RANT ALERT!
I find all animals beautiful, whether it's the majestic African elephant, the playful red squirrel or a lipstick red bummed Baboon, they are all exquisite to me (well, it could be suggested that in polite society baboons wear underpants). For people to announce they love animals whilst tucking into a plate of dead ones is a glaringly obvious contradiction. If you love animals, why would you eat them?
The only things you'll be missing out on a veg diet are things like cancer and heart disease. In the many years I have been vegetarian I have never suffered from the dreaded 'A' (anemia) and being veg has been too easy!
Eat animals, increase your risk of cancer, heart disease, destroy the planet OR be healthy, care for the planet and give true meaning to the phrase 'animal lover'!