I Don't Eat Critters with Names!
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I love animals. I also eat animals. Are these two proclamations diametrically opposed? I don’t think so. I strongly believe that animals grown for human consumption should be treated humanely. I’ve raised such animals, and ours were free range, on acres of green pastures, with plenty of shade trees, streams, and ponds. When it came time for the animals to be slaughtered, it was done as quickly and as humanely as possible.
I’ve also owned many dogs, cats, and horses. Of course, I’d never have considered eating them. But what about farm animals as pets? My take on this subject is that if the critter has a name, it’s not meant for food. I’ll give you a couple of examples.
When my ex and I were in the hog business, we had a runt born one night, and we didn’t think she was going to make it. He brought the baby pig home for me to care for. I kept her warm and fed her with a bottle. After a few days, it was obvious that she was going to survive, so I began calling her Daisy. Once Daisy was old enough to be weaned, she was returned to the herd.
Daisy was to be used as a brood sow, so I didn’t have to worry about her being butchered for meat. Unfortunately, Daisy never “caught.” In other words, she never got pregnant. The ex decided he’d have her butchered for us to eat. I vehemently protested!
“I am not eating Daisy!” I told him.
He responded with, “Fine. I’ll eat her.”
I thought for a minute, then added, “I am not cooking Daisy! And if you kill her, I won’t be cooking any meals for you!”
I knew this strategy would work. He loved my cooking, and he didn’t know how to cook, so Daisy got a pardon. We kept her with the rest of the herd as kind of an ornament.
Not long after the pig incident, the ex bought a young turkey and put it in with the hogs. He figured the bird could eat the grain dropped by the swine, and by Thanksgiving, it would be ready to kill and eat. The ex made the terrible mistake of allowing the kids and me to befriend the turkey. We named it Tommy. Every time we’d go to the hog farm, Tommy would come to greet us. He’d learned that the girls always had a treat for him. You know where this is going. There was no way in hell that I could enjoy Thanksgiving with Tommy there on the table. Tommy the turkey lived a life of leisure on the hog farm for the rest of his days.
Years later, after the ex and I had divorced and I had remarried, my cousin bought a Jersey bull calf. Male dairy calves can be bought cheap when they’re just a few days old, and James decided to grow one out for hamburger. His wife, Debbie, helped take care of the calf, but she made the mistake of naming him – Mooly. I knew as soon as the calf got a name, it would never be in James’ and Debbie’s freezer.
Mooly became a big pet. James got into the habit of wrestling with Mooly, and as the bull grew, he was quite a challenge for James. When Mooly attained his full size, James decided he ate far too much for a pet, so he asked if we’d like to have him.
At the time, we lived on a mini farm and had cats, dogs, chickens, goats, ducks, rabbits, and horses, so what was one more mouth to feed? Mooly took to our farm like a duck to water. He loved “playing” with Johnny. Unfortunately, Johnny isn’t a six-foot-six brawny ex-marine like James. The bull was more than Johnny could handle.
Once we were forced to admit this pertinent fact, we knew Mooly had to go. He was getting kind of dangerous to keep around. When the girls would go out in the pasture to catch their horses, Mooly would want to challenge them to a match. He wasn’t mean – he just played too roughly. A friend suggested we have the bull slaughtered for meat. Johnny and I were both taken aback. In unison, we responded with, “We can’t eat Mooly!”
“Why not?” the friend asked.
I looked at him like he was crazy and explained, “Because he has a name! Duh!”
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Habee,
You lead one hell of an interesting life. If I stare at a chicken too long I can't eat it.
Habee, been there done that.... loved the hub all buttons up. I don't name or play with my food any more, ha!, 50
I can't eat anything I've seen alive. I can't even go into one of those restaurants where you can pick out the lobster you want to eat from the Tank. Great hub.
Good story! I had a hen once. I named it Parukutty and I never allowed her to be killed!
After years of being totally vegetarian, I fell into "bad company" and became temporarily carnivorous LOL. Now I'm becoming more and more like Paul McCartney in this respect - if it has a face, then no. His story of the lambs joyously frolicking in the field, enjoying new life just did me in as far as mint sauce etc. Kind of the same as having a name. Good hub, as always! :)
Habee, You hub is hysterical. I had the same thing happen once just not the multitude that you've dealt with. This is a great story.
