Mankind has perverted the natural order

I was raised in a rural community in the UK. In later years I became the UK southeast area officer for Compassion in World Farming, and am, unfortunately, very conversant with the activities of livestock farming. I say “unfortunately” because the practices employed are sickening, and not only inhumane but often criminal.

Mr Arnone’s story of the dog chasing escaped baby pigs exemplifies the irresponsible, contrived activity that is animal farming. Prey and predator were brought together in an unnatural situation. Instinctively a pig will escape its incarceration and instinctively a dog will make chase. The pigs were not eaten because the dog is fed by its master. A natural activity becomes a vice due to mankind’s meddling.

To say that only humans have communities displays a total lack of knowledge of the natural animal world. Most animal species belong to communities. A pack of wolves procreates according to the food supply. A herd of elephants is the most sentient community of any species and far more cohesive than humans.

“No one gets rights simply because they were born,” Mr Arnone declares. So by what right is it that “animal rights are granted by us”? 

The sick irony is that mankind has absolutely no nutritional need whatsoever for animal husbandry. It’s a complete myth that humans need meat and dairy. The fact is that, physiologically, the human body is not suited to their consumption because of its long digestive tract and low acidity.

JC Wilcox