These two related references provide a unique way of relating to the non-human inhabitants of this mostly non-human world.

http://sacredcamelgardens.com/wordpress/wisdom/observe-non-humans-and-learn

http://animalliberty.com

How should humans treat animals?

Well I guess that depends on how we use them. Food, beasts of burden, companions, pets or vermin.

I don’t see treatment of animals as an issue outside deliberate cruelty however, cruelty is subjective.

I don’t think a fish sees much difference between being eaten by a shark or a human but there are humans who do see a difference.

The problem begins when some humans try to assign “rights” to animals. These people are just lost souls, driven by angst, emotion, dysfuncionality, unfulfilled lives and arrogance.

The Egyptians treat their donkeys abominably, Arabs in general treat food animals terribly, the Japs and the Nordics kill and eat whales, third world countries eat whatever they can get their hands on, the Chinese eat dogs and we have them as pets, guide dogs, working dogs and sports dogs.

Next we will be raising international concerns about ships going through plankton nursery’s

We have a cat and a dog, we treat them well and love them dearly. The fact that in other countries they might be part of the food chain is utterly irrelevant.

One gets much more from a work animal, if it is treated with kindness.
A horse that loves its master, will literally run to its death for that master, and there are any number of verifiable true stories where dogs have saved their masters from all manner of harm. Apparently there is evidence that some dogs are able to recognise cancer in humans, long before we manifest symptoms, and early enough for medical intervention to produce a positive/successful outcome.
Even putting themselves in harms way to take a bullet or other harm, to save or rescue a master/owner.
Sniffer dogs have saved numerous humans from all manner of explosive devices!
And its hard to see in the lifetime sacrifice of guide dogs, any of the normal run and play that gives our dogs a measure of interactive pleasure.
Then, if food animals are routinely terrified, before slaughter, the hormone release ensures the meat is far tougher and far less tasty, than that sourced from humanely handled animals.
In the wild, animals rarely attack humans, unless staving or reacting with fear.
And there is something very wrong with the psychology of people who take pleasure from causing harm or hurt to any species.
Only lack of NORMAL human empathy allowed the Nazis to slaughter 6 million Jews, often in the most extreme cruelty!
One often hears that fish feel no pain when a huge hook pierces the cheek or is swallowed before ripping into the gut.
And one can justify that, if the animal is needed for food, but never for so-called catch and release sport. And given a plentiful supply, one should only take what they genuinely need as food.
In the final analysis, we humans should treat animals and each other, as we would be treated if our roles were reversed, or out of simple self interest.
Rhrosty.

I have often wondered if David Attenborough & his ilk should not be charged with animal cruelty, when they can stand idly by, camera in hand, filming the horrible death of a of a deer torn apart, & eaten still alive by a predator. When this is done for profit, merely to titivate a TV audience, & perhaps prove their skill as photographers, I do find it distasteful.

To me this is much worse than live cattle export trade, when the profit motive if nothing else, demands the stock be treated well, & kept in top uninjured condition. When killed these animals will be put to a productive use.

I have breed, broken & trained show jumpers to a very high standard, & always found gaining their trust was of great importance for success, & for enjoyment. My old stallion still calls to me & comes up when ever he sees me, almost 8 years after retirement.

With animals I am not going have a really close acquaintance with, I demand respect, as this is essential for safety.

However when it comes to killing, I would always shoot a rabbit, not let my dogs catch it.

If we were serious about how best to treat birds, then we should not allow the keeping of their dangerous natural predator, cats, unless of course cats were caged so that they would not be able to stalk birds. Furthermore, feral cats would need to be totally eliminated.

On the other hand, if we were serious about how best to keep cats, then we should not restrict them from engaging in their natural past-time of hunting -- birds and other animals.

Would the animal welfare movement consider caging birds to protect them from being hunted by cats, or alternatively caging cats so that they cannot attack birds?

It's simple really, if one farms animals treat them with some humanity. That is, not confined in small spaces, inflicting pain or causing untold damage through barbaric conditions.

This is not about whether animals are like people. They are living organisms and it is not anthropomorphism to observe and believe that animals can feel pain and misery.

Do humans want to be responsible for creating these sorts of conditions to another living being.