Why should killing a dog present us with a greater moral dilemma than killing a cow?

Question

Im tired of seeing news stories about how someone is facing legal charges because they beat their dog, or killed it.

Why?

We murder millions of cows, chickens and pigs each year without any compunction.

Why do we have such hypocritical double standards? If I want to slaughter a dog I should be able to slaughter a dog without being charged with "animal cruelty".

So I ask again: Why should killing a dog present us with a greater moral dilemma than killing a cow?

People - Im not a vegetarian. I probably eat as much meat as the next guy. I just dont like hypocrisy.

Answer 1

It's all about perception..If you perceive a dog to be more valuable for whatever reason than a cow than killing a dog poses a greater moral dilemma..It's like food I am an American in Romania in America horses are pets in Romania they are work animals and food..I struggle with this because of how I perceive it. Different people in different locations perceive animals and "abuse" differently.

Answer 2

I see your point. But it comes down to social beliefs and convention at a given time.

I myself am I dog lover, but yes I am also a meat eater. I think about this issue myself a lot too, and I usually conclude that I'm being hypocritical.

But the culture I was raised in eats cows and pigs (etc..). Other cultures eat dogs and cats (China), others eat insects and other things we in The West would generally find repulsive (morally or gastronomically).

As I have said it is indeed hypocritical. Saying that I do not believe we should eat dogs or cats anytime soon.

I also think though that these articles/news stories are referring to not only killing of an animal, but torture.

Psychologists, Psychiatrists and Criminologists all agree that people who show aggression towards animals (directly) of any kind are of potential danger to humans. Many serial killers start out torturing, killing and dissecting animals.

The animals we eat are farmed. They are not (as of yet) on any extinction lists, nor are they favored as personal pets. This is where the (I know hypocritical yes) distinction is made.

It's a good question really. I appreciate vegans though for doing what they do for whatever reason. To be honest, I enjoy meat too much at this time. It is selfish, and I am not going to be overly defensive about my stance to anyone.

Thanks for asking, it made me think about this subject more.

I just wish tofu tasted like steak is all....

Answer 3

Animals were put on this earth to be used by man. Throughout time, we have found that some animals are best used as food, (such as a nice juicy beef cow) and that others make great companions and dont taste as good, like dogs. Partially this is due to the fact that food animals are generally grazers, not carnivores.This does,as stated above, depend somewhat on where in the world you live, due to the availabilty of different kinds of animals, and due to what religions are popular. Animals being harvested for food by people are not murdered anymore than when they are harvested by an animal predator. No animal should be needlessly tortured, but a quick painless death for food is not torture. Something that people need to realize about websites like PETA is that they find the absolute worst possible examples of things to post on their site- many of whom (the abusers)probably are breaking laws, and will be punished.
As someone who grew up on a dairy, I can tell you that the average milk cow these days does not have it bad. 1 hour at a time,twice a day, waiting to be milked-which takes about 10 minutes- and then the rest of the day they get to lounge about and eat all they want. Typical dairies these days keep their corrals very clean, because healthy cows are obviously better than sick cows. Our cows are not beaten either. Many dairyman treat the cows almost like pets, the difference being that they understand what cows are really good for(thanks to good programs like 4-H)allowing them to sell them for meat and whatnot when the time comes. The animal lives a decent life, and very few parts of it are wasted- so its death is not for nothing. It is very possible that the meathods of killing need refinement to be more humane- I'm not against humane death, but the act itself most definitly is not murder. As far as it being wrong to kill dogs- shelters and vets do it everyday- but they dont needlessly torture them-THAT is why Vick got in trouble- Dog fighting benifits no animal or person, and is cruel. Realistically, if I wanted to humanely kill my dogs for food I should be allowed to- however I have absolutely no desire to, as they make MUCH better pets.
As far as hypocracy then, I guess the hypocracy is that we cant legally humanely butcher a dog for meat- not that I think we should. As I said earlier- people have found that dogs make good companions, not food.

Answer 4

Hmm - let's see - why is a cow or chicken being killed? Oh, for food. Why are dogs being killed? Neglect, sport, cruel violence.

I think you need to step back and look at the differences in why we raise each animal, heir uses to us, and exactly HOW the animal is killed.

I've been in ranching and farming country a good most of my life - cows, chickens, pigs, sheep - well fed, regular medical care, and when it comes their time to be killed for food, the killing is quick and without pain.

Dogs - lots are well cared for a loved. But others are trained to rip a person or another dog a apart, are beaten, refused food, treated like crap - and their deaths aren't quick and merciful.

See a difference yet?

The carrots are screaming as you yank them out of the ground - best go attend to that.

Answer 5

To me a dog and cow are the same. Both are friendly, cows are really affectionate to each other, they have altruistic virtue when together and they can make good pets. So I basically I am saying I would eat a dog as soon as I would eat a cow, but since the cow provides cheeses and milks, plus their leather is good for shoes and other things the cow seems to be the logical choice. Anythime you are talking animal cruelty I think intent is what matters. if you beat your animal on purpose you deserved to be punished. If I caught you beating my dog I would fuc kin killyou.

Answer 6

this would sound style of merciless, yet it particularly is the way that my warped little suggestions thinks... i like the belief of adopting, yet you should bypass this way of super form of regulations, its difficult to adhere with it once you're doing an identical ammount of artwork to get a dogs because it would take to get slightly one. i've got tried to undertake from shelters many, many situations. each and every time i'm getting - your backyard is purely too small, you artwork too many hours (7), and you're too youthful (18, dwelling on my very own and replaced into desperate for a experienced important different dogs to share my empty dwelling house). i think of each and every now and then they have too many regulations and dont fairly think of. yet they have the superb intrest in suggestions. My theory is which you have saved many lives and that i think of thats reason to allow you advance a puppy you have continuously wanted. So flow forward and indulge interior the possession and duty that includes this way of cool dogs. My warped philosophy on it fairly is this: finding out to purchase a puppy from a breeder kills a dogs in a shelter. Getting a dogs from a shelter sends one from the breeder to the shelter. Its a vicious cycle and that i desire shall we end it yet there are too many canines and not sufficient human beings interior the international. good success with your puppy! What are you getting, male or lady?

Answer 7

dogs are not meant to be slaughtered.

but honestly, i dont care. just dont waste the dog meat




and no cow or chicken has ever been murdered.


i have a question: if you think cows*(and chickens etc) can be murdered, why aren't other animals like wolves and dogs being arrested for 'murdering' the animals they ate?

Answer 8

You can kill your dog, but it needs to be done in a humane way. That's why you take it to the vet. And people do get in trouble for killing pigs, chickens, cows, etc if they are not doing it in a humane way. PETA is always making sure they are doing it by standards.

Answer 9

It is for this very reason the people become vegetarians.
Have you ever seen the "slaughter houses?"
Have you ever seen the "experiments" performed on these animals?
Have you ever seen what they do to the foxes, the seals, and the cows that they get fur and leather from?
One film I seen; they stripped a fox of her skin. She was still alive. Skinned alive.
I've seen "in the name of medicine" a pig blow torched--not to death--just severely. Why? To better learn how to treat burn victims.
This makes me sick.

Answer 10

None of them should be killed, there's a solution to your dilemma



Pin is missing part of the word "head " in the name

people on ranches are taught to ignore the animal/food's personality, and 4H clubs teach kids to have pets than slaughter them for $$$. None of these answers are moral or right whether hunting or in the grocery store, It's just not right, more evolved humans understand this