December 11, 2025
Tails of Hope Podcast – Season 2, Episode 9 (Part 1)
Guest: Professor Andrew Knight – Veterinary Scientist, Animal Welfare Pioneer, Global Voice for Compassion
What happens when one student refuses to perform a ritual the world accepts as “normal”?
In the year 2000, a young veterinary student named Andrew Knight shocked an entire institution by refusing to kill animals as part of his surgical training.
That one act of courage lit a fire that has now burned for nearly three decades — turning him into one of the world’s most respected voices in animal welfare science, humane veterinary education, and ethical reform.
In this powerful new episode of Tails of Hope, we sit with Professor Andrew Knight, whose extraordinary journey proves that the future of veterinary medicine is not built on suffering, but on compassion, science, and moral clarity.
This is not just a conversation — it is a revolution of conscience.
? Today, Andrew is a Professor of Animal Welfare, affiliated with Murdoch University School of Veterinary Medicine and two other international universities. But his path was carved not by privilege — rather by resistance, resilience, and truth.
In this episode, he opens up about:
? His refusal to kill animals as a vet student
A bold rebellion that challenged outdated educational norms and reshaped policies globally.
? His pioneering research on vegan pet nutrition
Now one of the most cited experts in the world, Andrew reveals how scientifically formulated vegan diets can support thriving, healthy cats and dogs — a revelation reshaping veterinary nutrition conversations everywhere.
? His second PhD (2024) on vegan pet food and
? His first PhD (2010) critiquing animal use in science,
both now foundational references in humane education and animal ethics.
? His experiences as a small-animal veterinarian,
working closely with the very beings he advocates for.
? 500+ annual global media mentions, major campaigns, keynote talks, and the growing movement inspired by his work.
From classrooms to conferences, from the UK to Australia, Andrew’s influence spans continents — proving that science, when rooted in empathy, becomes a moral force.
? Listening to Dr. Knight is like being reminded of the original purpose of medicine — to heal, to protect, to serve life.
He speaks with clarity and conviction about:
✨ the future of veterinary education
✨ the ethics of animal use in science
✨ the urgency of plant-based transformations
✨ the responsibility veterinarians carry as the only doctors who treat those who cannot speak
His words dismantle outdated practices with grace and replace them with hope — a roadmap for a world where compassion doesn’t compromise science, but elevates it.
This episode awakens the listener to a simple truth:
Courage is contagious.
Compassion is evolutionary.
And one person who refuses cruelty can reshape an entire profession.
? Tune into Tails of Hope – Season 2, Episode 9 (Part 1) featuring Professor Andrew Knight — now streaming on:
✔ Spotify
✔ YouTube
✔ iTunes
✔ Amazon Music
✔ Castbox
Let this episode remind you that the future of animal welfare will not be written in labs or classrooms alone — but in the hearts of those brave enough to question tradition and defend sentient life with science and soul.
? All streaming links in the comments.
? Because justice begins where empathy refuses to stay silent.