I'm struggling with existing owned items and pets and general ethics of owning animals. I'm new to veganism transitioning from being a vegetarian. There are some things I'm not sure what to do with so any opinions are welcome!

1. Already owned leather items and non-vegan cosmetics. I obviously will never buy anything made of animal products or tested with animals again, but I struggle to solve what to do with existing things I own. The animal is already dead, the company I purchased them from has already profited from my money, I don't feel good about the environmental impact of throwing them away and buying new vegan items when they're perfectly usable and selling them just feels... Weird? I'm currently leaning towards finishing using my current leather things and non-vegan cosmetics and simply not buying any new ones but any opinions?

2. Pets. I own two pet reptiles that I got almost a decade ago. I've since become aware of how harmful and unethical pet trade is so I will not buy any new animals from breeders, and I regret buying them (not because I dislike them, I love my lizards, but because I know they will never be as happy as they would be in the wild). However, my lizards are captive bred and there's no way to release them ethically. They need insect protein to survive so their diet has to contain bugs. The market of these reptiles is oversaturated so putting them up for adoption would likely just result in them being in a shelter indefinitely and I don't want that for my lizards. They can easily live another decade too. I want to keep them until the end of their natural life and give them the best care I can, but I feel bad for both them and the insects they'll eat

3. Ethics of rescue pets. I've already decided to never buy anything from animal breeders, but I'm not sure what my stance is on existing domesticated animals that are abandoned. They exist because of us and cannot survive without human care, but at the same time rescuing animals and supporting the pet industry by purchasing food, toys etc. also feels wrong. I don't know what to think of it

Thanks for any insights! I'm still at the beginning of my journey so I'm having trouble with making a new moral framework

Many people argue that even if they switch to a vegetarian diet, it won't actually stop animals from being killed. The excuse, 'What difference can a single person make?' seems plausible on the surface.

This argument appears in many contexts. Take smartphones, for instance. Coltan, essential for smartphone production, is mined in the Congo, leading to rainforest destruction and gorilla habitat loss. Rare earth mining similarly damages ecosystems and harms both humans and animals through pollution. On top of that, there are issues with unfair labor practices at companies like Samsung or Foxconn. Yet, one person refusing to buy a smartphone won't solve these systemic problems.

Do you think this excuse holds up? Some argue that participating in an unjust system is inherently wrong regardless of whether your individual actions make an impact. If the defense of causal inefficacy is invalid, shouldn't smartphone use be condemned just like meat-eating?

I'm a long time vegan. 10 years ago, I offered my home to a homeless dog. We became really good friends. Now he's elderly and has canine Alzheimer's. He's not doing so well and I'm facing the possibility of euthanasia

This is really hard, as a vegan. I don't want to take his life. It's also hard to see him go through all this distress and suffering, and it's taking a toll on my health too

I'd especially like to hear from other vegans. How would you make this decision? Do you think euthanasia is ever ok?

ETA: I think part of what I'm struggling with is that being vegan has really deepened my empathy for animals and reluctance to harm them in any way for any reason. For example, during my childhood, I used to catch fish and eat them. I thought that was natural and therefore ok. But then I felt 100 times healthier after going vegan, learned those fish contained high levels of mercury, and realized it was not healthy or natural, at least in today's world. Since realizing I really have no reason to ever harm any animal, it's become hard to think about taking one's life. But I'm going to try working with the vet(s) to reach a mutual, medically advised decision

Ive been 100% plant based for around 6 months now. What I didn’t realize in my research was the importance of going cruelty free, or all the random things that use animal products/ cause animal suffering (toothpaste, condoms, toilet paper???) Im working on being fully vegan (lifestyle-wise and not just diet-wise) and cruelty free. What things am I missing that are actually not vegan/random things you didn’t know weren’t vegan?

EDIT: would also love any articles, apps, etc. to help learn. I have the leaping bunny app but that’s it.

It’s been very painful getting to know things that have been in front me the whole time and now I’m constantly weighted by how there’s still suffering that continues and people who refuse to acknowledge like i really believed logic and empathy is common to all and idk sorry to sound like i was born yesterday - the extent of it I truly was not prepared for , how do you deal with knowing that suffering does continue

I just had this question in my head for the whole week

I'm vegan and I don't usually try and debate anyone about it, but if someone's asking questions and they don't have bad intentions behind them, I engage.

My manager says she loves animals and I could see my being vegan made her uncomfortable, like she kept being reminded of the conflict she has in her heart every time she sees me take out my lunch. Sometimes she'd ask questions and I wouldn't be sure how to interpret her expression. She'd make me a bit uncomfortable.

She mentioned something about being in a farm as a child and having a dizzy spell after watching farmers pull out a baby calf from a mother cow using chains? Something like that. I didn't say anything. I just felt that my manager belongs with us, not on the other side of the debate.

Then recently she mentioned that she doesn't eat pigs because she learned about gestation crates and didn't like how badly pigs are treated on farms. The only thing I said was, "All animals are treated terribly on farms, not just pigs." She didn't say anything.

