Re: “Consider the mobile abattoir” by Al Pope (the News, Nov. 22).
First, I applaud the paper for publishing the image of truth of the slaughtered dead pig. Your columnist, Al Pope, makes light and finds it amusing when writing about the life and death of the pigs.
“The six little pigs who’ve been running around my yard all summer are confined to the squeeze pen, all grown up into 50-kilogram hogs. It’s slaughter day on the farm, and the mobile abattoir is just backing up beside the pens,” he writes.
Funny, Mr. Pope: I find this column is at about the same level as the one in which you mention Trevor the dog, “Were you born in a barn?” (the News, Dec 23, 2011). Here you write, “It would not be permissible under current rules for some exasperated ratepayer to adopt Trevor for the express purpose of taking him home and sticking his head in the gas oven.” This comment says more about yourself than anyone else ever could - as does the rest of the article.
Non-human animals to you appear to be objects for human desires only, and not having any interest of their own. Correct?
And if you enjoy writing about killing so much, ask those who breed/produce/exploit and kill dogs for human entertainment (hint, hint) to invite you to document this for the public to learn about?
And perhaps you could visit trap lines, too, and using your charm, articulate for the public the life and death cycle of victims of these traps. I’m sure Mr. Kevin Bowers, who also seems happy to raise and kill pigs, can help you - as I believe he has connections with the trapping industry.
I am so glad that the aid of the abattoir saved Mr. Pope from having back pains - as this would be cruel.
What is the cost to taxpayers to have this killing machine and three people land at the door of farmers? Are some people really this desperate to contribute to the already 55-plus billion cows, pigs, chickens and others slaughtered yearly just for taste?
And we won’t get into the environmental problems created by the meat, egg and dairy industries at this point in time.
Consider a vegan diet. It’s good for you, the planet, and of course, the animals.
Mike Grieco
Whitehorse