Loyal friend or potential nemesis?

There's a challenging article that was published in the Telegraph Supplement (called 'Seven') during August, entitled Mad Cows (and Livid Lambs). In it, Will Storr reports on the findings and theories of Dr Marc Bekoff (inter alia) about the massive recent increase in animal attacks on humans. The attacks described do appear to show a pattern of spiteful and targeted attacks by wild animals on mankind around the world, including badger, shark, stingray, elephant, big cat, bear, crocodile and others. There is the possibility that the animal world is turning on its arch-torturer and main threat (mankind).

It makes interesting and disturbing reading and it is difficult to dismiss out of hand some of the theories put forward. It's well worth a read and appraisal. However, some of the images are gruesome to say the least, so not for the faint-hearted. Happily, you don't need to find a back copy of the Telegraph, if you wish to read it:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/08/10/sv_animals.xml&page=3

Apart from being totally absorbed while reading the piece, I must say that one thing stands out, in my opinion, and that's the comment of Professor Peter Carruthers (University of Sheffield), stating that animals don't consciously feel pain! What some academics will say for attention (or laughs). If he's right, that would spell the end of RSPCA prosecutions in one fell swoop.

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]

Further to the 'Poor Imitations' blog of 3rd September:

Oh dear - vet Joe Inglis's 'campaign for real pet food' and better labelling of pet foods may be a little compromised by the fact that he has his own range of pet foods. Vested interest is not a good platform for an altruistic campaign. A high-profile campaign's a good way to raise the profile of your own brand, though.

As for the 'natural' tag on the food - what's natural about processed foods, 'complete foods' and the freeze-drying process? Doesn't the Trade Descriptions Act cover that sort of thing?

[Why not take a look at www.alternativevet.org , while you're here?]