The Oireachtas is today considering calls to make the killing of a pet equivalent to the murder of a human being in law.

It comes after a petition asking TDs and Senator to debate making "unlawfully killing a pet an offence akin to murder, not criminal damage" was submitted to the Oireachtas Committee on Public Petitions.

On Newstalk Breakfast, GoVegan World Director Sandra Higgins said there is no reason why the law should place a higher value on the life of a human over that of an animal. 

“We would like the law to be consistent - because other animals share the same feelings and experiences in their lives as humans do,” she said. 

“But rather than use words like ‘murder’ or talk about changing the legislation, we… educate the public that in the same way that we know that cats and dogs have feelings and it’s wrong to unnecessarily harm them, so do the other animals we use - mostly the farmed animals that we eat. 

“They also value their lives; so, it’s wrong to breed them and use them as our resources.” 

Farmer in Ireland walking behind a herd of cows on a narrow country road on Valentia Island in County Kerry, Ireland.

Ms Higgins said it is immoral to kill “somebody who doesn’t want to die” - no matter what their species. 

“We don’t have a right to take their life,” she said. 

“The reason why people think it’s acceptable to kill them is that they think that we need to eat them and they like the taste of them. 

“What we’re saying is, even if a sheep is born and she lives outside until it dies, is it alright for us… to kill her? Is it acceptable for us to eat her because we like the taste.” 

A sheepdog herding sheep.

Ms Higgins said eating meat is not “necessary for survival” and humanity is the only species on the planet that farms others for their consumption.  

“There’s no other animal confining and breeding other animals in the numbers and awful conditions that we are,” she said. 

“The only animal that needs to eat another animal is a carnivore and humans are not carnivores - we’re omnivores. 

“We can get all the nutrition that we need from a plant-based diet.” 

According to a 2021 survey by Bord Bia, 14% of Irish people support veganism but only 2% adhere strictly to it.

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Main image: Border Collie puppies running around.