Why animals?

Felipe and Frankie

So why animals? Seems like a fair question. Last week, Craig and I added two new members to the family, and more are on the way! Frankie and Felipe are 2.5-year-old goats that needed a new home. And Wilbur and Winston are Kune Kune pig brothers who will be here at the end of January (born only three weeks ago!) also needed a home. Seems perfectly legit that we added goats and pigs to our family, right? If you know us, this likely comes as no surprise. But so many people are asking why. Let me start at the beginning.

I have always loved animals. Some might say I have an unhealthy relationship with animals. All animals. I can feel their pain and other emotions. I really think I get along better with animals than with most people but that’s another rock that we don’t have time to turn over today! I was the kid whose parents had to take out of the movie theater when Bambi’s mom was killed by a hunter. Needless to say, I never recovered. Craig has to skip through scenes in movies where animals are harmed or die. Now there’s a good husband! Let me be clear, I have watched all the documentaries, read all the books, and have seen many aspects of the industry up close and personal. I know exactly what goes on in those buildings.

My lifelong love of animals came full circle about 10 years ago when I decided to give up eating meat and anything else that comes from animals. I came to the startling realization that all animals have feelings. They feel pain, sadness, sorrow, fear but also love, happiness, and joy. Then I realized that farm animals, the very animals that I was eating several times every day are no different than my dog, Baily. Why is it okay to eat some animals but not others? How could I ask someone else to grow, raise, and eventually kill animals, who are more similar to Baily than they are different? How can I ask others to do those things for me when I could not do them myself? Who am I to determine what animals live and what animals would be sacrificed for me?

Stick with me, I’m going somewhere with this….

Do I wish everyone else would stop eating meat? Of course. But I also know that is not a reasonable expectation and would actually collapse our economy. Do I shame others for eating meat? Of course not. But I do think there is serious misinformation given to us from a very young age about where meat comes from. Do I think people should be given all the facts, understand the process of what it takes to bring a hamburger to your grocery store, and then make their own decision? Absolutely. What we eat is a very personal choice.

But to me, what I chose to eat or chose not to eat is something much bigger than a choice. It is one small thing that I can do to help lessen some of the violence and pain in the world. If I had the opportunity to do that, why wouldn’t I? Animal agriculture is a very violent and painful industry, not just for the animals. By choosing to abstain the best I can (and I am by no means perfect), I feel at peace with myself. I truly feel I am acting out of compassion rather than simply speaking the words.

By being a person who chooses to live primarily on plants, I can act as an example to others. I can help to show people that relying on animals for food is no longer a necessity (yes, I am fully aware that our ancestors relied on eating meat, however, the human body was not physiologically designed to eat meat, we can merely tolerate it, and not well, I might add). There are so many people out there, maybe even you, who have questions, have thought about giving up meat, or just have a feeling that the way they are eating no longer serves them in one capacity or another. It is perfectly healthy to not only survive but thrive on only plants. Look at me, it’s been over 10 years and I have not suffered a protein or other nutrient deficiency. It’s completely doable. If you want to.

Back to the original point of this…

When Craig and I moved to our farm about 18 months ago, we knew we wanted to have animals, other than our four dogs. Why? Because many animals need homes.

But for me, this is taking things one step further. Every day when I go down to feed Frankie and Felipe, I am awestruck by their personalities. They play, talkback, and show me love, and it hasn’t even been a week. They solidify everything I have felt about animals since I was a kid. I could sit and watch them all day long because it brings such joy to my heart. It brings me peace because these two goats will never know what it’s like to be abandoned, live in fear, be scared of humans, or be separated from their family. It’s a deeply saddening feeling when I go to pet an animal and they cower down or jump away. In those moments, I can feel their pain, fear, and sadness. Knowing that they will never feel that way again brings tears to my eyes.

We are fortunate to be in the position we are in to add animals to our lives. I fully understand and believe that many people would do this if they had the means and opportunity. On behalf of all those out there who are unable to at this time, I will act on your behalf. I will take it upon myself to be good ambassadors and show these animals what humans are really like. Show them our compassion, our humility, our weaknesses. And show them what it’s like to simply be an animal. They are no different than our dogs. No better, no worse. Just members of the family.

So, when people ask me why we are adding farm animals to our family, my response is simple, because they need a home, and we have one to share.

If you have questions about animals or compassionate eating, please reach out. I would love to have a conversation!

That’s all for now, I have stockings to hang for my boys! Merry Christmas!

Peace, love & kale!

Lindsay