I, like many others, have dedicated my life to the welfare of animals. As someone who does not consume meat, I respect the right of individuals to make dietary choices based on personal ideology. However, my concern lies in the imposition of those ideologies on animals whose biological needs are incompatible with such diets.

Dogs and cats require specific nutrients such as taurine, vitamin B12, and arachidonic acid. These are naturally found in animal-based ingredients. Prolonged deficiencies have been conclusively linked to serious and often irreversible health issues, including heart disease, neurological damage, and blindness. These facts are well documented in standards set by authorities like AAFCO and the National Research Council.

Despite this, there is a growing trend of people feeding vegan diets to dogs and cats based on personal beliefs rather than sound veterinary advice. Current animal welfare legislation fails to address this practice. That failure is allowing preventable harm to continue unchecked.

This is not a matter of opinion or preference. It is neglect. Forcing animals to survive on diets that are biologically inappropriate constitutes cruelty and must be recognised as such under the law.

We are calling on the government to reform animal welfare legislation. The sale and feeding of vegan diets to dogs and cats should be explicitly banned. We also call on enforcement bodies, including the RSPCA, to act when animals are suffering as a result of nutritionally inadequate diets. Investigations and prosecutions must follow where harm is evident.

These animals cannot advocate for themselves. It is our duty to ensure the law protects them from well-intentioned but harmful practices.

Please sign this petition to demand urgent legal reform and consistent enforcement to end the silent suffering caused by vegan pet diets.