5. Celebrating Veganuary - Should veterinarians be vegan?

  

As a sociology student, one of the most important concepts I learnt was about role conflicts, which people experience when they find themselves pulled in various directions as they try to respond to the many statuses they hold.

Now if we carefully look at the definition of a veterinarian- it says: of, relating to, practicing, or being the science and art of prevention, cure, or alleviation of disease and injury in animals and especially domestic animals"

Now, imagine a person who takes an oath of preventing and curing diseases in animals himself slaughtering another animal for his food!

Isn’t it such a grave role conflict!

Eating animals was never a part of India’s culture. Deep down, all of us know that it is wrong to eat animals. In the Bhagavad Geeta, it is said that killing an animal can only be justified if it is for self defense, and killing them merely for our sense gratification should not be encouraged, and especially for someone who has chosen a career to protect and help them, it seems absurd and hypocritical of vet doctors to engage in meat eating.

A veterinary doctor eating meat is like the doctor who cures patients in the day and murders people at night, he is like that lawyer who protects the fundamental rights of citizens in the day and drinks and drives at night, he is like that teacher who tells parents not the scold their children but beats her own children with sticks and chappals!

It hits the very conscience of the person who saves the lives of these petty animals only to let them be mass produced just to slaughtered.

Most veterinarians who eat meat justify it by saying that they just lovveeee meat!! And they say that the diet could be healthy if we plan it well.

I remember listening to an interview of a veterinarian, who when asked if he didn't consider such ethical issues, he said that he was pretty sure that animals are treated humanely and have a humane death, especially in larger companies.

I am only a BBA student and I don’t need 10 years of study in veterinary care to realize that slitting throats of innocents is unethical.

Now, in addition to this hypocrisy of saving their lives to relish eating them, there is another grave concept called speciesism, which is the idea that being human is a good enough reason for human or domestically useful animals to have greater moral rights than non-human or non-domestically used animals. It is a prejudice or a bias in favor of those animals who are domestic pets.

We have subconsciously categorized animals as companions or commodities. For instance, dogs and cats are considered companions and relatively more superior to ‘hens’ or ‘goats’ which are treated as commodities to be cooked and eaten. If a dog gets hurt, dog lovers come out in the streets to save its life, but equally desirously go on to kill a hen to eat it. You think a hen doesn’t feel the pain?

Every veterinarian will tell you they love animals; it’s undeniable. I would never argue on their devotion to improving the lives of their patients. I would, however, want them to look at where their patients are coming from and where they are going. How can you passionately save some of your patients yet send others to be slaughtered? A goat with a broken leg wants to be treated with the same care as the beloved family dog. A sick cow wants the same chance at life as a cute little kitten. It’s impossible to look any of our patients in the eyes and say they don’t want to enjoy every day to the fullest; our animal friends improve our lives immeasurably, but they are not here for us alone.

Those of us who trust vets with the care of our animal companions know that they are dedicated. They work hard for long hours and perform arduous surgical procedures to save the lives of beloved family dogs and cats.

And yet, many of them return home at the end of the day and consume meals made out of other animal species—cows, pigs, lambs, chickens, turkeys, or fish. And they also recommend feeding these species to their clients’ companion animals.

The truth is that the animals we raise and kill for food are just as sensitive and intelligent as the dogs and cats we consider family. Yet the meat industry treats them like meat-producing machines.

When I spoke to one of my friends who is a veterinarian, he said, "This profession requires us to dedicate our lives to the service of animals. I took an oath to uphold the protection of animal health and welfare and the prevention and relief of animal suffering. I promised myself that as their healer, I will spend my entire career fighting for them. The day I became a veterinarian, I stopped eating meat.

Vet or not, we can all agree that animal cruelty is wrong. The best way to take a stand against animal abuse is simply to leave animals off your plate, unlike some Bollywood actress who advocates animal rights on Diwali and savors Peshawari mutton pulao the next day!

I am a vegetarian who is striding on the path of being a vegan. This Veganuary, the least we can do to protect animals is to gradually reduce consumption of animals or animal products. Start by saying no to leather items, and slowly move forward and say no to your favorite tandoori chicken. Because each and every life matters!