Participation in a rural 4-H "Beef Club" played a big part in my thinking that, although I loved cattle and always saw them as individuals who deserve their own life, it was okay to take that away from them.

For 5 years, I would get to know a steer for almost 6 months, loving them as if they were my pet, before being required to sell them to the highest bidder and sign off on their slaughter. Imagine if you did this with dogs?