It is said that we will never change a heart if we cannot open it first; and we have to admit that if our goal is to help end animal suffering, then we need to put our differences and egos aside and try communicating respectfully with one another, working together to make our communities more humane.
Animal advocate communities often experience conflict when those who are
vegan feel that non-vegan rescuers are betraying some species in order to
help another. The general sentiment is that it is hypocritical to serve
animal products at fundraisers while trying to raise money to help companion
animals. According to their ethics, the message being conveyed is that it is
okay to support factory farming while helping pets – and they view this as
irony.
Rescue groups may not share or understand this philosophy because they are
not familiar with what occurs on factory farms and are not vegan/vegetarian
themselves; or, they cite the potential loss of donors if they transitioned
to only serving plant-based meals at their events. They may be unable to
source vegan food donations and have to consider the costs of purchasing it
themselves. They risk alienating donors who are resistant, especially
considering that their contributions are crucial to the ongoing existence of
the rescue.
It is possible to find a happy resolution if everyone remains open minded,
receptive, willing to understand the others’ perspective, and has a genuine
interest in protecting all the animals in our world.
First, we must acknowledge that over 98% of all the world’s animals who
suffer the worst will never see the inside of a shelter. That’s because
they’re not companion animals, yet they experience the same capacity for
fear and physical suffering as do our dogs and cats. If this compels
rescuers to look at other species in a more sympathetic way, then vegans
must equally consider that for a rescue group to transition away from
serving animals, they need help and support from the vegan community rather
than derision and criticism. Alienating others rarely works to advantage and
often causes them to stand their ground even more firmly.
Most donors who support pet rescues already possess kind hearts whether or
not they’re vegan. Informing them that in order to remain consistent with
values to be kind towards animals means that fundraisers will not serve
animal products might actually win their respect and help them learn
something new about how we treat factory farm animals. If serving all-vegan
is too much of a challenge at first, offering limited animal products and
more vegan/vegetarian options is another way to begin the transition and
would help attract new (vegan) supporters. Many shelters and other
animal-care groups across the country have successfully accomplished this
and now only feature plant-based fare at their events.
The vegan community can assist receptive rescues by helping them source food
donations for their events, promoting, attending, and donating to these
events. Often, when a few rescues begin taking the lead, the others will
follow.
It is said that we will never change a heart if we cannot open it first; and
we have to admit that if our goal is to help end animal suffering, then we
need to put our differences and egos aside and try communicating
respectfully with one another, working together to make our communities more
humane.
Return to: Animal Rights/Vegan Activist Strategies