Makes sense to me. And there's something I wonder about with vegetarians - what handbag do they carry, what shoes do they wear? Chelsea Clinton, for example. No leather in her closet?
LOL! I like that 'duh' at the end. This was a nice read. Voted up!
We live in an industrial age where we are far removed from the killing and slaughtering of animals, someone else does it for us! If we had to do it ourselves I think a lot more people would be vegetarians! Next time you name a pig try: "Dinner" or "Bar-B-q"...LOL
Habee, Wonderful humorous hub! You are a great storyteller as I have said before! I just had to stop by and see what critters with names you won't eat! lol! Take care!
Thank you for sharing, In His Love, Joy, Peace & Blessings!
Great story! My Mom took care of a piglet and named him Sammy...same outcome!
Engaging story! It gives me something to think about as we will soon be raising bison to sell. I'm a huge animal lover and we plan to also have chickens and goats, and perhaps cows. I'll try very hard not to name them after reading your story!
Love this hub, and I definitely agree. I can't eat anything with a name. Your story is great. Kind of like Charlottes Web!
Namaste.
A wonderful article! Great writting!
Spot on! Great hub! I'm pretty much a vegetarian at heart, and was a strict label-reading vegetarian for over 15 years. I've kind of backslid with current hubby, but I still don't eat red meat...just don't like the taste.
(@sheila b: As far as what kind of shoes/handbags we vegetarians carry, there are a multitude of man-made fibers and fabrics that avoid harming animals, many of which do a very good job of simulating "the real thing." I wear "Vegetarian" Birkenstocks (sandals) for example...yes, THE real Birkenstocks by the same company that makes the leather ones.)
I was raised as a meat-eater, but was a city girl. Once I made the connection between the adorable baby lambs we'd see frolicking in the fields as we drove by on a weekend or vacation, and the 'leg of lamb' on the dinner table, I immediately refused to eat lamb anymore.
At that stage of my life, however, I did not know there was such a thing as 'vegetarian'...had never even heard the word. So I continued to eat whatever else mother served. As I grew older, and became an adult, and found more (disgusting) connections...sometimes in my plate...that reminded me this was once a living, sentient being, I began to read and research..and became a full-fledged vegetarian. (Never made it to vegan, however--I like ice cream and cheese too much!)
So, yes, I'd tell folks, "I don't eat anything that has a face." ;-)
See - I totally GET this! I have friends here in town who raise cattle and they name them!! That is just SO NOT FAIR. I argue with them over and over - you can't have them slaughtered then - they are now part of your family!
I don't like it - and I keep telling people that I am going to go out one of these times and let the blasted animals out - tell them to run as fast they can and even chase them down the road. They don't belong with people who name them and then EAT them!
I would never make a rancher woman - I have enough trouble looking at the meat in the supermarket and believing it died of natural causes. I can even hear the carrots screaming to be honest...I probably should not have mentioned that part, right?
Great hub and you made me laugh!
I had to read a hub with a title like this. I couldn't eat an animal that had a name, either. They acquire personalities when they are named, and that would be too much.
I heard a rumor one time that when Green Acres was canceled, Arnold the Pig was slaughtered and served up at the wrap party. I hope that isn't really the case. How could anyone eat Arnold?
Thanks for an entertaining read.
Mike
My son has a corn snake who requires live mice for feeding. This had not been an issue until they began falling in love with the mice and naming them-first it was "Lucky," then, "Toffee."
Now Lucky and Toffee are expecting!
I can only fully agree and understand your sentiments. You can't eat a pet. Thank you for your lovely hub.
Sadly, I ate Percy the pig one night, but it wasn't my fault! My dear friend Janice invited me and a friend of mine for dinner one night at her farm and served a succulent pork roast which we all enjoyed very much. Only after dinner did she tell us it was Percy, a huge, smart fellow whom we had come to love for his friendliness and intelligence. My friend became a vegetarian that night, and I absolutely couldn't eat pork for many years. Janice clearly had no issues about eating critters with names.
Thanks for the enormously enjoyable morning read!
A great laugh this fine morning Holle. :) I got a kick out of the way you put the protests to your named animal's demise, "couldn't enjoy Thanksgiving with Tommy on the table..." "...it would never be in the freezer." lolol. Great job. The opening line got me going and I knew this would be a fun ride. "I love animals. I also eat animals." Turned out I was right. :)
Suzie, so glad you enjoyed it!
