I decided not to eat pigs any more. No pork, no ham, no bacon, no pickled pigs' feet (not that I've ever eaten that). This is not in observance of ancient religious dogma, even though I was raised in a kosher household. I just don't want to eat intelligent animals like pigs.

A recent issue of All Animals magazine featured a cover story on James Cromwell, who starred in the movie "Babe." He gave up eating pork products after working with the many pigs in the film that were used to play the title character. I recall reading that a lot of people give up pork after seeing that movie. I didn't, but I will now.

I'm not going to become a vegan or even vegetarian. I will continue to eat meat, but not as much as I used to. I don't eat much beef anymore, but I will occasionally throw a steak on the barbie. I like lamb chops, but I hardly ever eat lamb. That makes it easier for me to avoid it. Sheep Shearing Day is coming up soon at Forest Home Farms, and eating a baby one of those animals would not be very appetizing to me now.

I will continue to eat fish, seafood, chicken and turkey. I saw a show on PBS where naturalist Joe Hutto raised a flock of wild turkeys. He categorized the turkeys' calls, identifying different vocalizations with specific meanings. Hutto learned to imitate the different calls, and was able to communicate with the turkeys.

I did not want to know that. I want to believe turkeys are stupid. I don't want to know that they communicate with each other in turkey language, or that Mr. Hutto was able to interpret what they said.

I will continue to eat turkey and chicken and seafood or fish, except salmon. I don't like salmon unless it is smoked like lox. I don't eat lox very often but I would if it is served at a brunch or buffet.

I also love eggs and dairy. I used to buy eggs from a company called "Comfort Coop," but now that Proposition 2 outlawed battery cages for egg-laying hens, all eggs sold in California are from comfortable hens. Because California is such a large market for eggs and dairy, even farmers in other states are conforming to our laws.

Sure there are still battery cages for chickens and pigs and other animals in some states, but I do not have to support them with my dollars. Some buyers cannot afford to be as choosy as I am, but here's hoping that as more buyers move away from cruel treatment of farm animals, that farmers will move towards improving the lives of these creatures.