Yes it is 2012. No, the world isn’t coming to an end, at least not yet anyway. And Yes. I am defending the RSPCA.
I have been getting emails from concerned vegans asking me to send a letter to the RSPCA in Queensland to protest over the cafe in their new Animal Care Campus having certain dead animals on the menu.
Those that have taken the time to send an email have been told that the cafe is operated by a third party and they have no control over what they serve, apart from a few contractual guidelines about using happy meat and all that sort of warm and fuzzy welfarist sort of stuff. It also seems that the reply is a cut and paste response that they have been told to send out when contacted about the cafe.
As passionate as I am about Animal Rights, Veganism and abolition, the thought of contacting the RSCPA to lodge a complaint about serving animal products at the cafe never entered my mind for a second.
Remember this is an organisation that wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the profitability of selected non-human animals.
All you have to do is have a look at the annual reports to see how many animals are killed in the shelters compared to how many are rehomed to see this. Taking a walk around the shelters is further proof as only those animals that look cute and cuddly and have a higher chance of being sold are put on display.
Suggested recipients of these emails are the CEO and Media Director. Whilst this may be worthwhile, I really wouldn’t bother. I sent the media director an email late last year enquiring as to whether the RSPCA put up any sort of protest regarding the Qld Gov’s plan to begin the aerial killing of pigs in Staaten River National Park, I am yet to receive a reply.
The RSPCA in it’s defence has never promoted anything less than trying to get consumers to choose the less barbaric happy meat or happy eggs over the traditional options. If they were to start demanding that the cafe only serve vegan food, what would that do for the annual dinner? How many supporters with deep pockets do you think they would get if they served only vegan options?
If you want to protest about the food that is served at the cafe, the easiest thing that you can do is not eat there, anything else is a waste of time.
This article was written by the founder of VeganPolice.com.au, Cameron Blewett.
Cameron is a long term vegan (30+yrs), and is passionate about veganism, and helping people to understand more about it and giving other animals equal consideration.
You can find Cameron’s other rants on his website, CameronBlewett.blog