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Written By: mike on September 4, 2010 No Comment

You Call You Call
Can you call yourself a vegan if you feed your dog fish?

My dog has severe allergies and the only thing he can eat is salmon and potatoes. My friend says this means I can’t call myself a vegan – she says I can say I eat a vegan diet, but that the fact I cook fish every day means I am not living a vegan lifestyle. I think strictly speaking she’s right, but since the salmon is itself for the welfare of an animal (my dog!), I was wondering how other vegans would react to me calling myself vegan.
FYI- dogs are actually omnivores, not carnivores (unlike cats). Wild dogs eat berries, grasses and vegetables which supplement any meat they eat, google search it if you don’t believe me! So just like humans, most dogs do fine on a vegan diet. I’m not disputing this, it’s just that my dog can’t eat a vegan diet because of his digestive problems!

I understand the premise. By buying fish for your dog, you’re ensuring more fish will be killed to replenish the stock. In general, vegans don’t want to support the exploitation of animals. Buying fish, it would seem, is not vegan.

But not so fast…

Also, dogs can live perfectly healthy lives on a vegan diet, unlike cats, which are obligate carnivores (although there are accounts of people successfully keeping cats vegan). Not only are domestic dogs/wolves descended from an omnivorous ancestor, but many dogs are prescribed a vegetarian diet by veterinarians, in response to certain metabolic conditions. For instance, it is quite common for Dalmatians to be prescribed a veg’n diet, because of a condition common in the breed.

There is a big “HOWEVER”, though. No one is 100% vegan in developed societies. The “vegan police” tend to be made-up of ignorant meat-eaters, or vegans who pretend they’re 100% vegan. Both are liars. The simple truth of being vegan is the ATTEMPT to eliminate the use of animal products WHERE POSSIBLE OR PRACTICAL.

It is not your duty to force veganism on anyone else, including your dog.

Perfection is neither possible, nor the goal, of veganism.

I am married to a meat-eater, had (rescue) dogs, and currently have a (rescue) cat, all of which ate meat. It is not vegan of me to purchase animal products, but they’re not FOR me. They’re for non-vegans. I see no real ethical problem with this, since I’M vegan, not them, and it has never been my goal to judge or convert.

I am vegan.

I don’t knowingly consume, use, or purchase animal products, except where there is no existing alternative (such as computers), for my own use. I do shop at stores which sell animal products, ride in cars with leather seats, prepare meat meals for others who are not vegan, etc., etc.

I am vegan…not everyone else.

For me, that’s where I draw the line.

A vegan would not purchase an animal, only adopt one from a rescue group or shelter (to save its life, and to offer it an ethical, responsible, loving home). Vegans don’t buy pets from pet stores, responsible breeders, backyard breeders, ads, etc., nor would they ride horses or hav them pull a wagon, raise animals for sale, etc. The ideal pet for a vegan is one that can be kept vegan, or is naturally a herbivore.

I would ask those who say you’re not vegan, simply because you don’t require every other living organism to be vegan too, why they’re so judgmental, and so ignorant? An individual’s choice to be vegan should never extend to those who didn’t, or can’t, make that choice for themselves.

Peace.

Secondhand Serenade – Your Call