Some of My Best Friends Are Pigs

The past few days have been rough. I just haven't been able to shake a dark depressive mood that has come over me. Don't worry, I'll survive and my point is not to express how down I've felt. Rather, I want to highlight how amazing pigs are. My sweet Charlotte has been my constant companion always ready to cuddle close and hug up against me for as long as needed. She can brilliantly read emotions so well and express understanding through her actions and her eyes. I'm sure many people have companion animals that do this, but often people do not think of pigs in this way. All three of our pig children are among my best friends. I would be hard pressed to find a human that I feel so connected to outside of my wife and kids. I love them every bit as much as my human family. In my eyes, the difference is meaningless and truly nonexistent.
And in part, this plays into my depression knowing that animals just like my girls are being treated like objects. It kills me inside knowing just how 'human' -in the ways we consider good- pigs are. I can think of no justification for seeing pigs as anything less than my equals. Bragging that anything is 'fueled by bacon' is like bragging the USA was 'built on the backs of slaves'. We should be filled with shame for this, not proud of our cruelty and ignorance.