Janke
October 8th, 2009 at 3:39 am
Excellent letter. What about “animal rescue” organizations using dogs in their “Walk for a Cure” (raising funds for the American Cancer Society), for an organization (ACS) known for funding the use of dogs in cruel experiments in research laboratories, supporting the breeding and sale to research labs of “purpose bred for research” dogs who will merely exist in a state of misery, terror and likely elongated painful deaths thanks to these hypocrites who solicit funds from the public for the exploitation and torture of dogs – for the benefit of mankind????? Dogs confined in laboratories aren’t offered the right to “Walk for a Cure” or Bark for a Cure, and all the other names used to continue the use of dogs as research tools. Sad, and unforgivable.
Jason
October 8th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Well put Sarah. Thank you so much for writing this!! Some of the comments on here on infuriating, but it’s great that you are drawing attention to the hypocrisy of the SPCA serving dead animal flesh. Just last week a group in Ottawa held a World Animals Day event. There were blessings for the dogs and cats while dead chickens and cows were being bbq’d. We went out and did some vegan outreach leafletting.
Haley
October 8th, 2009 at 9:28 am
@Clinton: Your arguments don’t stand up. Particularly on a vegan board. You talk about choice, but what choice did the animals have? It’s like I had a friend once who said “I ate a free range chicken and I thanked it and hugged it and was grateful to it for giving me its life.” I sort of stood there and said “You mean you TOOK its life, because I’m pretty sure if the animal had a choice between life and a burger, it’d pick the former.”
Not to mention, I know many people who would love to CHOOSE to be vegetarian, but feel they don’t have the choice for that because of family and societal pressure and bogus studies like the one you showed. Try reading “The China Study” which is the most thorough study of health in the modern world. Dr. Campbell came to the conclusion that, yes, the healthiest diet was indeed vegan.
And for an organization that promotes the welfare of animals, it is hypocritical to serve tortured, beaten, and dead animals at functions. It’s like going to abolitionist meeting, but having indentured servants wait on you.
Dave Shishkoff
October 8th, 2009 at 10:07 am
http://bcspcaevents.com/
“Animalia: A Benefit to End Animal Cruelty” [at the Burnaby/Vancouver BC SPCA]
It’s nothing short of ‘cruel’ to commodify, exploit and murder other sentient beings….and what’s worse – it’s for a TASTE. A particular FLAVOR. There is no nutritional requirement for humans at a BCSPCA event to consume animal flesh or excretions. None.
It makes NO SENSE to harm animals for an event that is supposedly to advocate the protection of animals.
If animal-loving people don’t want to become vegan, and instead stew in their hypocrisy – fine. They can do it on their own dime.
The BCSPCA should be better than the average person, and strive towards an ideal. Theirs is to prevent the cruelty to animals. The only logical choice is to serve meals that are animal-friendly, ergo, vegan meals.
…and my final thought: if you’re complaining that ‘people won’t come because they don’t like the food’ – that’s pitiful. People should be going to the BCSPCA event because they want to support the BCSPCA and its mandate. Not because they want a particular meal. The only reason they’d be upset is because they’re being reminded that they, too, are contributing to animal cruelty in their avoidance of a vegan philosophy. Caring about animals is more than how much $$ you’re willing to spend at an event.
Dave Shishkoff
Canadian Correspondent (Victoria, BC)
Friends of Animals
http://www.FriendsofAnimals.org
Lifeforce
October 12th, 2009 at 9:40 am
Lifeorce was formed in 1981 as an ecology organization to respect the rights of all life. In 1983 we started Animal Rights Day in Vancouver – the first in the world. At our 1983 symposium we served only vegan meals and the Four Seasons did a great menu.It is truly hypocritical to save some species while eating others. Why is taking other orgs so long to realize this cruelty?
See our web site for campaigns against the dairy industry, factory farming …
http://www.lifeforcefoundation.org