How We See Animals

Chickens and Ducks

I became much closer to the food I've been eating in the past week as my family gave me the honor of killing our chicken. I'll spare the graphic pictures but here's one of me and our pet chicken who recently became our meal.

My host brothers laughing as I awkwardly struggle to pick up the chicken for the first time

Though I didn't particularly want to kill the chicken, I did see it as an essential part of experiencing the culture here and feeling more connected to the food that I am eating. It's a different feeling killing the animal you're eating. As someone who eats primarily vegetarian (for animal, health, and environmental reasons), it was difficult to kill this animal. However, I am happy about the fact that this she was raised naturally, free range, and living life like a normal chicken. This is also a society that animals are not grown in excess or factory farmed like in the states. Not to mention, I knew someone in my house would be killing this chicken to eat either way so, why not experience it. I was able to thank it for its life along the way. Personally I think if people had to do this in America, there would be many more vegetarians.

The baby chicks the day after they were born... sometimes the hawks sweep them up to eat

Squirrels

I was talking to Rafina, one of the girls who I met at Peace Corps' Rise to Raise Program, about Liberia and America. She asked me if it's been difficult walking around the city and figuring out the culture. I explained to her, that it was but I feel like I've adjusted well. Rafina, being a part of Rise to Raise has been to Washington DC. I asked her to tell me one thing that stood out to her being in America. She exclaimed, "The squirrels are all free!"

Yes, if people see a squirrel here, it's pretty much going to be their next meal. I think it's so interesting how that is an animal that we would almost never consider eating back home, but almost anything that can provide eat and energy here will be eaten. I haven't seen a squirrel here yet to provide a picture... probably because they get killed right away.

Rabbits

My family has rabbits, and they had bunnies. They're adorable and I have to keep myself from thinking about the fact that they're grown for food as well. It's no little Easter bunny like the way that we usually picture it. But, I have heard that the rabbit meat is very sweet and tasty. Rabbits can also be sold for about $15-20 US so they're great for making some money for the family and providing income.

One of the baby bunnies

Every day my brothers go out looking for greens to feed the rabbits. They can eat a lot of different plants so that doesn't make things too difficult with raising them. Sometimes I help them look through "the bush" to grab some greens and they yell at me when I pick the wrong greens that they can't eat.

The bunnies the day after birth

Dogs

My family has a pet dog that they named Peace. My brothers also regularly joke about killing it in front of me because they know I'm bothered by it. They've stopped for the most part after I had a bit of a heart to heart with them. People here sometimes own dogs, but it's uncommon and protection around the house is generally one main reason. It's drastically different than how we treat animals back home. Unlike most Liberian families, my host family will feed the dog and treat it well. We're working on potty training at night time which is difficult since the dog is outside all day. I'm trying to sway them towards positive praise rather than punishment. Hopefully when I move to site I'll be able to get a dog of my own.

Attempting to feed Peace a little milk

I've also been coping with the fact that back home, my brother got a husky puppy and I can only see pictures of him. So as a shoutout to the dogs around the world, here's a few of my favorites :)