The leading veterinary organization in Britain has written a piece advocating veganism for veterinarians.
According to an essay published in the premier magazine of the British Veterinary Association, saving the lives of pets and subsequently consuming other animals might be considered as “contradictory” (BVA).
The article’s title, “Do we have a moral duty to be vegan?” was penned by veterinary nurse Leanne Dalton.
According to the text, we are supposed to treat every patient equally, but equality should also apply to animals who are not under our care. Is it not incongruous to operate on one animal and then immediately have a chicken sandwich?
Leanne Dalton, a veterinary nurse, poses the question “Do we have a moral duty to be vegan?” in the British Veterinary Association’s flagship publication.
![Mrs Dalton, who works at Vets4Pets argued that studies in farm animals can 'demonstrate a wide range of cognitive abilities equal to, and in some cases superior than, the small animals [pets] that many of us [veterinary workers] see in practice'](https://i0.wp.com/i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/27/00/61775341-11151149-image-a-14_1661556392033.jpg?resize=634,476&is-pending-load=1#038;ssl=1)
![Mrs Dalton, who works at Vets4Pets argued that studies in farm animals can 'demonstrate a wide range of cognitive abilities equal to, and in some cases superior than, the small animals [pets] that many of us [veterinary workers] see in practice'](https://i0.wp.com/i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/08/27/00/61775341-11151149-image-a-14_1661556392033.jpg?resize=634,476&ssl=1)
Working for Vets4Pets, Mrs. Dalton said that research on farm animals “show a broad variety of cognitive capacities equivalent to, and in some instances superior to, the little animals [pets] that many of us [veterinary professionals] meet in practice.”
It happens at a time when the public sector is being taken over by the trendy veganism, with colleges forbidding beef and Oxfordshire County Council prohibiting meat at County Hall events.
Even now, there is a movement urging people to offer vegan food to their cats and dogs.
Vets should not consume meat, according to the BVA’s stated position. However, studies on farm animals, decapods, and cephalopods have revealed that they may exhibit a broad variety of cognitive capacities equivalent to, and in some instances superior to, the little animals that many of us meet in practice, says Mrs. Dalton, who works at Vets4Pets in Loughborough, Leicestershire.
Crabs and lobsters are examples of decapods, whereas octopuses and squid are examples of cephalopods.
In her conclusion, Mrs. Dalton says, “If we are against animal cruelty, we should cease aiding in their suffering and collectively choose veganism.”
Professor Victor Kumar, a moral philosopher at Boston University, responded to the article in the journal Vet Record by saying: “The problem with articles telling people they should be vegan is that they can backfire, since people who eat meat feel they are disapproved of, or perceive that vegans are claiming to have moral superiority.
Since most people dislike the cruelty inherent in factory farming, it could be preferable to urge them to consume less meat or to seek out meat that has been ethically produced. We must keep in mind that many people’s life revolve on meat, from summertime barbecues to holiday banquets.
Mrs. Dalton was unavailable for comment.
It occurs as the trend of veganism spreads across public institutions, with colleges forbidding beef and Oxfordshire County Council prohibiting meat at County Hall events (shown).
‘Some people take an animal rights-based view, which promotes an end to the use of animals by humans, while others have an animal welfare-based view, which accepts animal use, so long as the animals have a good life and a humane death,’ said Sean Wensley, former president of the BVA and author of Through a Vet’s Eyes.
The majority of the veterinary profession adheres to a viewpoint focused on animal welfare. However, veterinary professionals who become vegans have a respectable philosophical position.
The magazine Vet Record is editorially autonomous and does not reflect the opinions of the BVA, according to Justine Shotton, president of the BVA.
Diet is a personal concern, and veterinarians are in a good position to decide how to best take sustainability and animal health into account in their consumer choices, she added.
The British Veterinary Association has long advocated for a “less and better” approach to eating meat. “We urge everyone to consider the environmental effect of their dietary choices.