A question of Ethics

[TeaNinja]

Originally Posted by blindfireak40

All fair points! My mind tends to go in odd directions when I'm bored/caffeinated, and I just sorta had this thought...seemed like it might be a good discussion piece



For my part, I agree with the statements posted above, but as a question of ethics I'm not sure. As feeder animals, their quality of life is not going to be that great no matter how you slice it...I agree that if complications were to arise in the mothers, it would be a poor decision, but the babies would be immediately frozen or consumed in this hypothetical world. I personally don't think there'd be an ETHICAL difference between this and full-term frozen rat pinks.



Again, this isn't just a practical discussion; I agree there's not really an argument to be had practically, as Mice satisfy the nutritional needs for all the snakes that this would apply to.

that's not necesarily true. i've bred and fed many feeders and they all have excellent lives. that's one of the reasons i find it so hard to euthanize happy, healthy, docile rats. i wish all of our food animals were raised in such good conditions, our meat would taste much better then pen crammed, hormone filled animals.

[blindfireak40]

Originally Posted by TeaNinja

that's not necesarily true. i've bred and fed many feeders and they all have excellent lives. that's one of the reasons i find it so hard to euthanize happy, healthy, docile rats. i wish all of our food animals were raised in such good conditions, our meat would taste much better then pen crammed, hormone filled animals.

Ah. I should have elaborated. What I meant to convey was this: Either way, for pinks or fuzzies, they're heading straight from the womb into euthanization, for the most part. In comparison to this, I don't know that there's a whole lot of difference between being instantly euthanized full-term or prematurely.

In terms of adult feeders, I agree. They can (And frequently are--see Layne Labs) very well cared for, and DO live full lives. When I made my statement regarding poor lives, I was primarily referring to the ones culled for feeder pinks.

I completely agree with the whole free-range beef sentiment, too...it just tastes that much better, doesn't it??

[millertime89]

Originally Posted by blindfireak40

I completely agree with the whole free-range beef sentiment, too...it just tastes that much better, doesn't it??

My parents purchase half a free range cow after its slaughtered every spring for hamburger, steaks, roast, etc. It goes so quickly they need to start buying a whole one. Yum.