From birth we surround children with animals—plush ones in the nursery they sometimes end up carrying everywhere they go. We hang animal mobiles over the crib, put up Noah’s ark themed wallpaper with giraffes and hippos two by two, give them sheets and comforters, toys and games, cartoons, and children’s books—all covered in animal images. Children grow up with animals as companions, heroes, and the main characters in their favorite stories, television shows, and movies.
Little Golden Books, Disney, and all the all-time favorites from Bambi to Spot to Goodnight Moon and beyond—all teaching children to love animals. And they do. A lot.
This affection naturally transcends into their first artistic endeavors—crayon and marker drawings of ducks, rabbits, horses, farmed animals, cats and dogs—whatever animal is a particular favorite at the time. We treasure and celebrate children’s artwork, pinning it to the fridge and walls.
And while we’re encouraging this love for animals, we are buying birds and cows all ground up into little bits and feeding it to our kids with ketchup. We call it “nuggets” and “burgers” and make them dinosaur and circle shaped and tell our kids it is all perfectly fine.
Eventually our children grow and their artwork changes and, in many cases, disappears altogether in a wave of algebra and Shakespeare, sports, and life obligations.
But for a handful of artists, true to their hearts, connecting the dots between the animals we love and the abuse we humans make them suffer, and vowing to do something about it.
These vegan artists use their talent to speak for animals, advocate for animals, raise funds for animals, and most of all, inspire others to make the connection themselves.
The Animals Voice was fortunate to speak with some of these very gifted and special people from around the world creating art for animal rights.
Susan Barzallo is News & Associate Editor of The Animals Voice.
