2022-2023 Accomplishments and Goals
2023 accomplishments:
Vox published the story about the internal battle within the veterinary profession.
“Veterinarian Crystal Heath, who is one of the best-known critics of her profession’s relationship with the meat industry, seeks every opportunity to start conversations about how vets could end the biggest harms facing animals, like ventilation shutdown, rather than participate in them.”
Attended the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference.
Our Honor uncovered a secret AVMA campaign to exclude veterinarians who opposed mass killing of animals via heatstroke from attending the AVMA Humane Ending’s Symposium in violation of their bylaws.
Dr. Crystal Heath, who was one of the veterinarians barred from attending the AVMA Humane Endings Symposium, went to Chicago anyway and sat in the hotel lobby where the conference was being held.
A video made about the barring garnered significant media attention.
Dr. Crystal Heath spoke at the University of Chicago Law School “Partnering with veterinarians to confront the most powerful and abusive industry on the planet”
Dr. Crystal Heath spoke at the University of Wisconsin “Ethical Considerations of Dog Experimentation: Do Current Systems Adequately Address Them?”
Dr. Crystal Heath went to the Farmer John Slaughterhouse and spoke out during a pig vigil.
Veterinary Information Network published the story about the anti-ventilation shutdown+ veterinarians who were barred from attending the AVMA’s Humane Endings Symposium.
“‘It seems like the AVMA is weaponizing the language of safe spaces" to keep out dissenting opinion, she said. "Contrary to the AVMA's insinuation, my and my colleagues' actions — writing emails to our delegates, following procedures to introduce a resolution by petition, and publishing a peer-reviewed paper — is not disruptive. … Constructive criticism can help to improve the organization.’”
The New York Times’ Nicholas Kristoff published a piece about the footage obtained from inside a pig slaughterhouse, citing the veterinary opinion piece calling it a violation of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.
Andy Greenberg of Wired Magazine broke the story about the 16 hours of footage obtained from inside a pig slaughterhouse that shows the most common method of killing pigs in the United States is not humane, and cites the veterinary statement.
Dr. Crystal Heath hosts discussion with Dr. Nedim Buyukmihci who founded the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights.
Veterinary Information Network Publishes our letter in response to their article about the veterinarians barred from attending the Humane Endings Symposium.
The journal of the British Veterinary Association, Vet Record published two articles in February discussing depopulation and the veterinarians barred from attending the Humane Endings Symposium.
Dr. Crystal Heath was also barred from attending the AVMA’s Legislative Fly-In, which led to more public backlash against the AVMA.
Collected signatures in support of the Washington Ban on Octopus Farming.
Published opinion piece with Infectious disease physician Dr. Jan Hajek of the University of British Columbia in The Province on Plant-based foods for dogs.
Responded to the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association’s (ISVMA) opposition to the cat declaw ban HB 1533, by rallying veterinarians to support the bill and contact their legislators.
2022 accomplishments:
Expanded our contact list to include 1,600 veterinarians supportive of the campaign against mass killing of animals via heatstroke.
Built relationships with journalists providing veterinary legitimacy for activist efforts.
Raised awareness about corporate capture of the veterinary profession.
Supported the campaign to draft an amicus brief in support of Proposition 12 to the Supreme Court and gather nearly 400 veterinarians and animal welfare scientists to sign on in support.
Dr. Daniela Castillo published commentary in the Veterinary Information Network criticizing Baysinger’s case study where 243,016 pigs were killed using ventilation shutdown.
Dr. Crystal Heath and Dr. Gwendy Reyes-Illg published a letter in the British Veterinary Journal: Veterinary Record highlighting the cruelty of ventilation shutdown in the U.S.
Highlighted industry and AVMA bullying and retaliation against vegan veterinarians:
Attended AVMA Veterinary Conference (July 2022) to elevate the perspective of animal rights—Dr. Daniela Castillo was shoved from behind by an older male veterinarian while peacefully holding a sign.
