Ways to help avert cruelty to animals

THERE are 7.35 billion people in the world, a large number of these people eat meat to satisfy their needs. Eight billion animals get slaughtered each year which is usually done through factoring farming. Factory farming is the mass farming of animals in controlled environments where they usually live and die under terrible conditions. For example, four or more egg-laying hens are crammed into a battery cage that is so small that they cannot even spread their wings.

This results in the hens pecking at each other’s feathers and bodies.

Growing pigs are also squashed into tiny slatted, bare concrete floors; they become so stressed from being kept in such a confined space that they bite and inflict wounds on their pen mates. In order to fit into these small places in which the animals are kept, they are put through many painful measures, such as horns of cattle being cut off, beaks of chicken being cut off and the docking of animals’ tails.

People who are against animal cruelty often become vegan or vegetarian, which obviously prevents animal cruelty. But for some people eating meat is a way of life and culture so I suggest rather eating grass-fed animals that have not been kept in small contained areas and that have not been harmed.

Even if you start cutting down your meat consumption and are aware of where you source your meat, you can make a huge difference. There are also lots of other alternatives to meat and ways to get your protein without harming animals. If we don’t start making changes, the stakes will become even higher – not only to our health, but to our environment, so make a change where you can, even in the smallest ways.