Coram Deo
Animal Welfare
... a huge subject of course, from whether one should ensure the meat that we eat comes from free range, well nurtured animals or even if we should eat meat at all.
Then there is hunting, vivisection, drug testing ... whaling, the fur industry, cruelty to pets. Humans can be so cruel.
The foundation upon which to make decisions about action has to be ‘do no harm’ and the access point for do no harm is compassion.
This site does not take a position on how far along the scale one should progress - except at one end it is utterly important that one does not cause harm or suffering to animals, even if one is a meat eater.
At the other end of the scale it is also utterly important that one does not cause harm or suffering to humans as part of trying to protect animals. To harm in the name of not harming is false logic.
If you become aware of any cruelty to an animal - even if you are not completely sure - phone the RSPCA
There is an RSPCA 24-hour cruelty and advice line
0300 1234 999
The RSPCA began in 1824 and is the country’s leading animal welfare charity. They need money and they need volunteers - they also have a wide range of career opportunities
“The RSPCA's vision is to work for a world in which all humans respect and live in harmony with all other members of the animal kingdom.
The RSPCA as a charity will, by all lawful means, prevent cruelty, promote kindness to and alleviate suffering of animals.”
Their Freedom Food labelling scheme is the only UK farm assurance scheme dedicated to farm animal welfare.
There are specific RSPCA welfare standards for laying hens, chickens, turkeys, ducks, pigs, sheep, salmon, beef and dairy cattle. These are based on leading scientific, veterinary and industry advice.
As you would expect, there are many action groups, from the RSPCA (the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals) to extreme action groups such as Hunt Saboteurs.
Pate de Foies Gras comes from tortured ducks and geese. Made in France, it is obtained by imprisoning birds in cages so tiny they can’t move, by forcing a pipe down their throats and force feeding them until their livers swell to ten times their natural size.
It is still legal to do this!
Where to start?
Help end factory farming?
Join a campaign group and help make it illegal?
If you eat meat you could refuse to buy the cheap factory farmed meat.
It is produced by torture
To find out more visit
Have you thought of becoming a vegetarian?
It is guilt-free of course
and there are huge health benefits.
A mixed vegetarian diet covers all nutritional needs but a good compromise if you want to ‘try it out’ first without becoming Vegan is to not eat meat or fish in any form but to still eat free-range
dairy products and eggs.
If you want to know more visit the Vegetarian Society
And 49 reasons to be a Vegetarian
Did you know that the Dalai Lama is a meat eater? He eats meat every other day, due to ‘doctor’s orders’ as he has had hepatitus B - and liver damage.
He says “I am a Buddhist monk, not a vegetarian”
