I have a lot of mixed emotions right now. Parts of today were interesting, stressful, awesome, difficult, and depressing. It's about 8:30 now and I was finally able to take a shower and get ready for bed after a long day.
Today I was on checks with Kendyl and we were supposed to start at 8, but didn’t end up starting until Susie and Kate came down at almost 9. Checks were for the special needs sheep today. They all needed their hooves trimmed and some medications. Some of them were easy, others were flailing around like crazy and it was pretty difficult to hold them in place because they are really strong! It took a while and I didn't realize until I was in the shower just now how many bumps, marks, and bruises I have.
After the sheep we went to help out with some cows and get them fly sprayed and another spray. There are so many cows! I only met a few the other day. They are so beautiful and full of personality. I also got to meet Michael, the adorable little calf who is currently by himself because he was in isolation for a while because of a parasite, and now they're trying to find the right group to put him with.
Susie got radioed that Turpentine the turkey seemed really overheated. Turpentine is hysterical and loves people, so he follows them or seeks them out if he can’t find any. He took two long hikes today down to the people barn, so he was really tired and hot. They picked him up in the van and he looked exhausted! I think he’ll be okay but I think it’s a good idea they put him back in his pen for a while. As awesome as it is that he gets to roam the farm, he needs to take it easy! He’s super duper handsome. I'll definitely get some pictures.
Kendyl and I had an hour lunch and then went back to work. We washed some fences/gates. We picked grass to bring to the goats Delilah, and babies Ingrid, Marilyn, and Mayzie. Then we did some more health checks with Susie and Kate. A goat, some pigs, chicken, a goose, and I think they were going to do more but we left for dinner since we’re supposed to be done at 5 but stayed until after 5:30.
At 7:20 Jill trained me to close sheds. Not too tricky, except for all the little things to remember, and some of the animals that aren't so friendly and want to bite your ankles. Haha! I was also on security but my radio died so Jill said she'd take over since all you really do is just listen in anyway.
I’m also really depressed. Here I am working directly with the victims of the beef, poultry, pork, veal, foie gras, egg, and dairy industries. FS does amazing work and does everything they can to help each and every animal they take it, but it’s so difficult to see animals that are in such terrible shape from their previous situations. Seeing a duck with only one eye, a goose with an infection, a chicken who can't digest, a cow completely blind in both eyes which are bright red, a sheep who can't use her back legs...the list goes on and on...it's very upsetting. I keep hearing more and more rescue stories and finding out where different animals came from, and it absolutely breaks my heart. Yes, the ones at Farm Sanctuary are some of the lucky ones. Unfortunately, the majority of animals raised as livestock are not. (That being said, I highly recommend the book "The Lucky Ones" by Jenny Brown to every single person reading this blog, no matter who you are or what your views are on animals, veganism, or anything. Just read it. Please. It's amazing.)
Do you know what I'm sick of? Something I call "Channel Switch Behavior." You see a sad story on the news. An abuse or cruelty case. Anything, really. Maybe your jaw drops, maybe you shed a few tears...But ultimately, what do you do? You say "Oh, how awful!" and switch the channel. Carry on with your life. Don't do anything to help.
I really can't stand it when people say they love all animals and it breaks their heart to see or hear of any harm being done to them...when these people eat meat, wear fur, use animal-tested products, and sport leather boots. STOP. You are a hypocrite. Truly. Stop eating meat. You don't need it. It's harming the animals and environment around you. Other people, as well. There are plenty of delicious and healthier alternatives. (Below I will post 20 Reasons to Go Veg for Life.) Stop wearing fur. You look ridiculous. You know who looks good in it? The animal that died to give you a tacky coat. Buy cruelty-free products. You can find a plethora at practically any store. Ditch the leather boots and go for pleather. Same look, cruelty-free, less expensive. BAM.
I am so frustrated that we live in a world where cruelty happens day in and day out and people either ignore it and don't care. Stop turning a blind eye. If it bothers you, (and if it doesn't, what's your problem?) TAKE ACTION. Educate yourselves. Do your research. Start changing the way you live. Try starting as a vegetarian. Then make the transition to veganism.
