scratching even more vigorously. The friction from pulling his extended claws through the cardboard is great exercise for the shoulders and upper back, and you can tell it invigorates and refreshes him. Everything in his body language says "I enjoy scratching."

Cats scratch almost every day of their lives. Total number of lifetime scratches: close to 100,000. It's a major part of being a cat.

Don't deny your cat this pleasurable activity by ripping out his claws. Declawed cats can't scratch. They try to scratch, they go through the motions, but they can't to it. They don't have the claws. They'll never know the fun and fulfillment of a real scratching session.

So keep the claws (like they do in almost every country but the U.S.), and buy at least three of these super-cheap scratching pads. When they get so worn out that kitty loses interest, you can buy refills for next to nothing. To extend the life of the cardboard, plus add extra interest, rub some catnip into the material. This will work for the 60-70 percent of cats that are into the magic herb.

To round out your indoor scratching facility, buy a sturdy vertical post covered in woven sisal. I've decided that this is the finest scratching substrate available for premium-class cat furniture. Your results may vary. Cats are nothing if not individuals.

(Bonus hint: got cats but no kids? Drop hints to your folks that a top-quality scratching post would make a great present for the grandcats.)

A bunch of people and a dog are in a lifeboat that's sinking. The physician in the group says "I have a repair kit that should plug the leak. I've used it to fix a tire." The scientist says "let's put a leak in the dog and try it on the dog first." He convinces the group. He cuts open the dog, applies a patch, and throws the dog overboard. The dog dies in spite of the patch. The scientist is dubious. Meanwhile, the lifeboat is filling with water and one person drowns. The doctor applies the patch to the boat and it works. Nine people are saved. The scientist claims that it's because of his experiment with the dog.

This scenario more closely resembles vivisection in modern times. Technology and manpower judiciously applied to the target is a wiser allocation of scarce resources than contrived, forced fascimiles that differ in significant respects from the actual event.

The "child or the dog" problem as most often presented is built on several faulty assumptions. You can challenge those assumptions and/or replace them with ones that are more reflective of the real world.

Below are the opening paragraphs of a New York Times review of ""Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals, and the Call to Mercy," by Matthew Scully. Mr. Scully is not one of the "usual sources." He's a speechwriter for George W. Bush. His solid conservative credentials enable him to reach audiences that sneer at animal rights groups. For this reason, "Dominion" is one of the most strategically important books about our relationship to animals ever written.

Reviewer Natalie Angier starts off by focusing on what is for me the most poignant part of the book, where Scully takes a tour of a giant pig warehouse ("farm" doesn't seem the appropriate word).

---

The Most Compassionate Conservative. A former speechwriter for George W. Bush argues fiercely for decency toward animals.

October 27, 2002
By NATALIE ANGIER

Have you ever met a cat that was weaned too early and so developed the disturbing habit of nuzzling and kneading compulsively in your hair, your sweaters, your blankets, the crook of your elbow? Well, pigs prematurely taken from their mothers also root incessantly for something to chew or suck on; and if they are pigs spending their abbreviated lives in a factory farm, where maybe 500 animals are crowded into a space no bigger than a living room, the thing they try to chew on is the tail of the hog in front of them. This is not a happy habit for the industrial farmer: chewed tails can result in infections, and pigs that die, in Matthew Scully's pitch-perfect phrase, "an unauthorized death."

The factory farmer's solution? When the piglets are weaned, a good 12 to 16 weeks before nature had planned, their tails are docked, the lower part amputated with a pliers-like instrument. That small operation leaves the pigs with hypersensitive tails, which means the animals will not get complacent and will struggle ever after to keep their clipped, throbbing appendages out of the mouths of their penmates.

Should you be inclined to pity the beasts for that or any other detail of their treatment in today's giant meat-making plants, however, the executives in charge of booming factory farms like Smithfield Foods in Virginia, which kills 82,300 pigs a day -- a quarter of the nation's total -- are eager to set your conscience at ease. When Scully asked Sonny Faison, head of Smithfield's Carroll's Foods division, in North Carolina, whether there isn't something "just a little sad" about confining millions of animals to cramped concrete enclosures, where there is no sun, wind, rain or even so much as a scattering of straw to sleep on, Faison declared au contraire. "They love it," he insisted. "They're in state-of-the art confinement facilities. The conditions that we keep these animals in are much more humane than when they were out in the field." Another Smithfield supervisor seconded the notion, painting a bleak picture of the life of free-ranging swine: "I mean, you put 'em out, they kind of scrounge around in the mud, and in the summer, around here, animals that are outside risk getting mosquito bites and things."

