By John Di Leonard
As Spring arrives, bringing a season of renewal, two traditions—Anuvrat and Easter—offer a shared moral reminder: our daily choices matter, especially in how we treat animals.
Anuvrat, rooted in Jain philosophy, calls on us to take small but meaningful vows—commitments to live with greater compassion, honesty, and nonviolence. You don’t need to change everything overnight. You just need to start somewhere—and food is one of the most immediate and impactful places to begin.
Easter, a Christian holiday centered on rebirth and hope, should naturally align with these values. But too often, modern celebrations contradict the very compassion they’re meant to represent. We celebrate life while participating in systems—and traditions—that cause harm.
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Acharya Tulsiji (Photo provided by Arvind Vora)
Let’s start with the Easter basket.
The only animal that belongs in your Easter basket is one made of delicious vegan chocolate.
That’s true not only because of the cruelty of the dairy industry—where cows are repeatedly impregnated, separated from their babies, and ultimately slaughtered—but also because of a lesser-discussed, yet deeply troubling Easter tradition: the impulse purchase of live animals.
Every year, rabbits, ducklings, and chicks are bought as “cute” holiday props and placed into Easter baskets for children. Within days or weeks, many are abandoned, surrendered to overwhelmed shelters like mine, or worse—released into the wild by people who mistakenly believe they can fend for themselves. They cannot. Domesticated animals are not equipped to survive in the wild, and this abandonment often leads to suffering and death.
Choosing vegan, animal-shaped chocolate—or even a plush toy—instead of a live animal is a small but meaningful way to reject both forms of harm. It reflects the spirit of Anuvrat—a simple vow to reduce suffering—and the true message of Easter: renewal rooted in compassion.
If you’re on Long Island, there’s also an opportunity to turn that choice into direct impact. North Fork Chocolate and Eatery in Riverhead is offering Easter baskets featuring a bunny made of vegan chocolate, with proceeds supporting my organization, Humane Long Island—rescuing the very animals abandoned after the holiday fades.
This message feels especially personal to me this week, as I celebrated my birthday. Birthdays are a chance to ask whether we’re living in alignment with our values—and whether we’re willing to challenge harmful norms. For me, that means speaking out against traditions that treat animals as disposable.
Holidays shape culture. They teach children what kindness looks like. So what are we teaching when we normalize giving live animals as gifts? And what could we teach instead?
Imagine an Easter where no animal is treated as a toy. Where the only bunnies in baskets are made of chocolate—and even those reflect a commitment to kindness. Where celebration and compassion are fully aligned. That’s not radical. It’s responsible.
Anuvrat teaches us that small vows can lead to meaningful change. Easter reminds us that transformation is always possible. This Easter, make one simple commitment: leave real animals out of it. Choose vegan chocolate—and let your celebration reflect compassion.
John Di Leonardo is the founding director of Humane Long Island. He was previously the Senior Manager of Grassroots Campaigns and Animals in Entertainment Campaigns for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). He has a Master's degree in Anthrozoology from Canisius College. He also earned a graduate certificate in Jain Studies from the International School of Jain Studies (ISJS) in India. John can be reached at [email protected].
