Kurma

I am not a pet-owner. But I often speak with vegetarian pet-owners who struggle with the issues discussed below. After years of blogging, I pretty much know which topics will stimulate loads of letters; this is one of them, I am sure. Anyway, here goes:

Friederike from Australia writes:

"We have two dogs and a cat. I feed them tinned meat and kangaroo bones, because the kangaroos are killed anyway in Australia. But I do not like it. Do you think it is OK to feed meat to pet animals? I know that dogs can live without meat, but cats are said to die without it. What are the alternatives, apart from very expensive special vegetarian pet food?"

My reply: Big subject! The animals do not incur any karma for eating flesh. It is their natural condition. In fact, animals incur no karmic result for anything they do. Humans however do. So if you feed your pets meat (which involves buying it and thus supporting the meat industry) you do incur involvement in the complex and strict karmic chain of killing.

I know many vegan/veg pet-owners who have so-called vegetarian dogs. And yes, the concept of a vegetarian cat is indeed a challenge. Best I can suggest is that you visit the numerous discussion groups and internet sites for vegan/veg pet owners. There are many. Or wait and read the readers' letters this blog generates.

If I had a cat (never have, never will) I would feed it veg food and if it wants meat it will go and kill some itself. Hence I would incur no part in the nasty business of mass slaughter of animals for food.

Ok all you vegetarian pet-owners out there, tell me what you do (click on 'comments' below). And please, dear vegans, no roasting me for using dairy products today, please. Keep to the topic.

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