A thought-provoking new TV show set to air early next year will deliver up a shocking ultimatum to carnivores: kill your pet, or turn vegetarian.
The Channel 4 show, Meat The Family, will challenge meat-loving families to adopt and look after a new pet - one that you would normally find on your plate.
The families will get up close and personal with their new pet, before being told to either adopt a veggie lifestyle or cook and eat the animal they may have grown to like and even love.
It sounds quite frankly, brutal, but perhaps it's the hard lesson we all need?
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The series delves into how much we really know about the animals we put on our plates and why so many of us wouldn't think twice about killing a pig or a lamb, but never our pet dog.
For three weeks, four families will house and learn about their new animal, as well as about the impact of their meat-eating habits on the environment.
But we wonder, will they go cold turkey or will they send their pet to slaughter?
We seriously fear for the piggies and little lambs. We sincerely hope that if they decide to serve them up, we don't have to watch.
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This show will delve into cutting edge studies that looks into animal behaviour and intelligence, as well as the farming practices required to meet the demands of carnivores.
Channel 4 said: "It will present surprising insights that challenge perceptions of why some animals become part of the family and others end up on the plate."
While many of us now eat less meat, it's still difficult to explain or justify why many will eat a cow but not a cat.
Daniela Neumann, Managing Director at Spun Gold, said: "In this series we confront some really timely themes of ethical eating in a unique and entertaining fashion."
"Could you go back to meat once you've put a name and face to a meal?"
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We're in equal parts scared to watch because of the possible outcome and interested to delve further into this hot topic, especially as the show promises to include "amazing research about animal intelligence with some heart-warming moments."
Nicola Brown, Commissioning Editor, Specialist Factual at Channel 4, said: "From environmental activism to vegan sausage rolls the debate around eating meat and animal welfare is more prominent than ever before.
"Confronting the reality of an animal's journey from field to plate, Meat the Family will be a life changing and emotional experiment for all involved."
Not everybody is happy about the show's commission though, with some calling it out as "exploitative".
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One tweet reads: "A disturbing, obnoxious, and exploitative idea, but it will undoubtedly get people thinking about the ethics of whether it's OK to eat meat."
Another says: "@Channel4 I've just read you have a program coming soon "meat the family", where the families choose to slaughter or save the animals?
"I'm keen to understand how this can be allowed & who sanctioned it".
Another simply said: "This is sick".
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One Twitter user, however, joined many in claiming they thought the show was a good idea: "This is BRILLIANT! I've always thought that if you're not willing to kill something in order to eat, you shouldn't eat animals.
"Seems philosophically incongruent to me. Now they're making a show out of it - I'll take the awareness however it comes."
However, this week at MIPCOM (the global market for entertainment content), analyst Virginia Mouseler called the show "the most transgressive" of the year, according to The Guardian.
To be honest, we can see both sides. If it teaches us all even a small amount about the environmental and ethical impacts of meat consumption, as well us giving us a new perspective on farm animals, it seems like a worthy idea.
Of course, it is at the potential cost and exploitation of animals for entertainment, which gives us a sense of unease too.
One thing's for sure, this show will get everyone all talking. What do you think?
Featured Image Credit: FlickrTopics: Environment, TV and Film, TV News, TV Entertainment, Animals