I was 42 when I became a vegetarian, but eating meat had been bothering me for at least ten years prior, I kept seeing the former animal. I just thought I would starve and die without eating meat. I'm alive and well and healthier than many of my contemporaries at age 77. Not trying to change you or make you feel guilty, just commenting on your bolded sentence.
Again, I'm not trying to change you, honest. You can only be a vegetarian if you're doing it for the right reasons, for health and/or for the animals. But, you don't have to do it cold-turkey or all the way. Go without meat once a week, then increase the days when and if you want. And above all, research the subject. Knowledge is power to make the right decisions for YOU.
I prefer they die off rather than be subjected to continual abuse and pain. Animals ARE becoming extinct in big numbers, all due to humans in one way or another (hunting or loss of habitat). Eventually the only animals left will be those in captivity. And, eventually, when resources become too scarce to feed and water them and those resources are needed by humans, even they will vanish.
If what you're saying were true, there would be no rats, mice, raccoons or coyotes. No crows. No starlings. I could go on but won't.
