“Be brave enough to live the life of your dreams according to your vision and purpose, instead of the expectations and opinions of others.”
– Roy Bennet
When I set out on my journey of wanting to promote plant-based dog food as a vet and a Mum 3 1/2 years ago, I felt so incredibly alone! All I knew was that I felt great changing my entire lifestyle in my 50’s by going 100% plant-based overnight, and our little family dog Ruff loved the food I was feeding him having been a little dog who had only ever eaten meat-based dog food….surely this was the kindest way to feed our pets for our future?
I remember excitedly telling colleagues who I had known for years about this exciting new way of feeding dogs sustainably, and no one seemed as excited as I did…in fact one incident I will never forget! I remember having a lunch break at the busy practice I was working at and talking to a vet friend who I had such respect for and who I had known for years.
He had been a veterinary dermatologist most of his career and had actually been there to advise me when our own black Labrador Slick had been diagnosed with allergic itchy skin almost 18 years ago!!! I was so excited to tell him about why I had turned myself plant-based (as I tucked into my delicious avocado sandwich during our lunch break) and I proceeded to tell him how wonderful the food was at sorting allergic skin cases in dogs.
It was a truly novel protein diet far superior to any of the hydrolysed diets that we had been prescribing for years.
I waited for his answer expecting him to want to find out more to really benefit his itchy patients as I had already seen such remarkable changes in allergic dogs in the short time that I had been helping owners. He looked at me with a blank expression and said – ‘Would you like some more tea – I am making myself some’. I was so taken aback and felt saddened, shocked, numb, frightened (was I making a mistake?) and I felt so very alone!!
We all hate criticism, but being ignored can be as hurtful. I never mentioned it to him again and I held back mentioning it to any vet friends and colleagues unless they asked me about it. There is such a lack of knowledge about balanced and kind plant-based feeding of our pets.
How things have changed 3 years later and it is almost as if I am finally seeing through the fog and achieving my dream of sharing my vision and educating others. I was able to speak to vet students this month about sustainable pet foods which was a joy to catch them before they are ‘tainted’ by the large pet food industry companies.
The Start Of Inspiring Live Webinars
What an inspiring and fun evening having our very first live webinar this month with all the people who had bought the Plant-Based Dog Nutrition Course. I just loved having my Zoom screen full of wonderful people who I have helped. I do know that I had a vet, a doctor, a physiotherapist, a journalist, an occupational therapist, an ex-nurse and a teacher amongst the diverse interested people listening and sharing their concerns and listening intently to all I had to say….what amazing people (and their dogs) and best of all is that we all share the same vision for healthier dogs and a healthier planet!
“As a vet, I believe in a kinder, healthier way to feed our pets that does no damage to our environment, harms no animals and uses fresh, healthy plant-based ingredients for a balanced and delicious diet”
Arielle Vegan Vet
“If nobody changes then nothing changes but if somebody changes then everything changes!”
Arielle Vegan Vet
Celebrities choose vegan dog food
Lewis Hamilton speaks only of the health benefits to his dog Roscoe – he is not endorsing any products
New Scientist Publishes Article About Vegan Dogs
Yet again, we have proof that we are now entering a world of positive change for plant-based diets in our pets,
Our Plant-Based Dog Nutrition Course Launches!
“I have also signed up for your Plant-Based Dog Nutrition Course – it is so interesting and informative, I’m buzzing!”
Do you know what this striking animal is?
The maned wolf really blows the theory of our pet dogs needing meat in their diet completely out the water
The winds of change
I feel that we are all about to fast forward into a world that we care about far more deeply than ever before
From Controversy To Front Page Tabloid News
Look just how far vegan dog food diets have come in 10 months – what a positive turnaround!
Vegan Dog Food Panel Discussion
“You were both so eloquent and knowledgeable. It gives me such hope for the future and for the growth in this particular market”
Highs and lows of a scorching July
I have personally found this month both extremely challenging and overwhelmingly rewarding as JUST BE KIND is able to expand
Pets At Home sell plant-based dog food!
Wainwrights is Pets at Home own brand, and this week they launched a plant-based food throughout all their stores - both tinned and dry food. Read our full review of it here....
Vegan Campout
We were lucky enough to attend Vegan campout this year along with thousands of like-minded people
What about DCM with vegan dog food?
The Vet Times published these very important findings on the front page of the July issue of the Vet Times magazine
Has Brexit caused an increase in vegan dogs?
Read article published in May issue of Vet Record about the new EU regulations and taking dog food to the EU
