The Easter holiday is rooted in the Christian religion, but somewhere along the way, rabbits, chicks, pigs, and other animals have become the faces of the celebration. Humans position other species as adorable representatives of the holiday while forcing them to endure almost unimaginable suffering on farms and in slaughterhouses. Instead of perpetuating the abuse of animals this Easter, commit to celebrating them year-round by going vegan.

Check out PETA President Ingrid Newkirk’s powerful Easter message to learn how we can be kinder to all animals this spring:

How Do Animals Suffer at Eastertime?

Easter meals often feature ham, which comes from pigs who spent their entire lives in filthy concrete pens, endured rampant cruelty, and then were slaughtered.

Children look forward to a visit from the mythical Easter Bunny, who supposedly brings chocolate and eggs on the holiday, but young people looking for Easter eggs would be horrified to learn that hens on egg farms suffer from constant confinement to tiny, filthy wire cages. In the egg industry, male chicks are killed and the beaks of female chicks are painfully seared off to keep them from pecking one another.

Some parents purchase rabbits for their children for Easter, unaware of the commitment that these animals require in order to be cared for properly. Rabbits are the third most commonly surrendered animal at animal shelters, behind only dogs and cats.

Easter Should Be a Time of Renewal and Joy for All Sentient Beings

The kindest choice you can make is to go vegan. We’ll even help you get started: