Please enjoy this article from the latest issue of our magazine, PETA Global. To begin your subscription, become a PETA member today!
PETA’s engaging ambassador Carly the Talking Cow is helping children (and adults) see why going vegan means helping animals. Carly, whose voice is that of award-winning actor and vegan of 21 years Alicia Silverstone, has been traveling to schools across the United States to tell the story of her rescue from life on a dairy farm.
“Just like human mothers,” she explains, “a cow produces milk for her own baby calf after she gives birth. You’re not a baby calf, are you? Of course not! But on the dairy farm, my babies were taken away from me when they were just a day or two old so that my milk could be sold in stores instead of given to them. I still think about my babies every day, and I miss them soooo much.”
Kids Say the Darnedest Things
Children are naturally empathetic, and their facial expressions are priceless to watch as Carly talks. One little boy whispered, “Cows want to live,” as he listened, wide-eyed. “Carly felt uncomfortable and sad so she wanted to run away,” said a little girl, her voice full of compassion. “Cows make milk for their babies, like we make milk for our babies, too,” another girl realized. A student murmured that we are the same–we just have different shapes.
Children learn how Carly and two friends escaped from the dairy farm and were rescued by a sanctuary. As she recounted giving birth there to her son, Lucky, and getting to keep him, two little girls hugged each other with delight. Many of the kids told her, “I love you, Carly.” After every presentation, PETA staffers give each child a yummy Tofutti Cutie or So Delicious dairy-free ice cream sandwich. As one group of children concluded, “Foods taste better when they don’t hurt animals.”
When asked what they could do to help cows, the students enthusiastically shouted answers like “We can help by not eating dairy products!” and “Eat pizza with dairy-free cheese!”
Carly is reaching adults, too. One teacher told PETA staffers, “This was exactly the motivation I needed to go vegan.” A principal thanked them, saying, “That was wonderful. I hope you come see us again soon.” Another teacher decided that she was going to start incorporating more humane education materials into her lesson plans. Numerous educators invited PETA’s team to come back and give more animal rights presentations anytime.
PETA’s talking cow has already helped thousands of children – and quite a few adults – see why eating vegan is crucial to ending cruelty to cows and calves. She will continue hoofing it across the US, changing minds with kindness and cruelty free treats.
Help real-life cows escape dairy-farm misery by choosing nondairy milks, cheeses, ice creams, yogurts, and coffee creamers, which can be found in most major supermarkets. And if you’re an educator, visit PETA’s humane education division at PETA.org/TeachKind for free lesson plans, classroom presentations, and more to promote kindness and compassion for all.
