In reply to:
From what I understand, we're hardwired to see them as "cute" so we don't kill them. Think about it--most baby mammals are cute--big eyes, big heads, etc. It's a defense mechanism.
How true that is... I just got back from the farm (working "holiday" - I needed to get away, they needed someone to tear apart the "new" Versatile 4WD tractor they bought and give it the once over)... spent an afternoon putting together another corral in the new cold barn... while I'm welding and grinding away, the calves in the the next pen would headbutt me or get underfoot... kept turning around and wondering why, unlike if they were full grown, I didn't want to adjust their vision with a manure fork... realized it's the "cute" factor, big bulbous eyes, encephalitic heads... then one stuck it's tongue in my pocket and licked my dill pickle Spitz.
It was then I realized I may be hard wired to feel compassion for young animals, but my wiring has an on/off switch... and I clocked it in the head with my fist.
Bren R.
