--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Since we can't count on the meat, egg…" description: "\"Since we can't count on the meat, egg, and dairy industries to protect animals from the most egregious forms of cruelty, what can we, as consumers, do?..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/ingrid-newkirk-3962_animal_since-we-can-t-count-on-the-meat-egg-and_2192395.png" --- # Since we can't count on the meat, egg, and dairy… ![“Since we can't count on the meat, egg, and dairy industries to protect animals from the most egregious forms of cruelty, what can we, as consumers, do? Opting out of paying someone to allow animals to die in a barn fire or at the slaughterhouse seems pretty reasonable.” quote by Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/ingrid-newkirk-3962_animal_since-we-can-t-count-on-the-meat-egg-and_2192395.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/ingrid-newkirk-3962_animal_since-we-can-t-count-on-the-meat-egg-and_2192395.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eec/ingrid-newkirk-3962_animal_since-we-can-t-count-on-the-meat-egg-and_2192395.png) > “Since we can't count on the meat, egg, and dairy industries to protect animals from the most egregious forms of cruelty, what can we, as consumers, do? Opting out of paying someone to allow animals to die in a barn fire or at the slaughterhouse seems pretty reasonable.” [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Consumers should seek alternatives to animal products and support humane practices to reduce animal cruelty. **In simple terms:** Choose cruelty‑free options. Key Takeaway Support ethical consumption. Themes animal rights consumer activism ethics Mood determined hopeful Type activist motivational When to use this quote - grocery shopping - restaurant choices - policy advocacy Key Concepts industrial farming animal welfare Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take today? - How can you influence others? A Different Perspective Changing habits can be difficult and costly. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Consumers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumers/) [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Protect animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-animals/) ## Related quotes > [Animals aren't any better equipped to survive an emergency than humans are. Few people missed the fact that after Hurricane Katrina, people died because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/animals-aren-t-any-better-equipped-to-survive-an-emergency-than/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [It might be said that all knowledge is linked to the essential forms of cruelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/it-might-be-said-that-all-knowledge-is-linked-to-the-essential-forms/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [“There is a tendency to oversimplify the issue of spay/neuter and to promote the essential benefits without recognizing that our animals do suffer some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-pierce/there-is-a-tendency-to-oversimplify-the-issue-of-spay-neuter-and-to/) [Jessica Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-pierce/) > [I think if you're against cruelty and you look at what happens to animals in slaughterhouses and on factory farms, you have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/i-think-if-you-re-against-cruelty-and-you-look-at-what-happens-to/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [“I don’t trust the science behind the vegetarian movement because the believers have agendas beyond nutrition. Some vegetarians are in the lifestyle to protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/i-don-t-trust-the-science-behind-the-vegetarian-movement-because-the/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [I see myself as the God who will protect all of the animals that have no other way of voicing themselves. I am God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-treadwell/i-see-myself-as-the-god-who-will-protect-all-of-the-animals-that-have/) [Timothy Treadwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-treadwell/) > [We need to protect animals, not go to court over them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-michael-of-kent/we-need-to-protect-animals-not-go-to-court-over-them/) [Princess Michael of Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-michael-of-kent/) > [I only want to protect animals from barbarous, cruel, inhuman and backward rituals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigitte-bardot/i-only-want-to-protect-animals-from-barbarous-cruel-inhuman-and/) [Brigitte Bardot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigitte-bardot/) > [“God gave man the authority to rule and protect all the animals in the aquatic ecosystems.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/god-gave-man-the-authority-to-rule-and-protect-all-the-animals-in-the/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Animals are property. There are laws that supposedly protect animal interests in being treated “humanely,” but that term is interpreted in large part to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animals-are-property-there-are-laws-that-supposedly-protect-animal/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [“The first hard hydroxyapatite-containing body parts were teeth. Hard bones arose not to protect animals, but to eat them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-shubin/the-first-hard-hydroxyapatite-containing-body-parts-were-teeth-hard/) [Neil Shubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-shubin/) > [“We must protect them (animals) and this land. If the animals die, this land dies. If this land dies, we die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-van-der-westhuizen/we-must-protect-them-animals-and-this-land-if-the-animals-die-this/) Diane van der Westhuizen > [Man's highest duty is to protect animals from cruelty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mile-zola/man-s-highest-duty-is-to-protect-animals-from-cruelty/) [Emile Zola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mile-zola/) > [Today, we take to task any governmental body that doesn't protect animals, and take legal action if necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-thieme/today-we-take-to-task-any-governmental-body-that-doesn-t-protect/) [Marianne Thieme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-thieme/) > [In the past, no one paid any serious attention, even to the existing laws that protect animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-thieme/in-the-past-no-one-paid-any-serious-attention-even-to-the-existing/) [Marianne Thieme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-thieme/) ## More by Ingrid Newkirk > [When it comes to having a central nervous system, and the ability to feel pain, hunger, and thirst, a rat is a pig is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/when-it-comes-to-having-a-central-nervous-system-and-the-ability-to/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [We all have prejudices to dispel: the need to get away from thinking that 'I' am important and special and 'you' are not, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/we-all-have-prejudices-to-dispel-the-need-to-get-away-from-thinking/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [The extinction of Homo Sapiens would mean survival for millions, if not billions, of Earth-dwelling species. Phasing out the human race will solve every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/the-extinction-of-homo-sapiens-would-mean-survival-for-millions-if/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Pet ownership is slavery. Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or be entertained by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/pet-ownership-is-slavery-animals-are-not-ours-to-eat-wear-experiment/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Perhaps measuring animal intelligence by comparing it to human intelligence isn't the best litmus test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/perhaps-measuring-animal-intelligence-by-comparing-it-to-human/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [One hates to be absolute, but in my view, there is no such thing as humane meat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/one-hates-to-be-absolute-but-in-my-view-there-is-no-such-thing-as/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [It's interesting that one of the definitions of the word 'human' is 'sympathetic.' More and more people are beginning to show that they understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/it-s-interesting-that-one-of-the-definitions-of-the-word-human-is/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > […we would like an end to pet shops and the breeding of animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/we-would-like-an-end-to-pet-shops-and-the-breeding-of-animals/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Never doubt that one person can make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/never-doubt-that-one-person-can-make-a-difference/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Probably everything we do is a publicity stunt ... we are not here to gather members, to please, to placate, to make friends. We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/probably-everything-we-do-is-a-publicity-stunt-we-are-not-here-to/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [The bottom line is that people dont have the right to manipulate or to breed dogs and cats ... If people want toys, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/the-bottom-line-is-that-people-dont-have-the-right-to-manipulate-or/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Even painless research is fascism, supremacism, because the act of confinement is traumatizing in itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/even-painless-research-is-fascism-supremacism-because-the-act-of/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [All of us in society are supposed to believe that cruelty to animals is wrong and that it is a good thing to prevent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/all-of-us-in-society-are-supposed-to-believe-that-cruelty-to-animals/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [I think if you're against cruelty and you look at what happens to animals in slaughterhouses and on factory farms, you have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/i-think-if-you-re-against-cruelty-and-you-look-at-what-happens-to/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [Humans have grown like a cancer. We're the biggest blight on the face of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/humans-have-grown-like-a-cancer-we-re-the-biggest-blight-on-the-face/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) [Explore all 118 Ingrid Newkirk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) Mak\_786 > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Since we can't count on the meat, egg, and dairy industries to protect animals from the most egregious forms of cruelty, what can we, as consumers, do? 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