That's why you have to be careful about walking on that slippery slope.
I think a reasonable person can see the difference between your dog and a fish.......just like they can see that riding a pack horse isn't abusing it.
But most peole live disconnected from animals. Beside their pets, they have had no dealings with animals on a farm or in the wild. That's why it's easy for groups like PETA to convince them that, by golly, fish are no different than my pet, just in different packaging.
They don't connect T-bones with cows, they don't connect bacon with hogs, they don't connect mass production of vegetables with other dead animals killed harvesting them.
Are we better off if a gopher dies when my potatoes are harvested than if a cow dies to make the roast? And why is that? Should I just grow my own crops, and take extra-special care not to hurt any critters?
See what I mean? I don't know...........I suppose catching and releasing a fish won't get you a "Human of the Year" award from the local fish population, but I sleep just fine at night.
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She was standin' alone over by the juke box, like she'd something to sell.
I said "baby, what's the goin' price?" She told me to go to hell.
Bon Scott - Shot Down in Flames