Can you still be against animal cruelty?

While there are certain zoos that aren't very good, in recent years, zoos have become a bit more hospitable, at least in areas I have read about and are near me. Take for example, in the book An Elephant Crackup?, which deals with PTSD in elephants (mostly from poaching victims), reveals that elephants have very specific social needs that must be required. The Bronx Zoo, after meeting with leading representatives, said that "it would phase out its elephant exhibit on social-behavioral ground-an acknowledgement of new awareness of the elephant's very particular sensibility and needs." They are learning, even if it's a bit slowly.

To answer your initial question, I wouldn't find any shame in sympathizing with and animal while still eating meat. You're human, an omnivore that can be compassionate for a creature not of your species, be proud that that is the norm. Do you think mongooses (mongeese?) thought anything of the Sinking Galliwasp, a reptile the hunted to extinction? The only thing they would really care about is finding a new source of food. Maybe I'm a bit old-fashioned, but I like to compare myself with the creatures I wish to protect from extreme cruelty.

Oh, one quick thing, read your comment about the mammoth, while humans have made many animals go extinct, the mammoth is not one of them. While they were hunted, the extreme temperature change is what did them off in the end.

Yes, I am opposed to animal cruelty and one of my best friends has personally rescued several animals that were being abused or abandoned. Both of us enjoy meat as a part of our diet. There is a difference between abusing animals and killing animals for food. Abuse is not necessary and even in the area of the slaughterhouse a modern facility will not permit abuse of the animals and the animals are put down in the most painless way possible. A true hunter will hunt only for food and respects the animals that they hunt. Actually many hunting organizations are responsible for actions that have preserved habitat for animals and prevented their unnecessary deaths.

I am against animal cruelty.

Like the way a dog is leashed to a doghouse, and ignored by the family.

Or the way animals are killed for their hides, or heads.

Zoos, however, are the only places where some species of wildlife can be found.

Unfortunately, eating meat, like beef or chicken, or fish, is something we do not think about because it is a 'necessary evil'.

You need to do what your conscience tells you, or you will make yourself sick.

I like Shakespear: "To thine own self be true."

Keeping an animal in a zoo is not cruel. You have to take in mind that most animals on this world are not very smart and they don't really know what is going on.

If you keep a zebra in a zoo means that the zebra won't be eaten alive by predators.

A good part of the fight against animal cruelty has been fought in abbatoirs. In the slaughterhouse setting, the emphasis is not on sparing the life of the animal, but making death as painless and instantaneous as possible.

There is an ethic to killing animals for food. American Indians would say a prayer to thank the animal for giving itself for sustenance. Many hunters refuse to hunt for sport, and limit their activity to hunting for food.

Not to be rude, but I think your definition of cruelty needs to corrected. There are several species that would extinct without high quality captive breeding programs, like the California condor, the black footed ferret and the Arabian Oryx (which was declared extinct in the wild in the 70's, but captive breeding programs have led to a wild population in the thousands). I think back yard zoos, circuses, and private citizens keeping dangerous wild animals as pets are horrible, but it's a fallacy to lump the amazing work done in high quality programs with those kinds of idiots.

I eat meat, but I'm a strong supporter of animal welfare.

Hi Rihanna! If you really want to be known as a fully-fledged animal protection activist, it would be wise to completely drop the meat! You surely do not want to see people turn around and tell you that you are contradicting your beliefs! If you want to be a vegetarian, then get into it. Since your reason is a noble one, your mother will certainly understand. All the best!

I've been against animal cruelty all my life, and I'm non-veg*n. Eating meat does not mean that someone condones animal abuse.