Bpop, I have had a great life so far - not that I'm ready for it to end yet! lol
Dusty, you're a smart guy! lol
Rob, same here! I have to kill crabs or lobsters before boiling them.
Good for you, EZ!
habee,a good one! WE bought a pig. i knew if I fed him , i would bond with him.Well ,the hubby(now the ex) had to be out of state for three days.During which time I named him Mr. Pig and watched him frolic around the paddy pushing a barrel.I protested his demise, but I lost the argument. I did not cook him, and would not sit at the table on the 3 occasions that hubby was trying to feast on the meat.After three meals,hubby gave the rest of the meat to a needy widow!
I just came from the State Fair today and saw lots of critters with names, none of which I could bare to eat!
It makes perfect sense to me... you get to know the animal, and it gets to know you, and then- poof - they're off the menu!
I think it works the same way in the wild.. except for the occasional awnrey bear, that is.... LOL
It must be tough to eat anything/anybody you've gotten attached to...
I don't think that I could eat an animal that I had befriended and named either. Totally illogical as I am more than happy to eat nameless, unknown animals!
Thanks, Silver! I would love to switch to fish only.
Thanks, Pam. Good to see ya!
Habee, this is another entertaining story and very interesting as well. I had never given it much thought, but you are right. Good story!!
Sheila, I know some vegetarians who wear leather shoes, but most vegans don't use any animal products.
Thanks, Martie!
Nifty, you're right. Many Americans are far removed from the actual food chain.
Ah, thanks, Deb. Hope you weren't disappointed!
Scribenet, good for your mom!
PP, DO NOT get attached to the critters you plan to eat!!
Hi, Deborah! I love Charlotte's Web!
RUN, thanks for reading!
Hi, Lizzy! I couldn't be a vegan, either. I could be a semi-vegetarian and still have butter, ice cream, and seafood, though.Maybe. Good to see you!
Buckie, I actually ate a pig once that died of natural causes. You gave me an idea for a hub! Thanks!
Oh, Mike. I wish you hadn't told me about Arnold!
Laurel, I read that you can now feed snakes some sort of nugget or something instead of live mice. That's the way I'd have to go! Nice to see you!
I'm glad you "get it," HH!
sherri, it would be had for me to still be friends with Janice!
Jim, glad you enjoyed the hub! Thanks!
Bayou, at least the pig went for a good cause!
Katie, how can those kids raise those animals from babies and then eat them? I couldn't do it!
Hi, Chris! Glad you stopped by!
FP, foodie that I am, I could not eat that ham. lol
I agree, CM!
Thanks, Mquee!
Fabulous hub, I love it! I definitely could not eat a named animal either. Thanks for sharing.
now how can I watch my green acres reruns? poor arnold! wonderfully entertaining hub here habee!I have tried three times in my life to go veggie but all three times I wouldnt swallow the vitamins (makes me hurl theyre so darn big and gross) so eventually my hair wuld fall out...now I can do the meat of any sort except fish (I don eat nuthin whut come outta da wadda) about 4 times a week otherwise its veggies for me or noodles at the least and hubby can eat whatever he likes. what can I say hes german..meat and potatoes only!!
Now that was a fun story. Hmm... I wonder what would happen if you started naming vegetables.
Hi, Anne! Thanks for reading!
Barb, sounds like my hubby!
Oh, Chardee, let's don't go there, please! lol
Thank you for such a wonderful story. I'm the same way. I name every animal my husband brings home. He raises chickens. He doesn't raise them to eat, thank goodness, but to sell. I think I've named all of them and hate to see them go. My neice has chickens as pets and they've multiplied this summer. Her husband told her they needed to kill a few and eat them. The problem is, like you said, she's already named them. She said she would rather give them away than have them killed.
I'm the same way, Nancy!
So funny! I have a daughter who refuses to eat any animal we raise! The only ones we really raise for food are the turkeys, and we don't name them. However, she has made it clear where she stands. She was thrilled when last Thanksgiving, we went to Grandma's house, where Grandma fixed a storebought turkey. "I haven't had turkey in such a long time!" Funny girl! Our once upon a time plan for raising meat goats went out the window...they all have names!
Sagebrush, that is TOO funny! but I can relate.
suziecat7 Level 5 Commenter 22 months ago
Habee - Great story. I lived on a cattle farm for many years. I didn't eat red meat at all those same years. I do eat a little now though - we have short memories. I enjoyed this Hub - thanks.