I am a strict lacto-vegetarian (NO: meat, fish, or foul for over 30 years; fish is not a vegetable and neither is chicken). Why?: When I was very young, I was a heavy meat eater and even (so I've been told) that the first word I ever learned was 'meat'! In retrospect, it is apparent that I had health problems because of it. Originally stopped eating meat because of distaste, later came disgust, and now also includes health, respect of animals and morality, and in part maybe I just got sick of it? ;)

Taste aspects: Choking on the fat of a pork-chop, tasteless meat loafs, bones in fish, etc.

Disgust aspects: The blood vessels in a roast that look like, but are defintely not, pasta. I don't like any (bactera laden) dead animals or parts thereof in my fridge or house. Quote: 'dead animals should be buried not eaten' (author unkown).

Health aspects: There is poor control on the processing of meat regarding bacteria and refrigeration, there's the lack of omega-3 fatty acids in cows, and the excess animal protein that drains calcium from our bodies, there's excessive acidity in ones urine, and now there's also nvCJD (mad cow disease).

Moral aspects: Animals should have some right to an independent existence without a human connection, neither as our servants nor our toys. And if pets ARE our friends, then should we be eating them? Or killing other animals to feed to them?? If aliens do exist and are carnivores then we are just another animal to them? Think also cultural evolution (- Me). A religious person might say that we can eat animals because they have no soul while a scientist might say that we should not because they are our relatives (- Me).

Lacto/Ovo: I still drink milk, eat yogourt and some cheese that do not involve the killing of animals (try to avoid gelatin and rennet). I don't buy or eat eggs in quantity but, if there is some in the food, I don't refuse it. Dairy also provides B12, the yogourt beneficial flora, and some protein (even though little calcium). After all, we are mammals, but I guess that I could become vegan. ;)

Pets: I am not high on having pets because they should be free and not our toys but I guess that I could go for a dog as they can at least be vegetarian and have been domesticated for a very long time. It seems that cats can be vegetarian too. I have been know to become attached to certain individuals myself. And I kind of like horses too ...