Southside Teens Win ARAN Award for Tireless Efforts to Defend Animals
Dublin, Sixteen-year-old Clondalkin resident Kelley Cummings and seventeen-year-old Walkinstown Eimear Byrne have won an Outstanding Activist Award from ARAN, Ireland's largest grassroots animal protection group for their undaunted determination to educate the public and their peers about the suffering of animals raised and killed for food, in circuses, on Ireland's fur farms and on the street as well as for their other efforts on behalf of animals.
ARAN's Siobhan Higgins interviewed the terrible two some to find out more about how they got active for animals.
Kelly Cummins
1. What made you get involved with animal rights?
I have always wanted to get involved with animal rights since i was a kid.
2. Do you still eat meat?
No i stopped nearly five years ago.
3. Which is your favorite animal
A horse
4. What do you like most about Animal Rights Action Network's work for animal rights?
I like the fact that they help animals that can't help themselves.
5. What are your favorite ARAN campaigns and why?
Fur and ones on animal experiments because one i think that fur is completely wrong and the experiments i think are wrong to do on animals also.
6. What would you say to other teenagers about getting active for animals?
I would say that no animal has a voice and it can't speak for itself so it counts on us to speak up for it.
7. Which is your favorite vegetarian food?
Quorn chicken pieces.
8. What is your favorite band?
Good Charlotte
9. Have you any companion animals?
Yes I have a dog and a cat.
Eimear Byrne's
1. What made you get involved with animal rights?
I was in town and was approached by a woman who was handing out leaflets against animal cruelty. She mostly discussed the issue of fur farming. Before talking to her I didn't realize the cruelty that went on and from then on I decided that I would help protest for animal rights.
2. Do you still eat meat?
No i don't eat meat. I became a vegetarian when I was 16 years old.
3. Which is your favorite animal?
I love many animals but if I had to pick it would be dogs, I think they are just so loyal.
4. What do you like most about Animal Rights Action Network's work for animal rights?
They really get involved for the animals. They work so hard for the cause and I admire that! I feel so privileged to be able to work with them.
5. What are your favorite ARAN campaigns and why?
I love the anti fur campaigns the most. It's the topic that really hurts me to think about when it comes to animal cruelty!
6. What would you say to other teenagers about getting active for animals?
I would say that animals should be treated like we treat other people. There's no excuse for animal cruelty and that everyone should do what they can to stop animal suffering.
7. Which is your favorite vegetarian food?
I always loved Italian food so I would have to say that my favorite would be vegetable lasagne. I like to make up my own Mexican food like chili con carne with quorn mince and vegetables.
8. What is your favorite band?
My favorite band would have to be Good Charlotte. Their music is amazing and they have a heart when it comes to animal cruelty.
9. Have you any companion animals?
I don't have any animals because there are so many in my family. I have some younger siblings that you could call animals when it comes to dinner time but i would love to have a dog when i have my own place to live.
10. What would you say to people who abuse animals?
I would say that people who abuse animals have no heart. I think that animals are harmless and no one has any excuse for hurting them. There should be worse consequences for people who hurt or abuse animals. If you don't agree with child abuse, why are animals any different?