Vegan activists hold vigils for cows arriving at slaughterhouse

'We say goodbye to them, and offer them love'

Chelsea Ritschel
Thursday 14 February 2019 21:33 GMT
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The protestors tell the cows they are 'loved' (Stock)
The protestors tell the cows they are 'loved' (Stock)

Vegan activists are holding vigils for cows arriving at a slaughterhouse so they can comfort the animals before they are killed.

Leicestershire Animal Save holds the monthly vigils at a slaughterhouse run by the Foyle Food Group and uses the time to offer apologies and love to the cows, before they are led away for slaughter.

Since the group was founded in 2015, volunteers have held 35 ceremonies for the animals - with the support of the Melton Mowbray abattoir owners, who allow the protestors to take the time with the cows as long as the group gives advance notice.

According to the group founder, Dina Aherne, the allotted two minutes is spent making the cows feel "at ease" and telling them they are not "just a number."

“Cows have a living soul and conscience,” Aherne said. “We really want to help comfort them. We have to arrange and give two weeks notice for when we are going to be on site.”

In addition to whispering sentiments such as “we love you, we are sorry,” the group also protests with signs such as: “your taste = your death.”

According to Aherne, these peaceful protests are the best way to spread a positive message about veganism - rather than the violent protests many vegan groups resort to.

And apart from offering the cows comfort, the group, which documents its efforts on social media, also hopes to educate people about animal welfare.

“It’s easy to go to the supermarket and not think about the process that flesh went through to get there,” Aherne told the Standard. “So we show the masses that the 10 minutes of pleasure that you had in that steak actually had a face.”

The group is part of the global organisation the Save Movement, which is described as a “worldwide network of groups bearing witness to farmed animals, advocating veganism, and promoting love-based grassroots activism.”

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The Independent has contacted the Foyle Food Group and Dina Aherne for comment.

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