Test my belief system

[robvalue]

It's very difficult. I take the assumption that the more intelligent a creature is, the more capable of suffering it is. So I put more weight on the wellbeing of larger animals. Wherever possible I wouldn't harm any animal, but my merest existence causes harm which is pretty impossible to avoid. I would hope that my efforts to help them outweighs the damage I accidentally do.

But sometimes, decisions have to be made such as giving flea treatment to my dog. If I don't do it, my dog will suffer. If I do it, fleas will probably die. Both of those suck, but I weigh the suffering of my dog higher, and I treat my dog.

It is very hard because no one knows what other life forms really experience, so I can never know if my ranking system is accurate. It makes me sad to even admit to it, but the practicalities of life demand compromises, and the "lesser of two evils".