[Full Review]

---

"They love it." Wow.

Who is Mr. Faison trying to fool?

Some statements are so outrageous that you can't respond to them. Mr. Fasion's remarks are incriminating all on their own; no rebuttal is necessary.

I do have a way for Mr. Faison to test his hypothesis, however. Open the cage doors. Create an outdoor area where the pigs can walk around and root in the mud. Set up a roomy barn with plenty of straw for bedding. Let the pigs exercise their free will.

I'm not a betting man, but if I was, I'd wager a sizeable sum of money that the pigs, once given a choice, spend no time at all in their "state-of-the-art confinement facilities."

At Poplar Springs Animal Sanctuary, the pigs have lots of room to roam, and they take advantage of every square inch of it. They roll in the mud and hang out with their friends. The younger ones are playful. Mealtime is a little raucous; the pigs attack their fresh fruit and vegetables with a gusto. When they get sleepy, they make a comfortable bed in the straw, stretch out, and snooze. Volunteers and guests come by to give the pigs a nice belly rub.

They love it.

It's not often that you can get something for nothing. But you can by clicking on The Animal Rescue Site.

I realize this sounds like an advertisement, but please hear me out. Once a day, you can help deserving animals simply by clicking a button on The Animal Rescue Site's home page. There's no hidden cost; there are no tricks. You won't be put on a mailing list.

Here's how it works. Sponsors pay to promote their products and services on the site, and a portion of the advertising revenue goes to three very worthwhile groups:

• The Fund For Animals advocates and provides refuge for all types of animals: pets, wildlife, exotics, you name it.


• The Black Beauty Ranch, managed by the Fund For Animals, is a 1620-acre facility that provides a home for animals "from chimpanzees to burros to elephants."


• The North Shore Animal League (NSAL) is a shelter in the New York City area dedicated to making the world a better place for animals, through adoption, medical services, outreach programs, and volunteer opportunities. After 9/11, the NSAL worked tirelessly to make sure that abandoned animals were cared for and reunited with their owners.

Still suspicious? I don't blame you. I talked to one of site's founders for about a half hour. He explained the various sponsorship programs and the site's principles. Then I talked to an executive from the Fund for Animals who assured me that they do indeed receive money from The Animal Rescue Site. I haven't asked anyone at the NSAL specifically about their involvement with The Animal Rescue Site, but I can't imagine that they would allow themselves to be associated with an operation that wasn't above board.

I can't say that The Animal Rescue Site is perfect. I'm not crazy about some of the partners. But on balance, it's a very worthy endeavor and I have no problem recommending it.

So bookmark the site, visit it daily, and tell your friends about it. The more hits the site gets, the better it looks to advertisers, and the greater the benefit is for the charities listed above. Please also consider patronizing some of the sponsors; this will help the animals even further. There's really no downside. I know it sounds a little too good to be true. Feel free to ponder that while you click and help out animals in need.

At one point (not that long ago!) the notion of women having rights seemed radical. Ditto for blacks. Ditto for children. Yet today those concepts seem a prioi, inalienable.

Animal rights will follow the same course. The two big questions are the details and the pace at which the transformation will occur. Let's explore both.

It's understood that animals and humans have different sets of appropriate rights. No one is suggesting that animals should have the right to vote. But that doesn't matter. Children and the mentally incompetent don't have that right, either. But they still have rights. We award individuals with a basic set of rights so that they can live, be relatively free, and pursue happiness. Rights give persons (in the legal sense of the word) at least a fighting chance to have a life that is not filled with suffering and oppression.

Many species of animals can experience happiness and suffering. They also have core needs that are essential for a normal life. They have desires and fears, and they are quite good at expressing them. They more than qualify for a set of rights.

The specific rights that should be afforded to various species can be hammered out over time. For starters, all mammals and birds should be protected from being the targets of preventable violence. They should likewise be protected from severe confinement that makes any semblance of normalcy impossible. They should be protected from physical and emotional torture. The Geneva Conventions might be a good, though inadequate, basis for coming up with an initial list of animal rights. Basically, protect individuals from unnecessary suffering caused by moral agents, i.e., sane adult humans. The devil may be in the details, but the angel is in the motivation.

To animal advocates, especially those who have actually witnessed the horrors of factory farms, animal research facilities, puppy mills, animal abuse, or a hundred other venues where animals are mistreated, it must seem like we'll never get there. People scoff at the idea of animal rights. Most devout believers in God think we can do what we like with animals. Meat consumption is up (thanks to Dr. Atkins), research labs are more opaque than ever, and fur is making a comeback under the guise of "fur trim."

