Readers React: What’s the difference between eating pig or a puppy?

More than a dozen mostly disgusted readers fervently responded to a particular opinion piece this week: “Slaughterhouse of horrors.”

Writer Bruce Friedrich’s vivid examples and pointed questions resonated with many, though to be fair, we have not heard much from those on the meat-eating side — yet.

Here are a few selections:

—Sara Lessley, Letters to the Editor department

Michele Mooney in Van Nuys commented:

Thanks to Friedrich for his graphic and very real expose on the pain inflicted on food animals being dragged to slaughter.

Particularly appreciated was his last sentence: “Personally, I see no ethical difference between eating a chicken or a cat, a pig or a puppy.”

Susan Antonius of Redondo Beach was blunt:

There is nothing “humane” behind the scenes in a slaughterhouse. Not for the frightened, suffering animals awaiting a brutal and often slow death, or for the exploitation of the low-paid workers laboring in horrific conditions and treated little better than the animals.

Today’s meatpacking industry, with its consolidation, increased line speeds and deregulation, is indifferent to any pain and distress.

Brent Trafton in Long Beach took it a step further:

I appreciate the sentiment behind the opinion piece. However, I feel the author misses an important point: There is really no such thing as a humane way to slaughter an animal.

I believe the U.S. Department of Agriculture does not enforce the Humane Slaughter Act because there is no such thing as humane slaughter. Anyone who truly cares about animals would not eat them.

Judy R. Martin of L.A. had a reminder:

We have a moral and ethical responsibility to treat all human and animal life with dignity, in life and in death.

Bracha Sarah Meyerowitcz in Hemet explained her solution:

This Op-Ed defines why I eat only kosher meat, an expensive arrangement by which I know that if I am to eat an animal to sustain my life, I am sure that it was killed in the most humane manner possible.

I tried being a vegetarian for six months and that did not work for me, so the best I can do is be as responsible as possible in buying meat from an animal that was not brutalized at the end of its life.

And Sid Shapiro in San Diego said his eyes were opened:

Thank you for publishing this opinion piece. I had no idea this kind of abuse is going on.

I don’t think I will ever be able to eat another hot dog at the stadium again.

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