When I first became aware of the need to help all species of animals and began organizing and activating for their right to live free from harm, I was 12 years of age. Living in the city of Toronto, I organized a student walkout at John Buchan Junior High School to protest the clubbing of seals in Canada. It was a success in that the word spread about the why and when in the school grapevine, and the simultaneous walkout saw hundreds of students flowing down the hallways and out the doors. I realized it was not that difficult to mobilize others against injustice and cruelty, once people realized what was happening to other animals. Yes, granted some may have just wanted to get out of class; however, many were shocked, and did not even know seals were being killed. It was an epiphany!
Now, 52 years later, I am still as determined as ever to make the best use of my skills to shine a public spotlight on the cruelty of factory farms, laboratories, hunting, rodeos, zoos, circuses, aquariums, fur farms….
Lovey, my four-legged family member, passed away at 23-years-old last month – everyone she met saw the love in her eyes, the happiness. She helped me during school assemblies – she was perfectly at ease if I was holding her, she knew she would never come to any harm. A former stray and scheduled on the kill list, Lovey was the one who saved me – her calm presence and care was a true balm in my life.
In honor of Lovey, and my 64 th birthday, would you, the reader consider going vegan? This would be a gift for everyone – the animals, the earth and your own health.