Yet, in many ways, animals' stature is increasing at a breakneck pace. Compared to other civil rights movements, the push for animal rights may be way ahead of schedule. It probably also benefits from past struggles.

Here are a few examples of how animal rights is gaining a foothold:

• Florida voters outlawed the sow gestation crate, an excessively cruel device that stifles a pig's every desire.


• The Detroit zoo is closing its elephant exhibit because they consider it unfair to the elephants.


• 30 years ago most pet stores sold cats and dogs; although some still do, the largest pet supply stores now instead lend their floor space to adoption groups.


• An increasing number of cities have banned circuses that use wild animals.


• Several universities offer courses in animal law.


• The nation's newest veterinary school kills no animals. In fact they help shelter animals.


• The web must have 500 sites devoted to animal advocacy.

Here's what I think is the most hopeful sign that animal rights will be a reality one day: in over forty states, certain forms of cruelty to animals (mostly dogs and cats) is a felony. In effect, some animals already have some rights. That so many states would make animal cruelty such a serious crime reflects the public's empathy with animals' capacity to suffer. Realizing that animals have emotions and being able to relate to them — those are the keys. Without them, it's hopeless. With them, it's only a matter of time.

There are many animal advocates who are uncomfortable with animal rights per se. They argue that our treatment of animals should be based on moral obligations. I agree. We also should refrain from murder, rape, and child labor on the basis of our moral and religious convictions. But I want all this in writing, codified in law.

Furthermore, I believe that in many cases that you can legislate morality. Complying with a law that's intended to improve behavior feels forced at first, but perfectly natural after a while. It doesn't always happen this way, but it usually does. Think seatbelts, integrated lunch counters, and no-smoking areas in restaurants.

A word about science and its relationship to all this. In some ways, science is so cutting edge. In other ways, it's a laggard. It took scientists a few thousand years to catch up with the rest of us and recognize that animals have feelings. 150 years ago, the top scientists in the land doubted that animals could feel pain! But in the last twenty years, one paper after another keeps expanding our scientific appreciation of animals. Parrots can construct original sentences. Crows use tools. Primates can communicate with sign language. Elephants derive therapeutic value from playing music. Dogs, cats, wolves, rabbits — heck, maybe every species in the world — displays altruistic behavior, sometimes dramatically. Some animals may be more emotional than humans!

Remember, women were once considered too precious to discuss politics, and blacks were deemed too stupid. Even highly educated people who should have known better subscribed to these views. Seems utterly ridiculous now. Just as denial of animal rights will seem one day.

I don't mean to imply that it will be easy from here on out. Resistance to animal rights is fierce, just as always when the status quo, power, reputation, and money are at risk. An alarmingly diverse set of businesses profit from enslaving animals, from treating them like things. They will try every trick in the book to hold on to that power. But inevitably they will loosen their grip. The case for animal rights is just too strong. Really, it's a no-brainer. We can't just have our way with these sentient, intelligent creatures. We have certain obligations to them. Making them suffer because it's convenient — that's just plain wrong. Seems pretty straightforward. But for a number of reasons, change will come slowly, in frustratingly small increments. We'll backslide repeatedly, but always regain our position and then resume progress.

Progressive companies, government agencies, and non-profits are already setting an example of instituting animal-friendly policies, making it easier for others to follow. In the 1980s, once a few industry leaders stopped testing cosmetic products on animals, a hundred others fell in line. The same dynamic will occur in other sectors. Burger King introduced a veggie burger. Eventually, so will McDonald's and Wendy's (that's just my prediction). More zoos will shut down their elephant exhibits. At some point they'll reconsider all large animal exhibits, because similar problems exist. Fake meats taste 10 percent better each year, and the lineup is expanding rapidly. Almost every freezer display case in America has Boca sausages and GardenBurger "chick'n" nuggets. Look for these products in 7-ll in the near future (my prediction.)

Here's a kicker: in 2002, animal lab scientists and technicians voted in favor of expanding the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to cover mice, rats, and birds. Lobbyists (such as the grossly misnamed "Americans For Medical Progress") derailed it. On the surface this seems like bad news. Correct. It's a crime that 90 percent of all laboratory animals have no protections at all. In fact, it's a crime that we waste so much money on these animal experiments in the first place. But the fact that the researchers backed inclusion of these additional species is one more step forward. The arguments for expanding the AWA are compelling, and pro-animal groups will push for this year after year until it passes.

