Animals are interesting and unique individuals. They love their families and friends, just as you and I do, and they enjoy exploring and playing. Animals of all species deserve our affection, care, and respect. We should always treat them with kindness and empathy. Author and vegan activist Stewart Mitchell wrote a poem about just that. Check it out!

“I Love the Animals” by Stewart Mitchell

I love the animals!

They are my friends.

Cows, piglets, and also hens,

Bunnies, puppies, and kittens, too,

And horses, just to name a few!

I shower all my friends with love.

I give them kisses and lots of hugs.

They show me affection in different ways.

They bring me sunshine on gloomy days!

I cause no harm to those I love,

From fish below to birds above.

I show them kindness and compassion.

They are my friends, not food and fashion!

Some of my friends have colorful feathers.

Some have fur for frigid weather.

Some wear scales and slither around.

Some of my friends live underground.

Some have spots, and some have stripes.

Some of my friends come out at night.

All animals are the same.

They just go by different names.

They all want to live life happy and free,

No different from you, no different from me!

They all are deserving of respect.

That’s why I treat my friends the best,

So please show them love the way that I do,

Because my friends are your friends, too!

*****

Kind kid Westwynd reads some of Stewart’s poem aloud—listen:

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Share this poem with your family and friends to let them know just how important it is to be kind to all kinds. Have you written an animal rights poem? We’d love to read it! E-mail it to us at [email protected].