In the essay, "An Animals Place," Michael Pollan attempts to find the right solution to animals and their place on earth. In this essay, Pollan reaches to many people who are involved in this argument. As Pollan writes about these contributor's perspectives, he gives his own response to their statements. Pollan and his contributors all bring up many good points, many that I agree with, and many that I do not. I myself, enjoy meat in my diet, but have a realistic respect and regard to the animals which I eat.
Polyface Farm has much respect and regard towards the animals that are raised there, as well. Polyface Farm is run much different then many of its competitors in the United States. Joel Salatin is the owner of Polyface Farm. Salatin allows his animals that live on his farm, mutually live off one another in a habitat that simulates their natural environment as much as possible. Salatin says he does this so that each species can "fully express its physiological distinctiveness" (Salatin in Pollan 125). On Salatin's farm all the animals live in a natural environment as if there were no humans. Salatin also slaughters his animals himself quickly and painless with his doors open to anyone who feels they would like to watch. Here, many of the problems of the agribusinesses industry today cannot be found.
Before Pollan is subjected to Polyface Farm, he was expecting something much different. Through many readings and visits to other slaughterhouses, a picture was painted in Pollan's mind of what a slaughterhouse was. When Pollan sees how these animals are treated at this farm, he rewrites the misleading information in his head. Pollan says that when he looks at the animals here, he sees that the "animal happiness is unmistakable" (Pollan 125). "For any animal, happiness seems to consist in the opportunity to express its creaturely character" (Pollan 125). The way Salatin allows his animals to live a happy, natural life, and the way he slaughters his animals in a careful regard, helps mold Pollan's mind that Salatin is doing the right thing.