Anyway, what I'm trying to convey in the last two paragraphs is that we are making progress. It's happening everywhere. The fight to bring animals into our moral sphere by way of rights will not stop. I sense that each generation, no matter where they stand politically, is more accepting of animal rights. It seems more normal to them. This gives me great optimism. I hope to see a crop of twenty year-olds that says, across the board, "duh, of course animals should have rights." I hope that in my lifetime, the thought that animals could be denied rights will be considered a cruel anachronism of a less enlightened time.

Advocates: keep fighting for the animals — politely, please. Remember that good people will have normal human reasons for being wary of fundamentally changing their relationship to animals. Each of you at one time was not on board with animal rights. Have patience, mercy, and respect for others, and your efforts will pay off.

Opponents of animal rights: avoid a me-versus-you battle. Learn how animals suffer and how you can reduce it. Do that, and before you know it we'll be on the same page.

Anti-Jim Crow laws caused riots when enacted but no one in their right mind favors a return to Jim Crow now. This is what animal rights will feel like in a century or less.

Perhaps I should say this also. Some readers may be uneasy about comparisons between animal rights and human rights. Every groups' quest for rights has unique characteristics. Please don't get bogged down in "who was treated worse." That helps nobody. The animals have no voice. Their misery is largely hidden from view. It is completely up to us to articulate and alleviate their suffering. Let's work together to accomplish that.

I was talking with a good friend of mine a while back. She's a kindhearted person who loves her dogs and has a soft spot for animals. She was lamenting that she doesn't have the resources to provide a haven for all the homeless dogs and cats. She told me this as she was ordering a hamburger.

Most people don't have several million dollars to buy a sizeable tract of land and fund the construction and operation of a large animal shelter. However, there is an easy way for anyone to save the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of animals — and at no cost. Stop eating them.

Over the course of a lifetime, the average meat-eater consumes about 1000 animals, not including fish. That comes out to over a hundred animals slaughtered per person each year. If you eat vegetarian two days a week, you'll save 290 animals. If you eat vegetarian three days a week, you're up to 430 animals. Four days a week, 570 animals. And so on. You'd never be able to house even a small fraction of this number of animals.

Each of the farm animals you save has intelligence and emotions comparable to a dog or cat. Pigs can play video games better than monkeys. Chickens like to be petted and will come when called. Cows have been known to display a variety of altruistic behaviors.

Now when I say "vegetarian," I really mean "vegan," or no animal ingredients. Because the kill count is much larger than I have let on. Your eggs most likely come from a factory farm. In such facilities, the male offspring of laying hens are crushed or suffocated shortly after they're born, because they're of no economic use. Your milk and cheese probably also come from a factory farm. The cows there are impregnated repeatedly and their male calves are often carted off to the veal pen, to be slaughtered 16 weeks later. The milk cows themselves are ground up into school lunch meat and pet food when their bodies can no longer keep up with the demand for ultra-high milk production. A dairy cow in a factory farm is "spent" by five years old (their normal lifespan is 25-30 years).

We've all heard about pets who were physically abused by their owners, or who were thrown out into the streets to fend for themselves. These stories tug at our heartstrings, because we feel the animals' pain. But try to feel the factory farm animals' pain, too. Every one of them is miserable. Their living quarters barely give them enough room to move. They cannot exercise or engage in any normal social behaviors. Most never see the light of day. They're separated from their mothers less than halfway through their weaning period. They go mad from the constant confinement. The factory farm experience is just awful. Then there's the slaughterhouse. For chickens especially, it's like something out of a horror movie.

The suffering of factory farm animals differs in one very fundamental aspect from the plight of companion animals: you're the cause of it. All the cruelty, confinement, deprivation, and killing occurs because you buy the product. As soon as you stop doing that, animals are spared. Think about that power that you have; it is unique in modern human-to-animal relationships. You can use it to spare animals' suffering or to perpetuate it.

By all means, fill your house with furry friends from the animal shelter. But remember the ones you can't see. You can make a world of difference in their lives, too, starting today. And it doesn't cost you one cent.

Watch this: Women's Tofu Wrestling. I don't want to give away the ending.

I wish there was a Yellow Pages of animal-friendly businesses. I've seen directories of minority-owned or Christian businesses. Why not one for businesses that are better than their peers in terms of animal issues? I'm not saying this is a practical idea, but it sure would be handy. All things equal, I'd patronize a vegetarian-run dry cleaners or an electrician who rescues greyhounds.