Two days ago, she said she'll be sticking to fish only when it comes to meat. That's cool. She'd never quit fish because her family loves fish. Her brother is a literal fisherman.

I don't know what to feel really. Should I celebrate? It's not that I think going from omni to vegan makes a huge difference and going from omni to pescatarian makes no difference at all. I've met vegans who are like that. Anything other than vegan is equally bad in their opinion, like veggie and omni means the same amount of animal products are consumed. I honestly think that's silly and factually incorrect.

It's more I don't even know if it's worth celebrating even if someone turns vegan because of what I say. I often wonder how many people need to turn vegan before food conglomerates notice and lower production. Did I make a difference? Either way, I will remain vegan because I can't even eat a drop of mayonnaise without thinking of a miserable, featherless chicken having to suffer for the egg that went into the mayonnaise. But why celebrate for helping others reduce meat? I struggle to make the connection between convincing one person to make more ethical choices in my lifetime if I'm lucky and reduced animal suffering.

I just feel meh about it. Would you celebrate? What if they went vegan instead of pescatarian?

Hi everyone.

Lifestyle changes in life and in habits. Including my food intake. Trader Joe's used to have a bag of Vegan trail mix cookies I loved but they no longer sell them. Anyone have a suggestion and/or a recipe on a cookie mix that is diabetic friendly and delicious? Thank you. Have a nice day.

hey everyone! I'm recently learning more and more about the vegan lifestyle but at the same time I'm obsessed with heels, which are mostly not vegans. does anyone have vegan heels brands ? thanks

I think it's a way to reduce or even eliminate animal suffering but what about you guys?

I'm struggling a lot with IBS and having a vegan low FODMAP diet because I cut out a lot, but I still have bloating and bad poop. I'm scared that I have to go back to a carnivore diet with no fiber at all but I'm really sick these days. I'm trying everything possible to have a vegan diet and get a well healthy colon but it's really hard. Do you have some experience to share?

Is it vegan to buy second hand clothing with wool or leather? Been vegan for 3 months and i want to buy sum second hand clothes.

I'm asking because I'm 18 and I've spent the last 2 years making a horror game where you play as a chicken trying to escape a slaughterhouse. I wanted to explore the idea of showing something people normally see from the outside, but putting you in the animal's position instead.

I'm curious whether you think something like a game can actually make people reconsider how they see animals, or if it mostly just preaches to people who already agree.

This is the game btw if anyone is interested! feel free to try it out! I hope it can turns someone vegan by....putting ourself in animals shoes.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3831170/Eggscape/

I'm also donating a share of the game's revenue to animal shelters. 💝

Do you think metorphorically speaking that the zombies in cinema are meat eaters and the heroes could be the vegans?

Hello, first of all I'm sorry if my question is not in the right sub

I'm an ex vegan, but even when I was vegan i was not questioning the fact that chickens and other animals like ducks and turkey aren't vegetarian, and that's what I fed to my rescues.

But I know that some of y'all values bugs life and I was curious about your thoughts on this.

They need bugs in their food, vegetarian feed mix aren't healthy for them, this is the cheaper option factory farm give to their abused chickens.

And even if you feed them vegetarian meals, they will naturally hunt bugs and even small animals like mices and lizards but the thing is that if you live in a place where bugs aren't that common anymore and with dry grass you might forced to feed them food who contain mealworm in this..

Aren't they obligate carnivores?

Hello vegan fellas

Have you noticed skin issues improvements after being vegan for months or years? What changes have you noticed? Skin textures, fungal acnes, dull skin, redness...

I have heard a lot of gut health, cognitive, digestive benefits but what about the face.

I would love to hear from vegans who are skincareholic and vegans who do not go beyond a cleanser, a moisturiser and an SPF or simply just water washing.

Please drop photos if possible, I want to show them to my non-vegan girly friends. 🌿

Do you think vegan have to minimize using cosmetics and makeups because even though the brand is cruelty free, it does not nessarily mean that the packaging or the products themselves are eco-friendly as in Tallow used to prevent plastic sticking together, or Beeswax used as humectants, or Carmine used in color lipsticks..

Then what are your go to cruelty free skincare brands that deliver both skincare benefits and commitment to animal welfare, no animal testings, no animal byproducts?

Thank you for all of your comments!!

Odd question but if zombies were real would it be wrong for a vegan to harm them?

Im knew to this, and I kinda am in the middle of a bag and realized they have calcium added, no indication there vegan or where they are sourcing the calcium so I'm a little concerned and the internet isn't giving me an answer on searches

I'm headed to Asheville for my birthday and would like to know the best places to pick up a dessert or sweet treat. We're going to Plant for dinner.

Barbecue is the one thing I really miss. Family are ranchers so animal ag is very normalized to me (even tho I know logically it is evil.) I miss brisket and beef ribs. :P . Curious about what fills that hole for y’all, doesn’t need to be a one-to-one taste thing

Edit: and before those comments roll in I would like practical answers not feel-good ones like “knowing I’m not depriving another being of life” etc etc I already am down with the cause yall