I am at my wits end. I need a positive nudge in the right direction. My heart is extremely heavy right now.
Two issues I am having at the moment....and I'm not bashing anyone, just trying to get ideas.
One is, since going Vegan, I have become even more aware of animal suffering because of all the research I am doing. I realize forcing these issues down peoples' throats is not the way to open their eyes, that they'll become upset and ignore me altogether. It is extremely frustrating, being an animal advocate. I can't get anyone to listen. If I post horriffic videos of extreme cruelty, nine times out of ten, people will say "I can't bring myself to watch that stuff." Yet, there they go, ordering up a steak for dinner. Or if I'm asked a question about why I am Vegan, they listen to my response but argue every point, and at the end of the conversation, shake their heads and go about their lives as if I had just told them I have decided not to eat apples because they feel pain.
And they look at me like I'm crazy, or even go as far as to roll their eyes and scoff. No remorse, nothing. I am a sensitive person, and it hurts ME that they act this way.
The second thing is, my boyfriend is addicted to purebreds.
We (he) has a Bullmastiff, and he says he will never have another kind of dog. She has allergies that make her itch herself bloody. We have tried anything and everything short of going to a raw diet. Even had her tested, which was inconclusive. By the way, I was a vet tech for 13 years, so I do have a huge grasp on these issues.
So knowing what I know about this, and the fact that I have told him so many times the horrors of the animals world, and knowing how much these issues break my heart, plus the fact that he's one of the "I can't watch that stuff" people, he now announced that he can't wait to get his kitten some day. I said what kitten? He said my Scottish Fold kitten. He said he's been looking them up all day and they go for $650.
I feel like I'm talking to walls. He will not listen to me about trying to find one at a shelter. He says he wants a baby, and thanks to Cats 101, he knows that they're expensive because one parent has to have folded ears and one has to have upright ears, and also that not all the kittens get folded ears. I said what happens to the upright eared kittens? He had nothing to say about that. Just like in one ear and out the other. Yes, I love the breed, but would only get one from a rescue.
How can I live with someone who dismisses such issues? Back on the Vegan subject, he refuses to even try any of my food.
Can anyone please help me I am so depressed about these things, and feel helpless to do anything. And if anyone knows somewhere I could get a Scottish Fold kitten other than pet finder, I have already looked there. I want to have more options when he decides it's time to get one. Although, I have a feeling he'll just go behind my back and get one from a pet store or some other horriffic place.
Two issues I am having at the moment....and I'm not bashing anyone, just trying to get ideas.
One is, since going Vegan, I have become even more aware of animal suffering because of all the research I am doing. I realize forcing these issues down peoples' throats is not the way to open their eyes, that they'll become upset and ignore me altogether. It is extremely frustrating, being an animal advocate. I can't get anyone to listen. If I post horriffic videos of extreme cruelty, nine times out of ten, people will say "I can't bring myself to watch that stuff." Yet, there they go, ordering up a steak for dinner. Or if I'm asked a question about why I am Vegan, they listen to my response but argue every point, and at the end of the conversation, shake their heads and go about their lives as if I had just told them I have decided not to eat apples because they feel pain.
And they look at me like I'm crazy, or even go as far as to roll their eyes and scoff. No remorse, nothing. I am a sensitive person, and it hurts ME that they act this way.
The second thing is, my boyfriend is addicted to purebreds.
We (he) has a Bullmastiff, and he says he will never have another kind of dog. She has allergies that make her itch herself bloody. We have tried anything and everything short of going to a raw diet. Even had her tested, which was inconclusive. By the way, I was a vet tech for 13 years, so I do have a huge grasp on these issues.
So knowing what I know about this, and the fact that I have told him so many times the horrors of the animals world, and knowing how much these issues break my heart, plus the fact that he's one of the "I can't watch that stuff" people, he now announced that he can't wait to get his kitten some day. I said what kitten? He said my Scottish Fold kitten. He said he's been looking them up all day and they go for $650.
I feel like I'm talking to walls. He will not listen to me about trying to find one at a shelter. He says he wants a baby, and thanks to Cats 101, he knows that they're expensive because one parent has to have folded ears and one has to have upright ears, and also that not all the kittens get folded ears. I said what happens to the upright eared kittens? He had nothing to say about that. Just like in one ear and out the other. Yes, I love the breed, but would only get one from a rescue.
How can I live with someone who dismisses such issues? Back on the Vegan subject, he refuses to even try any of my food.
Can anyone please help me I am so depressed about these things, and feel helpless to do anything. And if anyone knows somewhere I could get a Scottish Fold kitten other than pet finder, I have already looked there. I want to have more options when he decides it's time to get one. Although, I have a feeling he'll just go behind my back and get one from a pet store or some other horriffic place.