7 New Year's Resolutions That Factory Farm Animals Wish We'd Make

Factory farm animals are raised under extremely difficult conditions that you really don't want many details about. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be aware of their plight. Here are some ways you can make a difference with your dollars...in support of compassionately raised animals in the new year.

1. Shop for meats labeled “raised without antibiotics.” Shooting us up with antibiotics allows them to raise us in inhumanely close, hideously dirty conditions where we'd otherwise get sick and die if we weren't preemptively administered this stuff. If more people demand drug-free meat, they'd have to improve our living conditions. Which would be nice for us, and probably healthier for you, too.

2. Shop for meats raised on local family farms. Traditional farmers are more likely to practice compassionate farming techniques, raising us in more traditional fields and barns. The more that people buy their meats, the more local farmers there will be, and the less expensive their products will become. Then there will be enough suffering-free foods for everyone.

3. Shop for milk labeled “no artficial growth hormones.” The reason they use this stuff is to get more milk per cow, which seems like a great idea except that it often causes infected udders and then they have to treat us with those antibiotics again. Not to mention these hormones are banned in Japan, Europe and Canada. Hello???.

4. Try to eat at least one vegetarian meal a week. Not only will it be healthy and delicious, and you know, it won't kill you.

5. Try explaining to your beloved family dog or cat why people are allowed to mistreat factory farm animals so you can to eat meat every single day. Look ʻem right in the eyes to gauge their reaction to this.

6. Remember that if God did mean for people to eat us, he certainly didn't mean for us to have to suffer for it. You might mention this to a factory farm CEO.

7. Don't just look for the cheapest meat you can find. There's usually a reason this meat is cheap (antibiotics, harsh living conditions, E. coli recalls, etc.). Believe us. We factory animals pay a big price for cheaply produced meats.