Dear... Pete
So... Animals!
I will start off by saying that we too are animals. We are mammals and we may think that we are unique because of our very advanced social structures and intellectual ability. But every species is different, we just happen to be different in that sense.
Just because we have the ability to inflict things on other beings, doesn't mean it should necessarily be used. It's like in Harry Potter. There are wizards who use their superior power to help i.e. not harm the so called muggles and fellow wizards, and then there are wizards like Voldemort who just go crazy mad and use that power to gain more power and harm others. So if we compare muggles to wizards then I think other animals can also be compared to homo sapiens. But with humans most of us are Voldemorts.
We eat meat (and I know there are a lot of crappy arguments for eating meat but really all they’re trying to do is protect their own ego) and it is the complete norm. Everybody does it so it must be ok right? Wrong.
Animals don't have a voice that humans understand so we, the ones who care, must use our voice and speak up for them. For the injustice and horror that they have to live through only to be killed brutally at the end of their very short lives. For one can not kill something humanly, one can kill something so that it doesn't suffer in the end but the act of ending something’s life for one's own (may it be said in this case rather unnecessary) egotistical wellbeing is in its self a very inhumane act of immorality.
Also please watch DOMINION it explains everything a lot better than I just did.
By the way I am not trying to attack anyone's beliefs or necessarily try to convert anyone, just wanted to share some thoughts.