If you care about the animals and value their lives and welfare, you’re not alone. Caring about animals has never been more popular in America.

According to a poll conducted by the ASPCA, 94% of Americans agree that animals raised for food deserve to live free from abuse and cruelty. Yet the majority of the nearly 10 billion (yes 10 billion) farm animals raised each year in the U.S. suffer in conditions that consumers would not accept if they could see them. Most of our meat, milk and eggs come from industrial farms where efficiency trumps welfare—and animals are paying the price.

Three factors are driving this increase in caring: the increasing public appreciation of and concern for animals; new scientific information confirming the reality of animal suffering along with the healthfulness of vegetarian diets; and religious and moral leaders who advocate extending moral questions to the humane treatment of animals.

Don’t be fooled by the occasional cow in a pasture. 99% of farm animals in the U.S. are raised in factory farms. A factory farm is a large, industrial operation that raises large numbers of animals for food and which focus on profit and efficiency at the expense of animal welfare.

Modern factory farms revolve only around efficient, low-cost production, which unfortunately results in harsh conditions and greatly increased suffering for billions of farm animals. Don’t think that animals don’t feel pain. Just ask yourself this question, if animals don’t feel pain then why do they test pain medication on animals? Science is demonstrating that both mammals and fish experience pain, and that a vegetarian diet is actually much healthier than consuming animal products.

Many religious and moral leaders have long advocated for the compassionate treatment of animals, and the vegetarian diet that goes along with this. The following quotes illustrate the range of religious leaders who have spoken on this topic:

“The Christian argument for vegetarianism is simple: since animals belong to God….then their needless destruction is sinful.”   The Reverend Professor Doctor Andrew Linzey, Anglican priest and Oxford professor.

“Central rabbinic and spiritual leaders have been affirming vegetarianism.”   Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, Former Chief Rabbi, Israel

“I do feel that spiritual progress does demand that at some stage we should cease to kill our fellow creatures.” Mahatma Ghandi, Hindu Spiritual leader

 

By making vegetarian food choices, you will be saving farm animals with every bite. To learn more, see our handy brochure on farm animals and the importance of going veg.