Advocating for Nonhumans Beyond the Grave

Most of us don't want to think about it, but at some point we are all going to die. Even before that time comes, we may become ill or incapacitated, and our chance for making important decisions will be too late. Who will care for our nonhuman companion(s)? Which charity would we like to leave our money to? There is no time like the present for activists to consider these and other questions.

Too often vegans believe they're invincible, as if being vegan is a guarantee of a long and healthy life. It's not. While a plant-based diet has proven to be an excellent way to reduce our risk of acquiring chronic diseases, it does not promise a life free of illness. In Even Vegans Die: A Practical Guide to Caregiving, Acceptance, and Protecting Your Legacy of Compassion, Carol Adams, et al. addresses vegan biases and how we can all be better advocates to ourselves and others.

If you are a guardian to a nonhuman companion or just want to make sure your ethical vegan values are reflected in decisions made on your behalf, here are some things you can do now to ensure that your advocacy for nonhuman animals continues even after you have become injured, ill, or have passed on.

In-Case-of-Emergency ID Card: Create a card for your wallet that specifies someone you trust to care for your nonhuman companion in the event that you become debilitated. The card should contain your address, the name and telephone number of your emergency contact, and a picture of your nonhuman companion. It should say something like: "My companion (name) is home alone. If I become ill or injured, please contact the following person to care for her." Emergency contacts should also have access (keys) to your home or know where to find them.

Making Arrangements for Nonhuman Companion(s):  In the same vein as the ID card, it's also a good idea to leave detailed instructions for the care of your nonhuman companion(s). Designate a guardian and make sure they're on board. You may even request in your will that they receive a monthly or yearly stipend. You should also provide them with detailed instructions. Think about everything you do now to care for your nonhuman companion and list it out. Provide their name, photo, date of birth, physical description, microchip ID number, food preferences, treats, eating habits, schedules, favorite toys and activities, personality, likes, dislikes, vet contact information, medical history, medications, lifestyle, sleep schedule, requirements, etc.—anything that would be helpful in replicating your same level of care. 

Green Burial:  Your concern for the environment and the homes of other animals does not have to end when you die. According to the Green Burial Council, green burials offer minimal environmental impact, reduce carbon emissions, protect worker health, and preserve habitat. Certified green burials do not use toxic formaldehyde. Using a green burial planning guide, vegans can identify their environmental and spiritual aims, and can choose non-toxic and biodegradable materials such as shrouds, essential oils, and natural markers like trees or wildflowers. For more information, visit the Green Burial Council.

Funeral Donations:  Consider making nonprofit organizations or charities that support your values and advance nonhuman interests your beneficiaries upon your death. Also, let the executor of your will or living trust know that you wish to receive donations to your favorite organization or charity instead of expensive and ephemeral flowers at your funeral or memorial service. Flowers are mostly grown in South America and Africa using cheap labor and chemical fertilizers, and even organic flowers require lots of energy to grow, transport, and store them.

Organ Donation:  According to the U.S. Government Information on Organ Donation and Transplantation, 20 people die each day waiting for a transplant, yet only 3 in 1,000 people die in a way that allows for organ donation. The more people who sign up to become organ donors, the greater the opportunity to save lives. "Being an organ donor is part of an ethic of generosity and compassion; it's a very vegan decision." wrote Adams. To sign up to become an organ donor, visit OrganDonor.gov and select your state.

Donating Body to Science:  Ethical vegans do not support vivisection or the use of nonhuman animals in research, "scientific" or otherwise. Besides, human bodies are better equipped for treating human diseases. By donating your body to science or to a university body-donation program, you can help advance better science, ethics, and the improved learning of future doctors. In addition, you may even help other animals by replacing them in laboratories, where they are caged, subjected to torturous experiments, and killed. Donating your body to science also has the added benefit of eliminating funeral and burial costs. In addition to medical schools, there are also private organizations like BioGift and Science Care that accept whole body donations. Some organizations will even allow organ donation because they deal in body parts as well as whole cadavers.

Additionally, it is important that hospital staff and medical professionals know about your commitment to veganism and how you feel about medications that may include or have been tested on the bodies of other animals. An Advanced Healthcare Directive or Living Will is a legal document in which a person specifies what actions they authorize and oppose regarding their health care should they no longer be able to make decisions for themselves.

While we're still alive and well, it's crucial to make our wishes known. By accepting our eventual demise and preparing for it, we can ensure that our nonhuman advocacy is meaningful in both life and death.

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