Vegan Illustratus: 3rd Annual Valentine’s Day Edition

Every Valentine’s Day, I publish an array of awful animal-themed vintage valentines and title it, Vegan Illustratus.

Vegan Illustratus (n): enlighten vegan philosophy, clarify vegan ethics, to provide with visual features intended to explain vegan theory and demonstrate institutionalized animal use.

As silly as these cards may seem, they’re not when viewed through a vegan lens. Seeing animals reduced to nothing more than a pun on children’s valentine is chilling, even more so because our attitudes towards animals have changed very little in all these years.

Before we get to the valentines, it’s interesting to note that it seems I’ve started a trend with my Vegan Illustratus articles. Now, mainstream websites are publishing similar stories; some even swiping their photos from here!

(Ironically, however, these sites are far from vegan, and although they mention, “a cow destined for the slaughterhouse begging for your heart,” they don’t make the connection to veganism. Still, one can hope that we’re moving in that direction.)

So in honor of the Day of Love, I present to you the Vegan Illustratus: 3rd Annual Valentine’s Day Edition. Because nothing says “I Love You” like blood, knives, and killing an animal or them killing themselves.

Strangely, there’s a trend in having animals shoot themselves on Valentine’s Day cards. It’s horrible bizarre.

And, um, this gem.

And, while technically not a Valentine’s Day card, this just skeeves me out in a way I can’t describe…

This Valentine’s Day, choose compassion.  There is no greater (love) gift.

For more vintage awfulness, check out Vegan Illustratus: 1st Annual Valentine’s Day Edition and Vegan Illustratus: 2nd Annual Valentine’s Day Edition