I, as many other probably do too, have always turned my shoulder away from the inhumane treatment of animals, and where our meat came from, and the meat industry overall. Not because I didn’t care, but because I don’t think my stomach, or more so, my heart could handle it. But as I scroll through my never-ending Facebook feed of capturing Buzzfeed videos, and well-written articles, I come across this video courtesy of Higher Perspectives Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/HigherPerspective/videos/1237286156303701/?pnref=story

Normally, I would scroll by as fast as I could in order to avoid seeing anything pertaining to animal cruelty. (Like when we all change the channel as quickly as we can to avoid the ASPCA's sad music and abandoned animals because it rips at our heart.) Anyways, I don’t know whether it was my mood, lack of attention, inability to take my eyes off what I was seeing, or my lack of scrolling skills that day, I could not turn my attention away from a big brown eyed, innocent adorable cow, CRYING… in TEARS because she thought she was on her way to the slaughterhouse. And whether you’re one of the people who believe it or not, I honestly do think that this cow knew what was awaiting for her as she was loaded up into the truck, and locked in. Animals sense fear and are well aware of their surroundings. Here, the video isn’t as nearly as explicit as what you would find if you simply Google search the slaughterhouses and the mistreatment of animals. The cow had a happy ending, but most do not, and more so are forced to suffer... I started out relatively sane and not sounding completely crazy and disgusted, yet. I will like to say look again at the header picture in this article. She looks pretty happy, sitting in her natural environment, soaking up some sun, surrounded by other cows, who are doing the same. Rather, than being squeezed in with hundreds of other cows, in a dark, bloody, diseased barn, terrified, wide-eyed, and with an unsteady heartbeat. Yes, they're like us and enjoy life, (for the most part.) They're innocent and aren’t knowledgeable on death or able to contemplate what happens afterwards like we do. But whether you think so or not, I do believe that they are well aware of what death is, what it looks like, and certainly what it smells like. Now, that I’ve said that, and sound slightly more crazy and passionate. I truly hope you continue reading.

Yeah yeah, listen to this crazy college girl rant over the mistreatment of a cow. Maybe you’re one of the people who can’t grasp onto the fact that our burger was once mooing, and walking, and was tortured before being packaged and put between two store-bought seeded buns. Or like me, and simply want to avoid the whole picture in general and avoid thinking about where our meat is coming from. But before ranting on about animal rights, and the lovely meat industry, and indecency of people, I want to first say that I’m not writing this article to in any way to state that people who eat meat are cruel and insensitive, I eat meat myself. But rather, we should be aware of where our food is coming from, and if nothing at all, at least work toward obtaining that food a little more humanly. Because maybe we're not cruel and insensitive for eating meat, but the people who are beating these animals certainly lack something pretty damn important.

Below is a link to a video about the Truths of Slaughterhouses. Before clicking on the video, which I hope you do, even if you skip around. At least get the general idea. (Warning, some disturbing content.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9DbxCQDr0c

and if the video wasn’t driving home my point, I’ve included an article, as well:

http://www.animal-rights-action.com/slaughter-house.html

I include this article because it is probably one of the few that I have read in its entirety about the reality that I feared, however, knew very well was true. Scrolling as fast as I could, and reading as effectively as I could with my heart broken in two, watery eyes, and stomach turning… I decided to write this article. (If you gotten this far, thank you for reading. And taking a little part in the awareness of animal cruelty… although, our law doesn’t see this as illegal. Hell, it should be.)

Above I have included the link to the animal cruelty laws by state. Even if you do not go through the whole list, you can see that some states, specifically make it illegal for the negligence and suffering of a dog or cat, but do not mention others, or, on the other hand, exclude livestock specifically. Thus, these animals or as defined as "domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber, and labor. The term is often used to refer solely to those raised for food, and sometimes only farmed ruminants, such as cattle and goats," are not protected under the law, and further, that the people are mistreating these animals, cannot be prosecuted.

Now, if the article and video weren’t enough, and wide-eyed terrified, screaming of innocent animals as they get boiled, beaten, and slit open alive, weren’t either- let’s bring it home a little. Where dog lovers, and dog eaters clash a tiny bit.

http://www.animalsaustralia.org/features/yulin-dog-eating-festival-to-begin.php I’ve included the link to where I found this picture because It is another article about the abusive treatment of animals… but more so one that is probably sitting on the couch snoring next to you. While China has them in cages, starving, burned and beaten.

I mention China's dog eating FESTIVAL for many reasons. 1. This article is obviously being written to speak out against the sickening treatment of animals. 2. Because we think that just because it’s a cow, it’s okay to slaughter them. But we draw the line at our lovable little buddies. Where should the line even be drawn? Should there be a line? And if so, why there? Is it an animal’s intelligence level? Does a dog possess more awareness and emotional capabilities to the point where they are aware of what is happening to them, and around them. Thus, making it outrageous and absolutely wrong. Or are you reading this and saying, no, idiot it’s because we have a dog roaming around our house and not a cow sleeping at the end our beds at night. Again, let me clarify a little bit. Or interject and answer some of the questions I asked you. Yes, I do think we have a more personal connection with our household pets and would never think of serving little Max, Charlie, and Lucy at the diner table. And thus, I find Chinas and the consumption of dogs appalling. But more so, the treatment of them. The treatment of animals, in general, makes me sick to my stomach, and physically feel the pain in my chest. So, again my intentions aren’t to tell you to stop eating meat, (Although, after this, I am highly considering it.) But more so, that we need to fight against the treatment of animals and have a more humane way slaughtering them. Ironic, slaughter’s a good word, isn’t it? So loving and warm. But maybe we could limit the consumption of meat overall and how many animals we are in fact killing, and how we’re doing it.

Courtesy of twitter, I’m sure a good majority of us have seen this picture. “Bout right there…” we have an answer! We draw the line at horses, and let everything after that be placed on Earth for our consumption. Thanks, for giving up your life for us little guy.

The second part of this photo, “Stop vegan degeneracy. People need meat to function properly.” Is another story, something that I will briefly comment on. Again, I’m not judging anyone’s lifestyles. Whether you are a meat eater, vegetarian, or like to obtain from animal and animal products overall, that is your purgative.

According to a recent study, as Ashley Capps outlines in her article “Catching Up With Science: Burying the “Humans Need Meat” Argument,” “the newly revised Australian Dietary Guidelines released this week (p. 35), Australia’s top health experts now agree with leading health advisory boards in the U.S., U.K.and Canada that well-planned vegan diets are a safe, healthy and viable option for all age groups. Government health experts worldwide are finally catching up with the large body of scientific evidence demonstrating that a vegan diet is not only a viable option for people of any age, but that eating plant foods instead of animal-based foods can confer significant health benefits, including reduction in incidence of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart attack, stroke, and some types of cancer.” So technically we don't need meat, but we have learned from when we are little that it is a basic food group. Again, what you eat is your choice, but let's make sure that we're not putting these animals through hell, and limit the overall consumption of the amount animals we're killing.

Thank you for listening to me rant. Hopefully, you watched the videos and read some of the links I have provided and are pained as much as I was to see innocent animals receive such inhumane and undeserved treatment.