As an animal advocate and longtime volunteer at Berkeley Animal Care Services, I am deeply disheartened that BACS continues to serve animal products at its events. In a 2013 survey of people who work or volunteer for California shelters and rescues, 85 percent of respondents believed it is ethically inconsistent for an organization that rescues animals to sell or serve animal products at sponsored/fundraising events.  And yet, my efforts as well as those of other volunteers at BACS to enable a transition to an animal-friendly menu at events have been ignored, dismissed, belittled, or met with hostility.

On a purely practical basis, serving plant-based menus at BACS events represents a fundraising opportunity.  Animal Place, a farmed animal sanctuary in Grass Valley, CA has visited BACS to introduce their Food For Thought Campaign that includes a grant and other support to enable BACS to provide plant-based menus at events.  Donors also encourage these policies.  For example, St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center in Madison, NJ received a six-figure donation because the shelter adopted a plant-based menu.  And of course, the inclusion of animal products at BACS events alienates a growing population of potential attendees and donors who advocate for all animals, not just companion animals. 

An animal-friendly menu is in accordance with the mission of an animal advocacy organization. In addition, plant foods are healthier for humans and environmentally much more sustainable than menus that include animal products.  In this time of drought, consider that a hamburger requires at least as much water to produce as 6 weeks worth of showers (over 600 gallons or much more, according to the Pacific Institute). Veggie burgers require just a fraction of that to produce, contribute exponentially less to greenhouse gases and deforestation, and have a much smaller impact on wildlife habitats.

Many shelters and animal rescue organizations have already switched to an animal-friendly menu.  Just a few examples include the San Francisco SPCA; The Marin Humane Society; State Humane Society of California; Palm Springs Animal Shelter; Humane Society Silicon Valley; Sacramento SPCA; Palo Alto Humane Society; East Bay SPCA in Oakland, CA; SPCA Los Angeles; Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek, CA; Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter; St. Martin's Animal Rescue in Oregon; Second Chance Animal Center in Vermont; Hearts United for Animals in Nebraska; Whatcom Humane Society in Bellingham, WA;  Wyandot County Humane Society in Upper Sandusky, OH; Animal Rescue Inc. in New Freedom, PA; Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in Asheville, NC; and Washington Humane Society in Washington, DC.

Please consider that by serving animal products, BACS is contributing to an industry that causes immense suffering and death to innocent animals.  It is simply not acceptable for animal welfare organizations to serve animal products at an event.  Please set an example for everyone that all animals deserve to be free from suffering and exploitation.  Please adopt a policy of offering only plant-based menus at BACS events.