I agree "three" hehe. It's because we don't see the slaughtering, that's there isn't much objection to eating mutton, pork and chicken etc.
I'm an animal-lover, and sometimes when I see documentaries of animals, I often tell myself it's really sad that we breed them for food. Sometimes I even tell myself that I won't eat meat next time. But the moment a plate of steaming hot braised pork comes onto the table, I simply forget about the cruelty and proceed to devour the delicacy in delight.
People out there may feel a much greater sense of pity for dogs mainly because dogs are commonly kept as pets and have become friends for life with their owners. As you're so close to the pets that they've become your best friend, it's only natural that you feel a sense of pity for them. If you kept a chicken as a pet, or maybe a pot-bellied pig, you may feel that it's totally inhumane to slaughter animals for food too.
I can't really figure it out myself, whether it's right for us to breed animals for food. But come to think of it, it's the survival of the fittest. We need meat for nutrition. It's either we take pity on the animals or we die of malnutrition. Unless one day someone can develop a kind of food that contains similar minerals, vitamins etc to meat... Until then, er, don't look too much. You need to eat.

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It is by tiny steps that we ascend the stars.[This message has been edited by CheekyCow (edited 29 January 2002).]