Why Did You Go Vegan?

Sheila

In Febuary of 2003, my rabbit, Luke, died. I've had pets die before, but this death was different. Luke was only almost a year old, all my other pets had reached a ripe old age.

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The other thing that made it so emotional to me was that he died in my arms while my boyfriend drove us to the emergency room.

I cried for two days and just couldn't eat meat anymore.

I can't be a hypocrite, and if it makes me cry like crazy to see a bunny die, it should also make me cry to see a cow, chicken, pig, or fish die.

Just because an animal isn't YOUR pet doesn't make it have feelings any less.

I actually tried to go vegan right away, but gave up because my favorite macNsoycheese ended up having milk protein in it. I decided the entire world didn't want me to be vegan, so I just decided to be vegetarian.

I figured it wasn't too bad to eat cheese and coffee ice cream (the only two things that kept me from going vegan.)

But I couldn't have been more wrong. At the end of the year, December of 2003, I was browsing online and did some reading about the way that animals were treated, and sure enough, it DID make me cry. And then I saw some videos that made me cry even harder, I lost my appetite, and I vowed to myself that I would never eat ANYTHING from ANY animal ever again. Everyday when I see KFC commercials on TV or a commercial for Oil of Olay (which tests on animals), I get a sick feeling in my stomach.

People used to make fun of me for it, but I stood up for myself and now they leave me alone, and after I made them more aware of a vegan diet, they all admit that I will probably live to be 120. I have loved animals my entire life, but just never made the connection.

Now that I am vegan, I want to help even more. I try to educate my friends and family to let them know more about a vegan diet (and then they won't make fun of you either.)

My mom is going vegan now, and my boyfriend is now a vegetarian, but I am going to show him the "Meat your Meet" video from PETA and also "Free Me" from PETA as well. Hopefully he will get the message, that only being vegetarian isn't enough.

And for everyone who is already a vegan, spread the word!

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