okay, well, Im VERY hesitant (scared lol) to go into it here because I know vegetarianism can get to be a very hot topic very fast and I dont think this is the place. But, you asked, and I also feel not many people know the truth about the meat & dairy industries, and the abuses that occur every second. So heres a some links to sites with more info for those interested and Ill PM you the rest of my reply.

http://www.factoryfarming.com/gallery.htm -photos of what life is like for the animals you eat

http://www.cok.net/- compassion over killing; awesome site for info!
-good faq: http://www.cok.net/lit/veganfaq.php

http://vegfamily.com/articles/win-ar...meat-eater.htm -awesome page, all the reasons to be veggie

Now your other questions.. No, animals eating other animals is not abuse. And techniqually, humans eating animals doesnt necessarily have to be abuse, however, today, in our society, in our world, IT IS. And in those links above you can find out why.. (Plus theres many other reasons to be veg than the abuse)
"Predators in the wild kill other animals out of necessity. Without doing so, they wouldn't survive. Humans, on the other hand, kill other animals by choice. The human body has no need for animal flesh whatsoever. In fact, it has been consistently proven that a vegan diet is generally healthier than a diet heavy with animal products. Eating animals is not necessary for human survival. Rather, it is a matter of ethics: Is it acceptable to inflict the gratuitous suffering onto countless animals for something that is indisputably unnecessary?"

As for pets:
"'Isn't meat their natural diet?'
Dogs and cats live in the uniquely unnatural environment of our homes. While “in nature” they would hunt, food now magically appears twice daily in their bowls. They are given medicine to cure illnesses, and are surgically sterilized to control their reproduction. Why insist that their diet alone remain “natural”- especially when it must come at the expense of other animals’ lives? "

And at the moment I feed my cats an all natural pet food (with meat yes) but since I have money now lol and can buy the cat food myself, (instead of my parents) when this bag runs out im switching them to vegan food! (for info on why to choose a vegan diet for pets visit: http://www.vegancats.com)

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And as for that article. Okay, that makes me extremely angry. First of all.. THAT WOMAN IS A COMPLETE MORON!!!! Theres so much to say and so many questions I dont even know where to start! I dont understand how people can be so dumb! DO NOT associate her with other vegans or veganism! She is a MORON! You can easily raise healthy children on vegan diets!! (http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/veganpregnancy.htm
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/welco...nchildren.html
http://www.goveg.com/VegKit/vegankids.html
http://www.vegetarianbaby.com/) Human milk IS VEGAN. I just cant get over how STUPID that woman is!! Does she even have a doctor?? GRRR! Anyway.. its these kinds of stupid people stories that give veganism a bad name. Please, dont be narrowminded!