I grew up surrounded by animals

Having a dog was pretty much standard. We always had two at home to keep each other company. Our dogs were mainly outside and did only enter the kitchen and so did I as a child. The kitchen was where we sat and ate. We didn't have any begging dogs and when I let them out, children living in my street liked to walk along. The dogs were not aggressive and my mother preferred to have them on her lap rather than me, while I preferred to sit in the basket with the dog.

Besides dogs, there was also a large aquarium, there were hamsters, rabbits and turtles.

I have always had dogs and... cats

since I am an adult. The fact I'm allergic to cats did not stop me from keeping them.

For years I kept aquariums and for almost two decades I kept ferrets, skunks and owls. In addition to my two jobs I did run an animal shelter and worked as a volunteer in a private zoo where I came in touch with all kinds of animal species. I loved being among the animals where no one dared to enter the gate, enclosures that had therefore not been cleaned moderately or for a long time.

Working with problematic animals was challenging and way more satisfying than working with people in need. An animal may act aggressive, but I have learned that this is almost out of fear and that humans are the main reason.

People and animals are not a good combination if the animal cannot be a beast.

Am I a true animal lover?

I don't think so. There are plenty of species that I have no interest in keeping them. To me the most interesting are the predators. I have no problem feeding mice, chickens or other animals alive. If you believe predators can live on lettuce and carrots you should switch to a herbivore.

Commercial animal feed is of poor quality. You can already see that in the stool. The famous 'cow pie' (poop) is a good example. What we face is the faeces of an animal with diarrhoea, poorly digested food that a dog with nutrient deficiency will eat happily.

The average dog and cat food is no exception and it gets worse every year. Cats are 100% predators and therefore do not naturally eat carrots, grains and spinach. The more an animal eats and poops, the poorer the quality of the feed. If you want to give vegetables, fruit, grains and leftovers to your dog or cat, it will be cheaper if you let them eat what you eat. This way the food scraps are not wasted and the cat/dog will be healthier without the high amount of fiber, which I'm starting to think is ground hay, and the high concentration of raw ash. If this meal of leftoverd is supplemented with a raw egg, some fish, fish oil, raw meat and bones 1-2 times a week, it will provide everything the body needs.
BARF is the way to avoid all those health issues pets suffer from.

My Czech wolfhounds** search for mulberries in the garden and love the walnuts that fall from the tree. I am not afraid it will kill them nor will the snakes, rats or hedgehoges they kill and eat. Looking for walnuts among the autumn leaves is one of the best entertainments there is.

Baldr