I've always considered myself an animal lover. I currently have one cat and one dog. Though I've had lots of different animals from a variety of creatures; fowls, fish, rodents even a huge spider...I always made sure that the animals were fixed and had their shots and were spoiled rotten (except the spider which I found outside and just fed "him" crickets I bought at the pet store.) They ate good name-brand food, not the cheap stuff. I thought that in and of itself was being a good animal-parent. I was a sorta-vegetarian (I'd eat dairy, eggs, and fish) and got sick from lack of vitamins. That was mostly my own fault, because I didn't take enough vitamins on my own. I gave that up after a few years and decided to just go back to eating meat... mostly under the pressure of my family, who are big meat eaters. Though, I eat more vegetables than anybody, in all honesty, I sometimes crave a good hamburger. I won't lie. I can't decide within myself if that is truly wrong. I guess eventually I'll figure that out on my own. I don't find fault with people who want to eat meat, it's their choice. At least 7 out of 10 times I'd eat a veggie burger rather than a regular burger, but that's just my personal choice. As a person who loves to eat, I'm not going tell anybody what they should or shouldn't eat! I believe that going on Jenny Craig (or any other diet company) would be a sign of the apocalypse for me. Life is too short to go without good food in my humble opinion. Over the years however, I'd become more aware and more knowledgeable about the treatment of animals. First I'll say that I have never stood outside a meat-packing plant with a sign, not that that is wrong. I've never spray-painted any body's fur and I have never boycotted an animal product. Though I make it my choice not to wear or buy leather. I do have a pair of sandals that have leather on them that were given to me years ago. Is that wrong? I never really stopped to think about what the cause was all about. I really thought that taking care of my little buddies was enough and that was loving animals. As I became older, I realized this just wasn't enough. I began taking a more active approach and supporting organizations that protect animals. Not made of money, I could only donate a little, but it's something. I also promised to do what I could to protect animals and report animal abuse. How far do you go though? Do you report your neighbor who leaves his dogs outside in the bitter cold with no food or water? (so that in retaliation he can flatten the tires of my car...) Do you call up the local ASCPA in the hometown of your best friend because his mother hordes animals and neglects them habitually? (at the expense of a ruined friendship with someone you love and care about...) Do you report your distant relatives who pay no attention to their animals and won't even take them to the vet for their shots because they don't feel they 'really' need them? How far do you go? What is right? To what end? I don't know. If the world were the place I wish it were it wouldn't be an issue. And just because I call an agency will not make the problem go away, and could in fact make a lot of other, possibly worse issues. What to do. What I do know is that I have decided myself to be a consumer with a conscious. The idea crept up on me slowly. I started to pay more attention to products I buy. It seems simple enough, but it's not. I looked for the 'not tested on animals' statement on products when I shopped. I didn't see many. And I guess I just didn't think that the company that puts out deodorant I use would test on animals...why would they need to? Then one day I decided to really dig around and see what I used that was tested on animals. Now, I'm not taking into consideration medications. I have no choice but to take at least one medication, without it I would die. Until another medication comes along I am forced to take it. One day I looked at the products I use. Soaps both for cleaning my clothes, house etc., and my personal soap. I looked at bath and body products, makeup etc., and I was very surprised by myself. For a person who loves animals, I wasn't showing it. I am ashamed of myself. I started by looking at the products in my shower one morning. My shampoo, facial wash, body wash, body scrub, all except my conditioner was from companies that I found out DID test on animals. All of these products are name-brand average products you will find at any store. As I did my hair I realized that some of the products had been tested on animals and some not, but nearly all the make up I had had been tested on animals, even tooth-paste and mouth wash. I was shocked. I never realized, I just never thought about it. I thought with all the awareness, I just assumed that it wouldn't be necessary to test on animals. That does not mean the companies won't do it. I went crazy looking at all the stuff I use around the house. Each and every bit of cleansers I used in my house were by companies that had been tested on animals. I feel that in this day we don't need to test on animals. We know that spraying hairspray in the eyes of any being will irritate. Duh! Now I am armed in truth. I printed out the list of companies that test on animals that I can take to the store with me. Those companies (even the ones that had products I have used since conception) I will not buy from. There are companies with affordable products that can be substituted and work fine. In my research I did find that you need to be alert to some companies who try to deceive. Clariol claims that it's Herbal Essences line is not animal tested, however they do test on other products by the same company. This is my choice. Now, I feel I can say that I love animals and know it's more than just my animals that are well taken care of. I can't pretend to be the best advocate out there. I still hesitate to report cruelty when I see something I think is wrong. Right or wrong, I still eat bacon sometimes. But, I took a pledge to buy responsibly and not support companies that test on animals, and that much I know I can do. Mi Kali D.
See my thread, Endangered Species and Ecosystems/seal hunt. Also, Endangered Species and Ecosystems/Thought Whaling Was Dead? Think Again. Recommended site: www.seashepherd.com. This is what happens when you don't donate to Sea Shepherd:
