Chickens are largely seen the same way though some of us do have backyard chooks and may even relate to some of them individually. Those individuals rarely end up being killed for food.
But for the farmed mammals, our indoctrination starts in childhood where our books depict these animals almost exclusively in a farm environment. Those same books begin our comforting self-delusion that farmed animals are treated well and live idyllic, bucolic lives.
Abattoir workers no doubt become inured to the killing, reassured by the same indoctrination that these animals are simply food items to be processed for our consumption.
But each and every one of these mammals has a personality. If raised and treated similarly to our dog or cat (or backyard chook) they would respond and interact in much the same way as our pets. They deserve our respect for the simple reason that they are sentient and have the capacity to suffer and also to enjoy aspects of their lives if given the chance - just like human mammals.
Once we respect these nonhuman animals the very first thing we must do is stop eating, wearing and using them. Abattoirs would be consigned to history.
