Knickers lives; so should other steer

It’s a relief that Knickers, the tallest steer in Australia, who became famous when photos of him towering over a herd of brown cows surfaced on social media, won’t be killed and turned into hamburgers and steaks. I hope everyone who was rooting for Knickers will do something to help other sentient animals like him and go vegan.

All animals, regardless of their size, are individuals with unique personalities. Cows, for example, are gentle ani- mals who form lifelong friendships and mourn when they lose a loved one. They feel pain every bit as much as humans do and are afraid to die. But when cows are sent to slaughter, they’re hung upside-down, their throats are cut, and they’re skinned and gutted.

Not all animals are lucky enough to be spared from slaughter. Fortunately, we can all help animals by eating vegan foods, instead of animal-based ones.

Heather Moore, senior writer PETA Foundation Norfolk, Va.