Grief to Advocacy: How Losing my Dog Led Me to Helping Other Animals

Written by peta2 Youth Advisory Board member Rowan Murray

Growing up, I stopped to say hi to every puppy I saw, volunteered at an animal shelter by taking dogs on walks, playing with them, and cleaning their kennels, and my two dogs were my best friends. But when my dog, Penny, passed away, it changed my outlook on all animals. The only thing that comforted me was knowing I gave her the best life I could, and I hoped all other dogs were in loving situations like this. Then I had a thought: What about all the animals we’re eating? After one night of research, I stopped eating animals altogether.

I made sure my food, cosmetics, and cleaning supplies were animal-free, but I knew I had to be a louder voice for animals. I remembered a year earlier, my mom saw a live protest at a nearby horse racing track. She described to me the huge sign held by the protesters, which boldly read, “PARX KILLS HORSES,” the name of the racecourse. We both felt admiration and curiosity. Not only were we unfamiliar with this type of event, but we also always felt iffy about horse racing itself.

I realized I needed to get involved in activism, so I decided to find out more about the protest. I saw the organizer’s info in a news article, looked them up, and found a community of local animal advocates. I went to the next protest and met my first fellow vegans (plus my first hecklers). It showed me how much animals need us: The use and consumption of animals is so deeply ingrained in our society.

The same conviction that led me to my first protest has led me to attend more vegan events, meet many other animal advocates, and join peta2’s Youth Advisory Board, where I continue my advocacy.

As of now, I’m working as a peta2 tour crew member for the 2026 Summer School Tour. I get to travel around the country informing people on how they can “break up” with dairy. As a part of this campaign, I went to my first Warped Tour Festival and had an absolute blast! I talked to thousands of people, many of whom had no idea where dairy comes from. A lot of people thanked me for the information, and I was able to get over 600 people to text in to peta2. One person told me the reason he went vegan was because of meeting peta2 at Warped Tour!

What started as grief for one dog has grown into a lifelong commitment to protecting all animals. Through this work, I’ve met pigs, chickens, and turkeys, all with personalities as unique as my dog. She made it clear that animals aren’t here for us. They are here with us, and all of them have the right to live.

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Going vegan is the best way to help animals—order a free Guide to Going Vegan for the tips and recipes you need!