20 Reasons to go Veg for Life! from Farm Sanctuary
1. In the U.S., "food animals" are not adequately protected from inhumane treatment.
2. Livestock rearing produces more greenhouse gasses than all forms of transportation combined.
3. A low-fat vegetarian diet can help promote weight loss and prevent obesity.
4. Over 70% of U.S. grain and 80% of corn is fed to farm animals rather than people.
5. Mad cow disease and avian influenza are sickening and killing people worldwide.
6. Most farm animals are forced to endure confinement, mutilations, abuse, and neglect.
7. Livestock grazing is one of the most ecologically destructive forces of today.
8. Vegetarians are more likely to avoid heart disease and high blood pressure.
9. Factory farms are breeding grounds for harmful pathogens like salmonella and e. coli.
10. Farm animals are usually prevented from engaging in instinctual behavior and live only a fraction of their natural lives.
11. Animal agricultural run-off adversely affects water quality across the country.
12. Vegetarians are less prone to developing adult onset diabetes.
13. Every year, countless farm animals become so sick or injured they cannot walk.
14. Vast amounts of water and fossil fuels are squandered for livestock rearing.
15. Eliminating animal protein from the diet may lower one's risk of osteoporosis.
16. A recent study by the University of Chicago revealed that a vegetarian diet is more energy efficient.
17. A high fibre, low fat vegetarian diet may help prevent cancer.
18. Over 50% of forests worldwide have been cleared to raise or feed livestock.
19. Approximately 10 billion farm animals needlessly die ever year to fuel the food industry.
20. Vegetarians feel good because they help make the world a better place.
Do the animals (and the world) a favor: Put compassion ahead of your taste buds.
Sheep grazing and enjoying the sun:
About to get their hooves trimmed:
They are such sweethearts! Don't mind how sweaty and messy I look in any of these pictures :P The animals are the beautiful and adorable ones!
Some of the beautiful cows! There were so many I wanted to get a picture of
them all as a group but I was walking with them so it was too tricky. I'll get more pictures of all the animals on the farm soon enough including these guys :)
Baby Michael gave me kisses! Too darn cute!
Mama Goat Delilah with babies Ingrid, Marilyn and adopted baby Maxie!
Pig friends!
Duck friends!
Don't worry, they have wonderful ponds to swim in but this little guy chose to swim in this bucket!
Quote of the day:
"The Holocaust never ended. It only changed species."
-Unknown
It's good to see you are doing important work. The consumption of animal flesh creates a dilemma. It is more humane to refrain, but more than a million years of human evolution have programmed us to consume meat, fish and eggs for our wellbeing. The factories that raise and slaughter animals are an abomination. It would be better if we could all hunt and fish for our food in its natural environment. Just as eggs are the best sustenance for the chickens you describe, animal products are the most nutritious for us. Health problems are caused by consuming excessive amounts of animal products, as well as by excessive amounts of starch and sugar, especially from corn in the form of high fructose corn syrup that is pervasive in processed foods.
ReplyDeleteActually, there are numerous studies that show the NEGATIVE effects that animal products and by-products have on humans. Meat, milk, eggs, you name it. I would be happy to share (literally) hundreds with you. Since we can be healthy (and actually healthiER) living a vegan lifestyle and also not be contributing to animal cruelty and slaughter, why NOT go vegan? It is easy to be vegan and avoid high amounts of starches, sugars, and HFCS, especially if you are a raw vegan, but even if you are not. Comparing our consumption of eggs to that of the chickens and other birds I mentioned is actually rather silly. These birds are bred in disgusting ways and get extremely ill which is why gaining back nutrients is important for them. We can be 100% healthy as human beings while refraining from eating eggs and other products and choosing alternatives. There is no need to support factories OR hunting. We do not need meat, and never have.
ReplyDeleteEven our teeth show that we are not the same as carnivores. The name "canine" teeth for humans is a misnomer; a biologist named them this for comparative location only, and it is in name only. True canine teeth have evolved to rip through fur, skin, tendons, and bloody flesh quickly so the carnivore can swallow it whole and expel it quickly. We have flat, grinding teeth that are used in chewing side to side, unlike animal carnivores and omnivores. There are a variety of things you can look at including a comparative anatomy chart by Dr. Milton Mills which shows that humans match the anatomy of herbivores on all key food digesting/food acquiring accounts.
So whatever we have been “programmed” to eat is just plain silly. We aren’t robots, we are human beings who can make decisions for ourselves. Sadly, the majority of people simply don’t use to have any self control and care more about their taste buds than the lives of other sentient beings.