Farm animals are living, feeling animals — they are not "breakfast," "lunch," or "dinner." Americans have drawn an imaginary line to designate some animals as "pets" and others as "dinner." Our society is horrified (and rightly so) when we hear about people from other cultures who eat dogs and cats. In this country, eating these animals is considered unconscionable. I have hope that one day killing a cow or chicken will be considered equally objectionable. People who love animals called "pets" would not eat animals called "dinner" if they would only look into the eyes of a suffering farm animal.

Food animal production is entrenched, but that is also why we have the greatest opportunity to stop it. Anyone can take immediate action, and maybe that is why being a vegan is such an empowering experience. When you stop consuming animals and using animal byproducts, you are personally helping to put an end to the slaughter of hundreds of animals. Your actions save lives as directly as going to a factory farm or stockyard and rescuing an animal….