In the meantime, here are some things you can do to help you decide where to spend your money:

• Pay attention to a company's promotions. Do they have a TV commercial with chimpanzees? That's cruel (more on that in a future post). Do they sponsor a non-animal circus? That's cool.


• You can shop online and help animal groups at no extra cost. Visit http://www.forsociety.com/com/navs/index.html and a portion of your purchases will be donated to the National Anti-Vivisection Society.

Hunters like to call themselves "sportsmen." The term is flattering but it doesn't fit.

In a true sporting event, all the competitors are willing participants. There's little doubt that animals do not wish to be stalked and shot at by hunters, but their choice is not respected.

In a true sporting event, there is some effort to maintain fairness. Each side has roughly the same defenses. Animals have no defense against bullets or arrows. But hunters aren't content with mere weapon superiority. They also set out decoys, lures, and baits to fool the animals; they look through high-powered scopes to track them; they use packs of dogs and sometimes even motorized vehicles to chase and wear down the animals. In "canned" hunts, the advantage of the hunter over the hunted is ridiculous. The animals are fenced in and have no escape. They may be tame and trustful of humans, making them easy prey. Some are shot at close range while feeding.

In a true sporting event, you do not kill your opponent. Hunters shoot animals with the intent to kill them. Furthermore, some of the animals suffer before they die. Last winter, during New Jersey's first bear hunt in 50 years, a bear wounded by a bullet stumbled onto a busy highway. The bear staggered, grew weaker, and eventually collapsed. Motorists pulled off the road; many witnessing the bear's struggle were moved to tears. One elk hunter eloquently reported the last moments of the prize elk he shot: the animal fell down, made repeated efforts to get up, and slowly died as the hunter watched. Pro-hunting groups estimate that 25 percent of animals shot by hunters do not die right away. The real number is probably higher.

Hunting is about as un-sportsmanlike as you can get.

Why aren't church and synagogue events vegetarian? Surely some of the organizers, not to mention the pastors, priests, ministers, and rabbis, know about the miserable conditions in factory farms, where we get most of our meat and dairy.

I don't get it. Here we have institutions dedicated to spreading love and respect for God, yet they consciously contribute to the mass suffering and killing of God's creatures. In fact, they rejoice in the ill-gotten products.

The message they're conveying to their congregations is that hedonistic pleasure justifies inflicting horrible cruelties on animals.

Religious leaders should set moral examples for society. They have an opportunity to ease the widespread suffering of animals; instead they choose to perpetuate it. Is this God's will?

When houses of worship across the land preach kindness and mercy toward animals, and extend the Golden Rule to all sentient beings, the world will change drastically for the better.

---

Further Reading:

An Open Letter to the Churches about Fundraisers and Social Events asks why so many church-sponsored fundraising events are centered around eating animals. The comingling of church-initiated solicitations and feasting on meat indicates to me that we really haven't come that far from animal sacrifice in the temple.

Most animals in petting zoos never grow old. Once they reach adulthood, they're sold at auction and killed. During their short life, they're basically exhibits. They usually have no escape from the prodding hands that reach over and through the cage. Rabbits, for example, need a hiding place, since they're prey animals and get scared easily. They also like to sleep in the afternoon. Both of these necessities are frequently denied in petting zoos. During business hours, the animals are on constant display, with no respite.

Many petting zoos set up booths at county fairs and other large gatherings. The animals have to put up with loud noise and crowds. Often they are outside with no shelter.

Petting zoo animals typically receive inadequate veterinary care, or none at all. Why bother when you have no interest in their long-term health?

Petting zoos are deceptive. They give the impression that the animals live idyllically on a happy farm. In reality, the petting zoo makes money by parading a constant supply of baby animals and selling them for slaughter when they grow up.

If you want to take your kids to meet animals up close — which can be a very rewarding experience — there are far better options than petting zoos.

Animal sanctuaries provide permanent homes for rescued farm animals. In contrast to petting zoos, residents of animal sanctuaries live to a ripe old age, unless stricken by untreatable disease. The animals all have names. Accommodations and veterinary care at animal sanctuaries far exceeds that of petting zoos. At a sanctuary, the animals' welfare is never sacrificed for revenue. Sanctuary staff is made up of volunteers who love animals. Children can see how animals of all ages thrive in a supportive environment.