The AVMA allied organization the American Association of Swine Veterinarians denied membership to Dr. Crystal Heath, further highlighting the organization’s biased agenda and delegitimizing its positions.
North Carolina State Professor and “poultry” industry veterinarian Dr. Simon Shane published a hit piece about Dr. Crystal Heath in Egg News calling her a militant vegan with a streak of zealotry. The article was later removed.
Assisted with outreach to the veterinary community to secure 276 signatures from AVMA veterinarians asking the AVMA to reclassify ventilation shutdown as a “not recommended” form of mass killing.
The petition was denied, further exposing the AVMA’s lack of compassion for animals.
Exposed industry influence over AVMA leadership.
Dr. Crystal Heath presented at the University of Wisconsin: Ethical Considerations of Dog Experimentation
Helped raise awareness and stop Utah House Bill 476 that would have allowed puppy mills, horse drawn carriages and circuses to return without any regulation and would have prevented regulation of any “animal enterprise.”
Drafted an expert statement in support of activist obtained slaughterhouse footage with signatures from several prominent veterinarians.
Elevated the issue of mass killing of animals via heat stroke in the media.
Endorsed Sen. Cory Booker’s Industrial Animal Agriculture Accountability Act.
Endorsed Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s Transparency in Depopulation Act.
Supported efforts in introducing AB-2764 in California which would place a moratorium on the expansion and construction of factory farms and slaughterhouses in California.
Helped edit and place opinion piece in the San Francisco Chronicle from former slaughterhouse worker Susana Chavez.
Dr. Crystal Heath published an opinion piece in the Fresno Bee highlighting the link between factory farms and public health concerns.
Opened an online store with Our Honor branded merchandise.
Dr. Crystal Heath spoke at Iowa Farm Sanctuary with Gene Baur and Soul Eubanks.
Engaged with veterinary students and promoted veganism while volunteering teaching surgery and providing veterinary care for animals in the Navajo Nation.
Attended the AVMA Veterinary Leadership Conference (Jan 2022) and confronted AVMA President José Arce with an anti-ventilation shutdown opinion piece published in the Chicago Tribune that day, while activists engaged with attendees.
Spoke at the Mindful Eating Film & Food Festival with Dr. Joseph Sky of Blue Zones.
Attended the Vegan Women’s Summit and Animal Vegan Advocacy Summit to network discuss the importance of addressing the veterinary community.
Assisted activist efforts surrounding press engagement with the Utah Smithfield Trial.
Advocated for the Alameda Rodeo ordinance which ultimately banned wild cow milking.
Advocated for the Los Angeles Rodeo ordinance, Dr. Crystal Heath published a letter in the Los Angeles Times.
Started a YouTube channel.
2023 Goals:
Create and empower more vegan veterinary students and veterinarians.
Publish two manuscripts in scientific journals that aid in legitimizing animal rights/veganism.
Host weekly meetings to keep volunteers and contractors engaged and working towards progress for the animals.
Provide ongoing veterinary support and perspective for activist campaigns and engagement with journalists and the media.
Support animal protection legislation.
Host one talk per month for pre-vet students, veterinary students and veterinarians.
Release a newsletter every week to our growing email list.
Publish at least 5 opinion pieces in major outlets that support activist efforts and center the interests of animals.
Attend at least 4 conferences a year:
2 Veterinary conferences
2 activism related conferences
Grow our social media account followings to at least 10,000 followers on Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok, and Instagram
Grow our mailing list to 20,000.
Award scholarships to compassionate veterinary students.
Build community and camaraderie among vegan veterinary students through our “Veterinary Student Wellness Guide” and “Veterinary Student Support Squad”
Bring in volunteers and form volunteer led committees to assist with the work.
Support efforts to create an AVMA allied organization with a seat on the AVMA House of Delegates that centers the interests of animals to introduce animal protection policy.
Provide critical commentary on the AVMA’s Guidelines on “Humane” Slaughter.