Can You Help Me Understand This About Vegans?

Question

I understand that vegans don't believe in the killing of animals for food. What I don't understand is why they are against using animals for anything; even when they are not killed. Such as for dairy products and honey; cows and bees are not slaughtered for those products so why are they against it?

Some of the more strict vegans seem to be against pets and see and eye dogs, as well as police sniff dogs. I noticed a loophole that vegans use calling the animals they own as companions rather then pets.

Answer 1

It's all about the "abuse or miss treatment" of animals.
The really hard core vegan's even consider bee keeping a form of abuse.
They feel keeping a cow milking for years is abuse...
Do a search on the internet, you will find it quite enlightening and in my opinion fringing on lunacy.

Answer 2

Vegans are against exploiting animals. Cows and bees are, in fact, slaughtered. Bees die when they are smoked out of their hives for honey collection and dairy cows are sent to slaughter when they stop producing (at about age 5, rather than 20 or so, which would be their natural lifespan.) Laying hens are sent to slaughter when their egg production drops. Male chicks are useless to a laying operation, so they are killed as soon as they are sexed. Male calves are no use to a dairy operation so they are sold for veal.

I don't personally know anyone who is against service dogs. Dogs and humans have shared a relationship that has spanned millenia and, in my opinion anyway, they get as much from the relationship as the humans do. (And cats pretty much do the exploiting in the human/feline relationship! ;) ) I refer to my dog as my animal companion not as a loophole, exactly, but because I don't consider him my property, but a cherished member of my family.

Answer 3

I think pets implies that your dog lives outside in a dog house with straw and companions implies that they live in the house and goes outside occasionally. Or not at all(house cat). Companions also implies love, and pets implies servitude. Most vegans belive animals should not be exploited in any way for humans.
The cows babies get taken away from them and cows are often artificially inseminated so they keep producing milk. They only live for about seven years (usually less) before they are slaughtered for meat. Cows (without this human milk stealing) can live for fifteen to twenty years.

Answer 4

They are against the mistreatment of animals. Cows, chickens and the like are not always kept in a humane manner. However, I've never heard anyone complain about bees. Bees are kept very close to their natural state, so I can't see them being mistreated. The only difference is the shape of the hive and the fact that the honey is taken away from time to time.

Answer 5

Vegans are against torturing animals, not just killing them. This is why we object to dairy and eggs. In fact, if you support the dairy industry, you are funding the veal industry, so either way, you're supporting death.

I have yet to meet a vegan who is against pets and seing eye dogs, although I can understand the obkection to police sniff dogs, depending on what the training practices consist of.

Answer 6

My only "rule" is that I don't go against my beliefs and values. I don't consume dairy or eggs because of the very poor treatment of the animals. I suppose I could still physically eat meat, eggs and dairy ("can"), nut I choose not to. After voluntarily pumping my breast milk for my daughter, I have more compassion for the cows. The animals are kept alive, but it's not a life to be envied.

How a person refers to the animal(s) living with him is not a loophole, but a choice.

Answer 7

Ok Vegans don't like to eat anything that not only kills an animal for food directly but also anything that INDIRECTLY kills or causes suffering to animals. The theory is this: bees die in the production and gathering of honey because they get crushed, or smothered being in such a state of confusion while the honey is being gathered and their home is being invaded. Also the larva gets crushed. This approach has puzzled me in the past when I first heard of it....not eat honey??????What the?????

As for pets and eye dogs I guess they see that as a type of animal slavery though I see it as more of a reciprocal relationship. I am against overt or subverted animal cruelty methods but I would never go as far as eating agave juice instead of honey.

No, Frosty, below, I don't need to read up on the honey thing.
I think it is extremely rude of you to comment on my answer in your answer, if you are more knowledgeable or think you are then prove it with your witty and compelling answer not by questioning mine. There are many ways to gather honey, from mechanical, to hand gathering, to actually leaving the honey comb in the honey. I worked with vegans for years so I know the objections they have. Also I have been a vegetarian not a vegan!!! my whole life so I know about these things from experience.

Answer 8

Well I for one treat my furry family member aka MY PETS very well.
I also treat the strays and other wild animals that come to eat on my back deck very well.

I do not exploit them or harm them in any way like say dairy farmers do. I don't say work them to death or near death or inject them with growth hormones or antibiotics. I don't force them to get pregnant over and over and then take their babies away to slaughter.

I also don't see anything wrong with seeing eye dogs and other trained dogs as long as the animals are treated well.

Now trained animals at the circus them I have issues with and horses in the city those too I have issues with.

It's all about how the animals are being treated and the quality of their life. After all there are for worse things then death.

Answer 9

Fact is, ther are many different definitions , "rules" and sublabels even within the vegan community. The commonality however, is anti-animal exploitation and cruelty. Really it will vary from individual to individual. Note that veganism is a lifestyle. It is neither a legal or moral obligation despite what vegans may argue.
As for the pet ownership, the slave owners once used that type of argument. They are not really slaves, they are plantation "workers" who are paid in kind (food clothing, shelter) and they are happy.( so the slaves smile dutifully or they will be whipped later on)

Answer 10

It's difficult to pinpoint. It seems as the rules are somewhat bendable depending on what the individual deems "practical" or not.

Vegans are against the EXPLOITATION of animals but can usually provide a loophole for any transgressions whether intentional or not.

Why are they against the exploitation of animals? It has to do with the animal not giving it's consent, but again, comes down to the individuals application of the word "practical".