Salute to the Class of 2012: Shorecrest's Kitty Jones

Shorecrest senior Kitty Jones is an animal rights activist who is headed to Cal-Berkeley in the fall. She moved to Lake Forest Park six months ago after experiencing several evictions and homelessness. She's attended LFP Elementary, Kellogg Middle School and Shorecrest. Her family includes parents are Allison Jones and Prescott Smith; sisters are Kachina and Damarah; brothers Osha, Arian, and Kona; along with "adopted dads" Timothy Austin, Jonathan Marcus, Dan Paul and "adopted mom" Cyrene Probart.

What prompted you to get involved with the animal rights movement?

I saw footage of factory farming, where meat, dairy and eggs come from. I was horrified that animals were being treated just like the Jews had been treated- yet it's "normal." Worst of all, I was supporting it! We're all supporting it! I then  learned about about how animals are skinned for their fur, how animals are beaten in the circus, how they are euthanized in shelters, how they're subjected to useless and cruel experiments in laboratories, how they are poached to extinction, and worst of all systematically slaughtered so that we can eat their bodies! Needless to say, the reality of the cruelty I has been so well hidden from hit me very hard and I went vegan the day I saw an animals being slaughtered. If I wouldn't do it to my cat or my best friend or my mom, why would I pay someone to do the dirty deed to another living being? From then on I began volunteering with Action for Animals, Northwest Animal Rights Network, Feral Cat Spay and Neuter Project, Humane Society for the United States, etc. I began attending protests against fur at Nordstroms and against animal abuse at Ringling Bros. Circus. I even adopted a kitty from the animal shelter. I also parade around school in a cow suit giving out free samples of vegan sausages and ice creams!

Where has that cause taken you? Is there such a thing as "cruelty free tummy" as your e-mail name says?

I think so. The greatest thing we can do to no support animals cruelty (and deforestation) is to not eat animal products (meat, dairy, and eggs). That's as cruelty-free as humanly possible.

What were your favorite classes at Shorecrest? What do you love about science?I LOOOOOVE Spanish, Environmental Science, and leadership. Science is my favorite because it's directly applicable to reality. I'm deeply passionate about our environment and in studying environmental science we can understand what we're doing [wrong] to the planet and how we can fix it!

What did you enjoy most about Shorecrest?

The freedom. The school has allowed me to take charge and leadership in what I really care about, even when it went against the school. I was allowed to advocate against dissection and meet the the teachers to discuss it. I was allowed to wear animal suits and pass out information about fur, the circus, meat, dairy, and eggs- (encouraging kids to eat less of them). They let me pass out free food and set up library displays about animal rights. Not to mention the love and community of the school. I really love the school.

Why did you decide to pick Cal-Berkeley?

I love that part of California, it's full of activists and new people to meet and things to learn! Berkeley's prestige and awesome environmental conservation courses will help me make the most possible positive impact I can on our environment.

Any future plans for a career or are you try a few things out?

I'm currently interning for the Humane Society of the United States, and in the future I want to do more internships and work for other non-profits in environmental and animal protection. I dream of halting deforestation in the Amazon for cattle grazing (I could save cows form being killed at the same time)!