The innate compassion we all have for animal life is what motivates many people to go vegan. Different people get in touch with that compassion in different ways. Many people go vegan when they become aware of or involved in the animal rescue movement. Animal rescues are (usually voluntary) organizations in society which look after unwanted animals and try to find them new ‘for-ever’ homes. Many of these lucky animals are dogs, largely because puppy-farms have been allowed to create unsustainable growth in the urban dog population.
When people desert domesticated animals in the city, the animals usually end up dying in the streets or impounded by the authorities. The city authorities will normally kill the animals unclaimed within a relatively short period of time. Rescue operations (that have the capacity) will try and step in at this point. Their ability to do this is always limited by their access to funds because they are just about all voluntary organizations, and the cost of rescuing animals is high. The rescued animals are normally in need of veterinarian services and a recuperation period with adequate food, water, and shelter. Rescued animals are commonly entire (they have not been neutered) and rescue operations will normally neuter them before re-homing to ensure they do not continue to grow the problem in their new life. Vets usually work for rescue operations at considerably discounted rates, but their work, the food, and the overheads of the rescue operation all have to be paid for.
When people become aware of or involved in animal rescue, this often starts them on a journey of veganism.