Before the start of his 2007 European tour, international rock star Bryan Adams sat down with PETA to talk about animal rights and why loving his dogs as children led him to swear off meat for good. Here he is in his own words.
What made you decide to get involved with PETA?
I've been vegetarian for about 17-18 years now, since I was about 28. And of course, my motto has always been "If you love animals, don't eat them."
What do you think about the killing of baby seals for their fur in Canada?
I'm opposed to fur and any kind of use of animal products. I don't eat them, and I don't wear them. I'm not for the killing of any creature—whether it be seals, cows, dogs, anything. So anytime it comes to any kind of animal cruelty, I'm totally against it.
What made you sympathetic to animal rights? Was there one incident?
Being sympathetic to animal rights is just something that came very naturally to me. Perhaps because I used to have dogs growing up, and you know they became part of the family. And it never occurred to me growing up … I never put the whole thing of animal cruelty and that together as a youngster. But the moment I began to understand what was going on with the treatment of animals, it led me more and more in the way of the path I am [on] now, which is a complete vegan.
Want to learn how you can adopt a vegetarian diet? Order a free vegetarian starter kit today!
Need more reasons to go vegetarian? Watch PETA's video "Chew on This" to find out 30 reasons why adopting a vegetarian diet is the best thing you can do for your health, for the environment, and for animals.
Video Transcription: Reasons…reasons…reasons…to become a vegetarian. #1 – Because heart disease begins in childhood. #2 – Because a vegetarian diet reverses heart disease. #3 – Because eating meat and dairy makes you fat. #4 – Because you shouldn’t have to lie to your kids about the food that you eat. #5 – Because in every package of chicken – every package of chicken – there’s a little poop. Poop. #6 – Because meat is filthy and bloody. #7 – Because no living creature wants to see her family slaughtered. (Balloon deflating, dog barking) Ya hear that? #10 - Because Mad Cow Disease IS in the US. #11 – Because it’s violence you can stop. You can stop. #12 – Because no one should have to make a living by killing. #13 – Because it takes a small person to eat a defenseless animal. And an even smaller person to eat it. #15 – Because the grain used to feed them could feed them. (music, sound efx) – Ya need more? Because they’re defenseless. Because when animals feel pain, they scream, too. Because they don’t want to die. Because they feel fear. Because no matter how you slice it, it’s still flesh. Because commerce is no excuse for murder. Because everyone wants to be free. Because eating fish doesn’t make you a vegetarian. Because might doesn’t make right. (Sound efx…bells tolling). Learn More >>