Dear Sue, thank you for your response. When you cite “$300 million in profits”, you are forgetting that much of the value of sales is needed to pay production costs. More importantly, allow us to address your comment about veterinarians and the Hippocratic Oath. This oath has been traditionally taken by physicians and their assistants, though taking it is not a requirement of their profession. It has changed over the centuries, but today is most commonly associated by laymen with the phrase “utmost respect for human life from its beginning”.

Veterinarians do not take the Hippocratic Oath. However, they may take a comparable oath, such as the Veterinarian’s Oath adopted by the American Veterinary Medical Association. This oath states, “I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.”

Note that the Veterinarian’s Oath is concerned primarily with the benefit for human society, because protection of animal health is essential for the welfare of humans and human society. A veterinarian is not concerned, however, with the absolute sanctity of animal life in the way that physicians are sworn to protect human life. We understand that some people now try to avoid any use of animals (the “animal rights” philosophy), but most people still believe that it is ethical and acceptable that we use animals to feed, clothe and otherwise help humans.