In April 2009, Christine and her family purchased 32 acres of land with a plan to start breeding and selling meat sheep. Their goal was to help pay the mortgage and generate income after retirement. At the time, Christine fully believed in the concept of “humane slaughter” and thought their sheep had a good life — “a really great life, up until they no longer have one,” as she used to say. Looking back, she finds that phrase uncomfortable, but it reflected her understanding then.
Christine had always been an animal lover, rescuing dogs, cats, and horses. Yet, even with this love for animals, she didn’t initially connect that farm animals were no different in their desire and right to live. She soon discovered that sheep are smart, have individual personalities, form bonds with one another, and display a range of emotions—joy, fear, friendship, and much more. Despite learning this, she initially did not fully grasp the ethical implications of breeding animals for meat.
Family and the Primal Diet
Christine is married and has two adult sons. She, her husband, and her younger son Derek were following the Primal Diet—a diet similar to Paleo—that emphasized eating more meat than anything else. Christine always tried to buy organic, grass-fed meat, but it was hard to find locally and expensive. Derek, also an animal lover, suggested raising pigs, turkeys, and chickens for meat, in addition to the hens they already had for eggs.
To ensure that the animals were treated well and not stressed by transportation to the butcher, Derek decided to learn how to slaughter the animals himself. He believed that if he handled the process calmly and gently, the animals would not be afraid because they would know him. He planned to watch YouTube videos and then visit a local butcher to learn the process firsthand.
A Life-Changing Moment
One day, when Christine came home from work, Derek told her, “Mom, I’ve decided to become a vegan.” Christine initially assumed it was for health reasons. But Derek explained that he had watched a video of pigs being “humanely” slaughtered by someone they knew who handled them calmly, yet the pigs panicked and tried to escape. Other pigs in the pen saw what was happening, screamed, and also tried to flee.
Then Derek said something simple and profound: “Mom, they don’t want to die.”
This statement haunted Christine. She realized that the animals she had been raising and caring for did not want to die. It was a painful but important awakening.
Christine’s Transition to Veganism
Christine decided to give up meat. At first, she still consumed dairy products like cream in her coffee and cheese pizza and didn’t pay much attention to eggs or dairy ingredients. But then she saw a post on Facebook about dairy calves being separated from their mothers, and the reality hit her fully. She became fully vegan.
Her views on farming and animal rights changed dramatically. Christine moved away from the mindset that farm animals are commodities and embraced a compassionate understanding that all animals deserve to live their lives free from harm.
Lessons from Christine’s Story
Christine’s journey teaches us:
Farm animals are emotional, intelligent beings with personalities and feelings.
The idea of “humane slaughter” is often a comforting myth that masks the reality of animal suffering.
Real change begins when we acknowledge the feelings and rights of animals.
Farming is not just a business but also a profound ethical responsibility.
Christine’s story is an inspiring example for anyone struggling to reconcile animal welfare with farming practices.
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