Advocating Vegetarianism Like You Mean It
We at Friends of Animals see an obvious and important connection between animal habitat, a secure future for humanity, and vegetarianism. We envision a holistic view that weaves these ideas together.
Sometimes, Vegetarian Societies expressly make allowances for animal products at their events. In the year 2006, there is no realistic argument that dairy and eggs can fit into ethical activism.
Moreover, the founders of the original Vegetarian Societies in the 1840s were motivated by ethical principles. They were inspired to reach forward and offer humanity sound ideas for personal growth and the betterment of humanity. We have resolved to inspire the leadership of Vegetarian Societies to take their founders’ principles and ideals seriously.
We acknowledge, of course, that many members of Vegetarian Societies do not make it a priority to think about and define vegetarianism in its most consistent way, and we know they will make decisions for themselves. But rather than tailoring its policies to an illusory view in which vegetarianism and animal agriculture are compatible, Vegetarian Society leadership does have a responsibility to think ethically about animals, the environment, and fair trade, and to provide the best model.
Nonhuman animals cannot hold people accountable for treating them as articles of trade, or taking up their habitat with our ever-expanding dairy and egg production sites. But we can.
To see why vegetarianism means a vegetable-based diet, and what that means to Vegetarian Societies, please see a recent position paper that was dedicated and delivered to the Vegetarian Society of D.C. We like to call it the Guacamole Declaration.
Friends of Animals - 4 February 2006
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13 Comments
On February 5, 2006, Lynda Marshall wrote:
I have 8 rescue dogs. At the moment I feed them all on Burns Organic. I am not really happy with this but would prefer a veggie diet for them. My obvious concern it their welfare. One of my dogs had pancreatitis and has to have a low fat diet. The veggie dog food seems quite high in fats. Could you recommend anything. I have been a veggie for over 40 years and I am just converting to veganisim. Hope you can help with my query, much appreciated. I have just found your website, today, love it. Lynda
[ One decent vegan dry food is Nature’s Balance — the vegetarian formula. You can supplement it with rice, pasta, and cooked vegetables to reduce the fat more. It works well with our dogs, and one will be 16 next month. Thank you for your nice comments. ]
On February 5, 2006, Darian Ibrahim wrote:
Natural Life also makes a vegetarian dog food — both wet and dry variety — that my dogs enjoy. Vegancats.com will deliver, for very reasonable shipping charges, cans of evolution brand wet dog food to your home. Veganstore.com sells mock pig ear dog treats, which are expensive but very popular in my house. (I typically mix pieces of these in with their meals.) Mr. Barkeys and Mr. Pugleys snack biscuits are also very good, and like everything else I’ve mentioned, completely vegan. My dogs also enjoy peanut butter on toast, but I’ve been told that peanut butter in “people” form might not be the best thing for them, at least in significant quantities. (Can readers shed some light on this?) They also love vegan muffins.
Hope this information is of some use to you.
On February 5, 2006, Tom Moss wrote:
Excellent and extremely logical statement! Courage to stand up proudly for our convictions on behalf of all animals is manifest within your letter.
Thank you and regards,
Tom Moss
Nashville, TN
On February 6, 2006, Ellie Maldonado wrote:
Darian, my dogs love natural peanut butter, but since it contains salt, and is high in fat and calories, it’s only an occasional snack. I completely avoid peanut butter that’s loaded with sugar and hydrogenated oil, which isn’t good for anyone. The oil in natural peanut is not hydrogenated—so it rises to the top of the jar, if not stirred. I prefer to drain as much of it as possible, but some remains. Hope that explains why it’s a good idea to limit peanut butter for dogs.
Ellie Maldonado
Friends of Animals
On February 7, 2006, Darian Ibrahim wrote:
Thanks, Ellie!
On February 7, 2006, Ellie Maldonado wrote:
You’re welcome, Darian.
Ellie Maldonado
Friends of Animals
On February 11, 2006, Natalie wrote:
Dogs are one of the domestic animals that can become vegitarians. (Cats are the only domestic animals that must have meat that I know of.) In fact, my cosiun’s dog, Kunos (a toy poodle), has been vegitarian for 9 or so years, and the owner would be a vegitarian too, if not for her living at her grandmother’s home. She still chooses organic products and ties to avoid processed foods.
(by the way, my civics honors class has an assignment for an essay on special interest groups, and I decided to pick you. so far it’s giong well. Thanks!)
On February 13, 2006, Alexis Allen wrote:
How did vegetarianism get so dilluted in the first place? Institutions like Vegetarian Societies need to lead the way, supporting and inspiring its membership, not giving a stamp of approval to compromise. Every time they serve eggs and dairy at an official event, our understanding of what vegetarianism means also suffers. This is shoddy, feel-good lip-service that degrades the principles they supposedly represent.
How can you be against animal slaughter, but in favor of animal abuse and suffering? I’d honestly like to know.
Alexis Allen
Friends of Animals
On December 31, 2006, No Way wrote:
First, I get the creeps when people talk of vegetarianizing their animals and next, I am sooooooooo glad that I am not so bound by veganisim that I go bonkers over someone else eating, of all things, eggs and cheese! Alexis, I know you mean well but wake up, they were not alive to begin with! And if they were it was only inside of the chicken or cow! Girl, you scare me and more power to the lactose/poultry vegetarians!
[Blog editor’s note: There’s no such animal as a lactose/poultry vegetarian. If one is serious about respecting animals, one acknowledges that eggs and dairy products don’t grow on trees. Animals are not free from exploitation by frequenting Ben & Jerry’s. There’s power in wisdom and acting on one’s convictions.]
On July 16, 2007, janet wrote:
I stopped eating meat about a year ago when I read about all the bad stuff they put in our meat supply and the way they are killed. I still eat organic cheese,milk and eggs. these animals, I thought are treated better. alot better and are free to roam. Am I wrong? I love animals! I even work at a vet. clinic, and donate to the aspca.
On July 17, 2007, Dustin wrote:
Janet,
Unfortunately, the public has been lead to believe that organic animal products are somehow less cruel, though the reality of animal agriculture, organic or not, is a different story—-and ‘less cruelty’ is not the foundation of animal rights. And just what IS animal rights? I think Lee Hall says it best in the book, “Capers in the Churchyard: Animal Rights Advocacy in the Age of Terror”: “Animal rights is the development of respect for the interests of conscious beings in living on their own terms rather than under human dominion…an attitude of respect.” By choosing vegan—-an entirely plant-based diet and animal product-free lifestyle—-one is making a commitment to non-human and human animals alike; a vegan diet respects animals, the environment and human health. Veganism is a simple and transformative choice that impacts the lives of animals in an immediate way.
There are many articles on this website that I think you will find both educational and inspiring. A Vegan Starter Guide is available for free download, and Friends of Animals published a wonderful vegan cookbook, Dining With Friends: The Art of North American Vegan Cuisine, which is superb—-not to mention a wonderful introduction to the delicious possibilities of vegan cuisine. I urge you to spend some time reading the website, and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Dustin
Dustin@friendsofanimals.org
On November 29, 2007, Dylan wrote:
If the world changed to being vegan, where would the animals go?
On November 29, 2007, Lee Hall of Friends of Animals wrote:
This raises the question of whether we know of the existence of any animals except those we make into commodities. Of course, other animals existed on the planet before humans were here at all; we did not bring them into being.