Whenever we treat another human being in a way that is substandard, savage or demoralizing, we call it "treating them like an animal." Is it shameful that we should dare treat a human being this way or is it even more shameful that we should treat animals this way? It's sad that we treat animals in a way that we would never want to be treated ourselves.
I treat my people (animals) very well. They get fed well but not so much to make them unhealthy. I let them roam the house on counters, tables, wherever they want. I have accommodations that are focused around (cat) likes. And they respond well in return. They like me. They follow me around, they use their litter box, I almost never have to raise my voice with them and I never punish them physically. They are very well behaved. They are happy, healthy, soft beautiful little creatures. You can barely tell they were mistreated early in life.
People would want to be treated like animals by me. A friend told me she wants to be one of my cats when she grows up. sadly she doesn't have enough fur for the job.
Being treated like an animal is a bad thing because of they way people treat animals. Regardless if they are raised for food or other business, taken from their habitat for entertainment, or even kept as family pets, the conditions animals are housed and treated can sometimes be downright inhumane.
Humans are the most intellectual of the animal kingdom here on earth. We can easily design ways to destroy the entire planet in a short amount of time and often it seems we're trying to do just that. The ability to do something, doesn't mean we should. We have a responsibility to other species. By treating animals properly, this means not taking them from a habitat where they thrive, and are comfortable, for entertainment purposes. And if you do, put them in an environment where they can find some comfort, socialize with others like them, some place that reminds them of where they came from. Feed them. Take care of them when they need it. When you're done, retire them in a humane way.
When you raise them for food, keep them fed with natural food sources allowing them to develop naturally, let them graze or scratch in open spaces. keep their living areas clean and comfortable. I don't eat meat personally, but I often wonder how a person can eat something that was raised in it's own excrement, or drink milk that is full of blood and pus from festering sores and abcesses. Pasteurization can kill germs, sure but you still really want to drink blood and pus with dead germs in it? Mmmm. Does a body good.
Where pets are concerned, if you don't want to, or know how to take care off another living being. Don't do it. Plain and simple. If you're not willing to treat your pets better than your own family, then you don't deserve one.