The animals in your local animal shelter will appreciate a vist. Many of them had a hard luck story; all are waiting for a family to adopt them and give them a "forever" home. In the meantime, you can brighten their day. Pet the cats, dogs, rabbits, and other animals. Let them have some playtime. You'll be doing a world of good. The animals' purrs and wagging tails are priceless "thank you's."

Be sure to check with shelter staff first. They will inform you of the general rules, show you the proper way to pet a rabbit, remind you to wash your hands, and let you know if there are any animals that need to be left alone — or that could use some extra attention.

One more thing. Small "roadside zoos" are as bad as petting zoos, and sometimes much worse. Please don't support them. They're notorious for mistreating animals. Being a roadside zoo exhibit is an awful fate for an animal. Roadside zoos should be outlawed.

---

Resources:

Poplar Springs Animal Sanctuary is home to chickens, turkeys, rabbits, goats, sheep, cows, horses, and pigs. You haven't lived till you've petted a 600-pound pig! The sanctuary is located within an hour of Washington, D.C. Call ahead.

Farm Sanctuary is probably the country's best known refuge for abused and unwanted farm animals. The sanctuary maintains a 175-acre shelter in upstate New York and a 300-acre shelter in northern California. Farm Sanctuary is run by Gene and Lorri Bauston, who have dedicated their lives to ending cruelty to agricultural animals.

The National Shelter List is a state-by-state registry of animal sanctuaries that care for and promote compassion for farm animals.

The House Rabbit Society (HRS) has chapters across the country. They regularly hold adoption fairs at pet supply stores and other venues. Each of the rabbits you'll meet at these events is looking for a permanent home. But you don't have to be an adopter to interact with the rabbits (under supervision) and learn about their complex behaviors. Rabbits form lifelong relationships with other rabbits, but are choosy about selecting Mr. or Ms. Right. Rabbits also like to play, explore, and dig. Plus they're pretty darn cute.

Lots of people over the last twenty years have cut back on beef and increased their consumption of chicken. I'd say three-quarters of those who have made this transition consider it a healthy move. More than a few believe they've taken a step toward vegetarianism ("I eat very little red meat").

From an animal welfare standpoint, switching from beef to chicken is a giant leap backward. It's not that I'm advocating eating burgers. But at least the cattle get to walk around for most of their lives. They can lie down in the grass, and feel the sun on their backs.

The vast majority of chickens, whether they're laying hens or "broilers," are crammed into extremely tight quarters and never see the outside. When full-grown, they don't even have room to flap their wings. Many of them have their beaks amputated, which prevents them from cleaning their feathers, an important activity for chickens.

It could be argued that the chicken you buy in the store is not natural. It is a genetically manipulated, grossly deformed relative of its wild cousins. Modern chickens are programmed to increase in size so quickly that they typically suffer from lameness in their legs. Some tip over because their skeletons cannot support their body. And forget about flying.

Unlike cattle, chickens are exempt from humane slaughter laws. If a chicken gets its throat sliced while fully conscious, it's legal. And it happens. For a glimpse into the horror of the chicken slaughterhouse, click here. Please do this if you eat chicken. Because you should know what you're helping to perpetuate.

If you're addicted to meat, I urge you to favor beef and fish over poultry. A lean cut of beef is comparable to chicken in terms of fat content, cholesterol, and calories. But do think about becoming a vegetarian. It's a healthy diet and it is like a weight off your back knowing that you are not contributing to animal cruelty.

Did you give up veal because you consider it too cruel? Then you may want to give up dairy, also. Because veal is a by-product of dairy products.

A calf needs his mother's milk. But in the super-high-efficiency world of modern dairy farming, where cows are kept constantly pregnant and given hormones to produce massive yields, milk can't be wasted on calves. The calf is pulled away from his mother when he's one or two days old, and carted off to the veal pen. Mom and her calf often cry during this forced separation. If you're a Mom, imagine having your newborn kidnapped.

The veal pen is so cramped, there's not enough room for the calf to turn around. The wooden floor is soaked with urine. The calf is fed an iron-deficient diet, which makes him weak and causes his flesh to turn pale. The calf is chained to the veal pen and kept in solitary confinement. He gets no exercise, playtime, socialization, or affection. When 16 weeks old, he is slaughtered. And you get his mother's milk.

By the way, no one actually needs to drink milk. Our health is not dependent on food for calves. Dairy products may also cause a number of allergies and be a factor in more serious conditions, such as diabetes, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.

[Addendum, June 14, 2004] Where do calfskin gloves come from? You guessed it, veal calves. Please don't make veal more profitable; choose gloves made from some other material, preferably synthetic.