@ Markv: Ahjar ghalih. I personally think that he deserved a far worse punishment. Maybe one should consider tying him up and throwing him into a skip in the sweltering heat, so that he will learn about common decency towards living creatures.

Janine, Animal Welfare are the ones that left the dogs there.

@ A Charles:

“Grow up and take any comments you do not like with a pinch of salt”.

I do take comments I do not like with a pinch of salt. However, I do not take lies, falsehood and slander lightly.

And what would be your response if someone told you “I lost respect for black people when I learnt that Idi Amin was one”? Would you take it with a pinch of salt?

@ A Charles:

“Grow up and take any comments you do not like with a pinch of salt”.

Predictable response from someone who was proven wrong.

“I paraphrase Amos Oz who said that fundamentalists do not have a sense of humour and you, Kenneth must be a fundamentalist vegetarian”.

Then you don’t know me at all. But please do enlighten me. Which was the humorous bit? Was it the comparing vegetarians to Hitler one? Should we smile at someone blaming all Jews (past, present and future) for killing Jesus, or is it just vegetarians who don’t matter?

@ Pat:

“The point I was trying to make is that this sentence it totally out of proportion TO OTHER cases. How can one justify such a stiff sentence when others appear to be so lenient?”.

True, but you have to start somewhere. If you don’t, the sentences will always remain lenient. And then, people will justifiably complain.

“I’m afraid I don’t see where I’m contradicting myself. Can you explain further?”.

My mistake. You wrote: “Incidentally I don’t believe anyone is morally justified in taking the life of any animal FOR NO REASON AT ALL” (my caps). I missed the part where you wrote “for no reason at all”. Of course, it could be argued that there is always a reason, and what matters is whether the reason is justifiable…but that’s another question. No, you did not contradict yourself. You have my apologies.

“It’s debatable whether the alternatives to meat that exist today are viable”.

Is it possible that today, in the year 2011, people still question whether there are alternatives to meat? I’ve been a vegetarian for about 23 years. I’ve had a medical check up last month (including blood tests), and was found in perfect health. I even enjoy the occasional barbecued vegetarian burgers, vegetarian sausages, vegetarian bacon, vegetarian roast and even vegetarian “chicken” nuggets. You can find all this in supermarkets. Of course, these would be the “fast food” of vegetarians, so I wouldn’t recommend basing one’s diet on them, but a little bit on occasion won’t hurt. There are plenty of healthy vegetarian recipes around – even online – if you’re really interested.

Then if this is so, report to the Animal Welfare, Troy.

The point I was trying to make is that this sentence it totally out of proportion TO OTHER cases. How can one justify such a stiff sentence when others appear to be so lenient?

I’m afraid I don’t see where I’m contradicting myself. Can you explain further?

PS: It’s debatable whether the alternatives to meat that exist today are viable.

@ A Charles:

Just in case you’re worrying that some vegetarian friend or relative will have problems healing a fracture:

Q: “My stress fracture hasn’t healed in six months. Could my vegetarian diet be slowing the healing process?”

A: Unlikely, if you are eating a balanced vegetarian diet that is rich in tofu, beans, nuts, and other plant proteins. But if your vegetarian diet is simply a meatless diet that lacks alternate proteins, YES!

http://www.active.com/nutrition/Articles/Injury__diet_and_recovery__Guidelines_for_nutrition_and_healing.htm

@Kenneth Cassar,
Grow up and take any comments you do not like with a pinch of salt. I paraphrase Amos Oz who said that fundamentalists do not have a sense of humour and you, Kenneth must be a fundamentalist vegetarian.

@ A Charles:

Not that it matters much, but have a look at this:

http://www.muttonrenaissance.org.uk/index.php