Veterinary professionals reject animal exploitation, suffering and cruelty for those animals in their care. However, most vets who care for cats, dogs and other animal companions will happily eat pigs, cows, and chickens, thereby participating in their exploitation (it is estimated that only 2-5% of vets are vegan). By embracing veganism as a moral imperative, vets should be leading the way in standing up against the exploitation of all our fellow animals, not just advocating for better welfare.
ETHICAL GLOBE: Given their oath to ensure the health and welfare of all animals, veterinary professionals have a moral responsibility to reject animal exploitation and cruelty by adopting a vegan lifestyle. The article also highlights changes within veterinary education and features examples of vegan vets and organisations advocating for plant-based lifestyles in the profession…
If a veterinary professional rejects animal exploitation, suffering and cruelty for those animals in their care and in general, surely this must apply to all species? But most veterinary professionals who care for cats, dogs and other animal companions will happily eat pigs, cows, and chickens, thereby participating in their exploitation. It is estimated that 2-5% of vets are vegan, surprisingly low given that most people enter the profession due to their love of other animals. How can they treat one species but eat another? If all species are to be treated equally, then it must include farmed animals. Veganism is the only ethical choice…
No one can force veterinary professionals to become vegan. The fact remains, however, that countless beings are suffering in farms, laboratories, zoos and even in homes and on the streets. Vets are better placed than most to speak out on their behalf and we believe that those in the veterinary profession should be leading the way in standing up against the exploitation of our fellow animals not just advocating for better welfare.
In the words of animal rights advocate Tom Regan, all animals are subjects of a life who “want and prefer things, believe and feel things, recall and expect things”. Too many animals who have been born into captivity and servitude to humans are unable to fulfill even their most basic of need. The Earth itself is suffering because of it. By embracing veganism as a moral imperative, vets could collectively help to turn the tide into more compassionate times and support humans to come back into ‘right relationship’ with our animal kin. SOURCE…
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