The official word appears to be that its not a requirement to be a vegan in in order to be active in animal rights/animal liberation causes. However, veganism is the only way to comply fully with the animal liberation philosophy.
Animal liberation has as one of its goals the abolishment of any use of animals or animal byproducts. Activists for animal liberation, ideally espouse the goals and philosophy of animal liberation.
The philosophy of animal liberation does not lie in the treatment of animals but in the use of animals by all humans. That means that animal liberation is against eating the flesh of animals, consuming dairy products or wearing animal skins or fur.
The extreme view in animal liberation is that animals should be elevated to the status of “legal persons” and to misunderstand this philosophy is dangerous to those who simply want to participate in better treatment of animals.
Animal liberation groups do indeed participate in better treatment of animals by promoting or funding some branches of animal welfare and perhaps that is where the lines get blurred for animal lovers.
However, if you wish to grasp the ideals of animal liberation, you should read a book referred to as the “bible” of animal rights. The book was published in 1975, written by Peter Singer and entitled, Animal Liberation.
http://vegan.org
http://www.catholiceducation.o rg