Animal Aid launched their Friend or Food tour for Vegan Month, featuring a recently refurbished Veggies Trailer, decorated as a spoof organic and free-range dog meat catering trailer, at various Nottingham locations on Tuesday 2nd November.

Well done to all the Veggies, Nottm AR and vegan campaign crew for their help with a ‘dress rehersal' at Clinton Street Market - the original location of Veggies Catering Stall from 1985 - 2002!

From here we rolled around to the nearby McDonalds on Clumber Street. From there it was another opportuntity to roll on down the hightway for the official campaign launch at 12 Noon right by the Council House on the Old Market Square.

Having been denied the opportunity to host the 7th East Midlands Vegan Festival at the Council House, it was appropriate to take it to the streets.

Once we had practiced the patter, the feedback ranged from bemusement to shock.

Apologies are due to the woman who was in tears, before we explained that it was all in the best possible taste - ie intended to draw comparisons between the animals who we pet and those who we eat. Pigs are as intelligent as dogs, and like dogs have only one thing precious to them - their right to life.

It was initially difficult to find the right ‘line', so we were very pleased to have had the ‘dress rehersal'.

When inviting people "try a free sample of Dog Meat" people were often confused and walked away, and those that did stop struggled with the concept. If they were willing to talk it through though, they eventually ‘got it' and were generally quite supportive.

Another approach was to say that we were interested to know if people prefered pork or beef, claim the dog meat to be as tasty as pig meat and get straight to the point - pigs are as intelligent as dogs, and value their lives just as much.

One lady, who eats ‘little meat' but cooks it for her familiy, ended up challenging her own daughter to carefully read the displays and herself talked through the issues involved. The daughter's response "my god, what will they be serving next" was very pertinent as the City Council often invite an ‘exotic meat' farm to cater on the exact same spot. If people are bored by pig or cow meat, and want to try Ostrich, Kangaroo, Crocodile or Wild Boar, then why not Dog!

Can you help with our future campaigns?

Visit http://www.veggies.org.uk, email info@veggies.org.uk or call 07870 861837