Category Archives: Nonhuman family members

Let’s talk about mutilation

Posted on November 19, 2021 by There's an Elephant in the Room

A recent post on Facebook was illustrated by the image below which is the work of the highly acclaimed animal rights artist and advocate, Jo Frederiks. The text read; ‘The distinctions we make between the species that we love as … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Imagery, Mutilation, Nonhuman family members, Terminology | Tagged animal testing, artificial insemination, beak trimming, branding, castration, de-beaking, de-horning, de-snooding, de-spurring, de-toeing, disbudding, dubbing, ear notching, ear tagging, it doesn't hurt, it's for their own good, mulesing, nose ringing, pinioning, tail docking, teat removal, tongue reshaping, tooth clipping, udder flaming, vivisection | 4 Comments

Being property – what it means

Posted on May 26, 2019 by There's an Elephant in the Room

There’s a story that’s causing outrage in the media at the moment, about a healthy dog named Emma who was slaughtered and cremated so that her ashes could be buried along with her deceased owner. The comments were predictably scathing, … Continue reading →

Posted in Nonhuman family members, property status | Tagged animal rights, betrayal, burial, consumers, Cruelty, dog, Emma, funeral, healthy, indoctrination, law, laws, legal, legislation, Nonhuman family members, outrage, pets, possession, possessions, property, property status, shih tzu, slaughter, speciesism, vegan, veganism, welfare | 2 Comments

‘What are cows for?’

Posted on December 17, 2018 by There's an Elephant in the Room

A recent comment on a post read, ‘What do you think cows are for?’ The writer was raging against the facts relating to dairy use and consumption. It was clear that they saw nothing wrong with their question as a line of … Continue reading →

Posted in FAQ, Nonhuman family members | Tagged breast milk, cats, chickens, Chickens and eggs, childhood, companions, consumer demand, cows, dogs, milk, pigs, sentience, sentient, sheep, vegan, veganism, violence | 4 Comments

Making up labels to hide behind

Posted on April 26, 2018 by There's an Elephant in the Room

Here’s someone with a lovely face. His name was Rannoch. In this photo he was watching the track to the house, waiting to catch sight of me. He would wait there all day, if that’s what it took. Some might … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Nonhuman family members, Speciesism | Tagged bred for eating, bred for fur, Chickens and eggs, commodification, consumer demand, dairy, harm, milk, moral choices, respect, rights, slaughter, vegan, veganism, victims, violence, welfare | 6 Comments

Living in a land of make-believe

Posted on March 30, 2018 by There's an Elephant in the Room

Today I find myself reminiscing, mentally retracing paths of the clouded past, trying to find the point at which I lost the warm feeling of kinship with all other species of animal that so many of us experience in childhood. … Continue reading →

Posted in Awakening to veganism, Nonhuman family members | Tagged awakening, bloodbath, breast milk, brutality, cats, chickens, Chickens and eggs, childhood, children, commodification, companions, consumer demand, Cruelty, dairy, dogs, fantasy, harm, health, humane, imagination, love, make-believe, milk, oppression, resources, respect, sentience, slaughter, speciesism, truth, victims, violence, welfare | 12 Comments

In memory of friends

Posted on April 7, 2017 by There's an Elephant in the Room

Many of us who share our homes and our lives with a cat, with a dog or with some other nonhuman family member(s) have had to face the experience of agreeing to euthanise them when veterinary medicine can no longer … Continue reading →

Posted in Eulogies, Nonhuman family members, Speciesism | Tagged cat, Chickens and eggs, commodification, commodities, companions, consumer demand, dog, euthanasia, family, harm, humane, milk, Nonhuman family members, pets, resources, sentience, slaughter, speciesism, vegan, veganism, victims, violence | 3 Comments

An apology to my family – my thoughts

Posted on March 9, 2016 by There's an Elephant in the Room

More than 600,000,000 unique, special individuals, with minds and thoughts, hopes and hearts, needs, desires and preferences are abandoned by humanity every single year. Shelters are filled to bursting point and countless millions of sad, frightened and desperate nonhumans are slaughtered … Continue reading →

Posted in Nonhuman family members | Tagged abandonment, advocacy, cats, companions, dogs, domestication, family, family members, human superiority, justice, love, Nonhuman family members, ownership, pets, respect, sanctuary, sentience, service animals, speciesism, use, vegan, veganism, vulnerable | 9 Comments

How do I know we care?

Posted on February 3, 2016 by There's an Elephant in the Room

I suppose it’s a fair question. Here I am, pouring out my heart about animals; why do I think anyone is interested? Why do I think anyone cares? Maybe it’s just me….? Certainly I’ve had comments and messages to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Awakening to veganism, Nonhuman family members, Speciesism | Tagged awakening, Chickens and eggs, commodification, companions, consumer demand, dairy, respect, sentience, speciesism, vegan | 6 Comments

Loving all animals

Posted on December 30, 2014 by There's an Elephant in the Room

This morning, one of the cats who share my home is ill and I’m counting the minutes until our appointment with the vet. I don’t know what’s wrong but as I gaze into her stricken eyes, I see faith and … Continue reading →

Posted in Nonhuman family members, Sentience, Speciesism | Tagged commodification, sentience, speciesism, vegan | 4 Comments