i heard if you are vegan you cant have pets? is this true?!

It is not against vegan principles to keep companion animals. It is up to the individual. There is no vegan rule book since it is not a religion, we are an extremely diverse group so there are differences of opinions on many things. The foundation of veganism is to try and eliminate the use of animal products in one's life.

There are two schools of thought in the animal rights movement, welfarism and abolition. And this is where some people get confused, because some extreme abolitionists think it is not ok to keep pets and some non-vegans mistake this as a necessity for being vegan. It is not, and nor is agreeing with abolitionist principles. Some vegans also think that abortion is wrong, but neither is this a requirement for veganism. It is just an opinion.

It is my dream to have a wildlife sanctuary. I will keep animals in captivity, animals which have been orphaned or injured and would not have survived in the wild. This is not in contravention to vegan principles and nor is keeping companion animals. Keeping them locked in cages to breed so you can make money by selling the offspring would however be a different story.

vegan biologist

Well ask whatever or whoever you "heard this from about the list of "rules" that dictate what you can or cannot do with your life because you are a vegan. "Vegan" or "vegetarian" just are descriptive words not laws or regulations that you must follow or else.

The fact that even among vegans themselves there are often arguments as to what constitutes vegan or not clearly show that there are no real rules to obey.

You have the option of having a pet that does not eat meat by the way and which you can let roam "freely" in reasonably open space if that makes your vegan conscience feels better. Rabbits and such don't need a lot of space and don't eat meat. And they are as responsive as dogs.

A vegan is someone who doesn't eat meat or food that is related to animals, like eggs or milk. Then there are vegans who won't use animal products, like wearing leather shoes. Then I suppose the next level would be people who don't have pets as they consider it exploitation, then maybe another level who think other people shouldn't have pets either, and then still even yet another level who believe that people shouldn't look at animals or draw pictures of them, and so on, and so on, ad infinitum.

There is something called moderation. You need to decide how far you want to go, or not go.

There are different degrees of veganism, but the basics are just that you don't eat meat, eggs, or dairy. Some vegans also avoid honey, and some also avoid wearing leather and using household products with animal byproducts. I think it's only the most extreme vegans that take it as far as not having pets, but I feel that is a misguided way to respect animals. There are animals in shelters being euthanized every year because they can't find homes. It's much better to adopt a homeless pet than to let them lose their life for lack of a home.

Short answer: No.

Long answer: While animal abuse is obviously not in keeping with vegan values, keeping domesticated animals and doing your level best to keep them happy and healthy (as most responsible pet owners do) is not something most vegans have a problem with. Even birds (most species of which are not technically domesticated) can be kept happy and healthy as pets if the carer is sufficiently knowledgeable and has the necessary means.

My partner and I are vegan, and we have six birds and a cat.

If you keep your pets from running in the street and chasing cars, you're interfering with their pleasure in life. I know you think that is saving their lives, but who put you in charge of another creature's life? If you had your animals spayed/neutered, you know that you took away a fundamental right...the right to reproduce. Vegans don't believe humans have the right to interfere with another sentiment being's life. That's PETA's stand and it is the mantra of the Vegan Society.

And, yes, if you buy pet food that contains meat, you are supporting the meat industry, just like if you ate it yourself.

Perhaps you should consider being a vegetarian instead? They don't eat meat, you know.

But it's not true that being a vegetarian or vegan means not killing animals. 1.2 billion animals are killed every year in the planting, cultivation, and harvesting of the grains and veggies that make up the veg diet. You may not eat the bunny rabbits that die under the tractor, but they do die. Why is it ok to kill bunny rabbits for the grains and veggies that vegetarians/vegans eat, but wrong to kill a cow that I eat?

From the link:

"Animals of the field are killed by several factors, including:

1. Tractors and farm implements run over them.
2. Plows and cultivators destroy underground burrows and kill animals.
3. Removal of the crops (harvest) removes ground cover allowing animals on the surface to be killed by predators.
4. Application of pesticides.

So, every time the tractor goes through the field to plow, disc, cultivate, apply fertilizer and/or pesticide, harvest, etc., animals are killed. And, intensive agriculture such as corn and soybeans (products central to a vegan diet) kills far more animals of the field than would extensive agriculture like forage production, particularly if the forage was harvested by ruminant animals instead of machines. So perhaps fewer animals would be killed by producing beef, lamb, and dairy products for humans to eat instead of the vegan diet envisioned by Regan."

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/9…

As long you're adopting and not buying and actually taking proper care of the animals, there is absolutely nothing wrong with bringing animals into your home.
Don't listen to the ignorant ones saying vegans aren't allowed to bring animals home. They are trolls who like to spread their ignorance around this section.

vegan :D

Most vegans would keep pets of animals that are properly domesticable, like dogs & cats, even rabbits (NOT in cages), but not things that would need to be in cages/tanks, like hamsters, snakes, birds, etc

No this is not true considering that animals will probably be worse off if you do not have them as a pet and as companions which is the vegan nature to help animals and be friends with nature :)

Yes it is true. The vegan police will come and lock you up and make you eat meat.

all a vegan is is somebody that only eats plants.

A vegan is someone who tries to live a life free of animal exploitation. Living with a pet is not "exploiting" him or her, but a mutually beneficial relationship. I provide my cat food, water, shelter, medical care, toys, a good life; she provides me with companionship. And while I can do just fine without meat, my cat cannot, so I look for more "natural" foods.

Many vegans advocate going to shelters or rescue groups for people who want to live with non-human animals and recognize that living with them provides benefits. My cat is far safer in my apartment, sitting on her window perch enjoying "Kitty TV" (the view from my window) than she would be outside, considering all the mean people who hurt animals out there.