How long you have been a vegan and what was your experience like?
I have been a vegan for about six months now but transitioned for the last year. I went vegetarian when I was 10 years old. However, as I got older and started learning more and more about how interconnected the meat and dairy/egg industries are, I decided to make the switch completely to veganism. Even when I was only vegetarian though, I drank mostly soymilk and didn’t eat eggs for breakfast, that kind of thing.
Did you have support from friends and family when you made the change?
I actually had very little support from my family when I went vegetarian. My parents had both been vegetarian at an earlier part of their lives, but had since switched back to eating meat unfortunately. Surprisingly, they were not supportive of my diet because they didn’t think I would get enough protein, which is funny because studies have been done that show Americans actually end up eating way too much protein throughout their lives and causes other health problems. Plant based sources of protein are of course better because they are not high in saturated fat like meat, dairy and eggs. So anyway, my parents didn’t like the fact that I was vegetarian but I stood my ground because it was important to me and I knew it was the right thing to do. Later on when I decided to adapt to a vegan diet I did receive a lot of help and support from my friends so that was really great!!
What are your reasons for going vegan?
My reasons for going vegan are purely ethical. I truly do not believe in the exploitation of animals for human benefit. I went vegetarian first for the same reasons. The fact that being vegan helps the environment and my health are just “extra” benefits to me. I have cared for animals deeply ever since I was a very young child. They have been my most loyal friends ever since.
How long have you worked at the Farm Sanctuary and what inspired you to work there?
I have been working at Farm Sanctuary for about a month now. I started in early May. I had known about them ever since I became involved with animal welfare issues. I also grew up in the area so I always dreamed of working there after high school when I actual had a car of my own, haha. So naturally it has been in the back of my mind for a long time now. When I got a car and got more settled in to an independent life, I looked into working at Farm Sanctuary more. I wanted to be an intern for the month of January but unfortunately they already had enough interns for that month. Then one day on a fluke I was searching the jobs section of Craigslist and I saw that they were hiring tour assistants. So I called up and was able to get and interview and was then hired later on.
How much experience do you have with animals?
I have quite a bit of experience dealing with animals. When I was younger, around ten or so, I worked on a dairy farm where my job was to feed the baby calves. Working there really fueled my passion to help animals since I saw firsthand how inhumane even a small family owned farm can be. I saw a calf be born which was pretty amazing but was saddened to see it taken away from its mother only a few days after birth. I was also saddened by the moaning of the mothers for their calves after they had been taken away. When I decided that I didn’t want to work on the dairy farm I made a promise to myself that I would spend much of my life to help change the lives of farm animals.
I have also volunteered at the SPCA walking dogs, which was fun. However, I felt that I would rather be helping farm animals since they have so much less support. I also grew up in the country so I had pet chickens, a dog, cats, a bunny and at one time even goats. I always loved to be around animals and care for them. There was this one particularly funny time I remember with the goats. I came home one day to find they had escaped some how out of there pen and had climbed onto the top of the second car in the drive way. That was how I first found out just how mischievous goats really are!!
What is one dish you cannot live without?
Hmmmm, there are so many. If I had to pick a favorite though, I would have to say avocado and Vegenaise sandwiches. I definitely don’t think that I could live without those two ingredients!! Add a bit of salt, basil and tomato and anybody would wonder why everyone thinks it’s so hard to be vegan. Besides that though, I really enjoy a good Daiya cheese pizza as well!
What are your favorite brands of vegan alternatives?
Lets see, I love Earth Balance, Vegenaise (as mentioned above), Daiya cheese (for pizza and macaroni & cheese), Silk soy products (I have there creamer in my coffee daily), Tofutti, Tofurky, Turtle Mountain (so delicious!) and sooooo many more.
What are three things that people can do to help stop animal cruelty today?
1. GO VEGAN, that is number 1 for sure!!!!
2. Don’t wear products that have come from animals such as leather, wool and silk.
3. Do not by toiletries and cosmetics that have been tested on animals.
What inspires you to be positive about the world changing and becoming a better place to live in?
So much inspires me!!! In fact, working at Farm Sanctuary now inspires me the most because I see animals enjoying their lives every day. It fuels me to change the lives of the 10 billion animals slaughtered every year that can never enjoy the simple pleasures of being alive, like sunshine and green grass. Spending time with animals has always been a main motivational factor because I just think of the animals that never get attention and care, and it makes me want to do something about it. I will always be proactive in ending their exploitation…forever. I care about it more then anything in the whole world.
What other interests or talents do you have?
I love to dance, play guitar, read, draw, sew, go running, explore various woods, play Frisbee and dye my hair...
So as you can see Renee has a lot to say! Stay tuned for more Q&A in the future. If anyone has further questions or concerns for Renee you can send them to me via email and I will make sure she gets them asap! I will also feature them in a future blog so everyone can benefit from the information.
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