I think forcing veganism or vegetarianism on your pets is ridiculous. They are omnivores and need the protein from the meat. They aren't making the decision to eat a meat-free diet. The vegetarians/vegans I've known recognize this and feed their animals according to those needs.

I think we need to provide our pets with a healthy, balanced diet that meets their nutritional needs, and those needs include protein.
I have to admit, though, that I, too, avoid the flavors that sound yucky, even though my puppy would probably love them.
I also try to look for kibble and treats that have more natural ingredients as opposed to chemicals and byproducts.
The Blue Dog brand has great natural treats.

Wow, a question after my own vegan heart! There is a lot of discussion about this in the vegan and vegetarian communities.
Contrary to popular belief, dogs *do not* need animal protein--like humans, they are omnivores and do just fine on a plant-based diet as long as their nutritional needs are met.
Cats, on the other paw, are obligate carnivores, which means they need the amino acids present in meat. There are vegan cat foods and supplements that provide taurine (the amino acid that's only found in flesh foods). I don't have a cat, so I can't speak from personal experience.
When we adopted our dog Lucy, I was concerned about slaughterhouse byproducts in many commercial pet foods, as well as supporting the factory farm industry, but making her food just wasn't feasible. (If I was home all day, I absolutely would.)
We fed her a vegetarian food for a while (Nature's Recipe, which our vet approved), and while she loved it, it was a little rough on her sensitive stomach. We switched her to Nutro's High Energy, which is made with meat but, as far as I can tell, does not include slaughterhouse byproducts.
It's a pretty common concern, as our trainer told me she gets a lot of questions about vegetarian/vegan pet foods. A good resource for those curious about vegan pets is www.vegepet.com.

I am a vegetarian but my cats are fed a chicken and fish Science Hill diet. I never gave much thought to feeding them a vegetarian diet. It seems easier for me as a human to choose vegetarianism and plan my diet accordingly to make sure I still get all the nutrients I need. Plus, the cats can be a bit finicky about their food!

I know of several dogs that are vegetarians, though not by choice.
Many breeds are very sensitive to meat and other by-products in commercially available food.
My dog (a bulldog -- a breed infamous for its sensitivities) eats a hypoallergenic diet with one protein source, one fat source and one carbohydrate source.
As a puppy, I had a lot of trouble finding food that didn't make her sick -- there are two varieties, California Natural and Blue Buffalo that she can tolerate.
When we moved here I had difficulty finding her food and switched to another brand made by the same manufacturer; she regurgitated it.
It was after a short trip back to my parents where they had her old food that I realized the sensitivity. In short, dogs need good, healthful food choices that meet their specific needs, vegan, vegetarian or not.

There are pet foods and treats out there that are organic - for instance Primal foods.
There is a lot of misinformation out there about what dogs and cats can and can't eat.
Dogs do need protein. Cats even more so. There are dogs, due to medical conditions that need a low protein diet. I think some people, who have only the best intentions for their beloved pets, inappropriately push their own diets on them.
This is a sensitive subject and vegans and vegetarians rightfully are wary of the food industry, of being judged. Most I've met (and I once was vegan) are able to do what's best for their pet.

If I tried to take beef away from Foxy I think she'd go on a hunger strike! I was a practicing vegetarian for many years and in that time I never thought to impose my dietary habits on my four-legged family. Being vegetarian or vegan is a personal choice, one that I did not expect my husband and certainly not Foxy to follow. I feel guilty enough when Foxy won't touch dry food without a side of lamb, chicken, etc. She shows her displeasure by hurling her food bowl across the room!

I've also found that many people believe that the only way to get sufficient protein (for people or animals) is through eating animal products, and it simply isn't true. Tons of plant foods are protein-rich, and too much protein (no matter where it comes from) can be detrimental.

We have 3 vegan cats, one older male and two younger females, and they actually prefer their vegan food over any other food we ever used to give them. We also have a large breed dog on a vegan diet.
We have found several very high quality brands such as AMI, Onesta, and Holistic Blend, that all make vegan and organic pet food options.
We don't notice any difference in their health, they are perfectly healthy. The AMI Vegan cat food is veterinary approved and has taurine and all the necessary nutrients.
Our dog used to have diarrhea until we started feeding him the Onesta Organic Fruit & Veggies food which is vegan.

What I think is ridiculous is how everyone here and elsewhere seem to have a personal opinion on this issue, yet, I bet not a single one of you are a veterinarian.
I don't care what your personal opinion is on my eating habits, or those of my pets.
I care about what's scientifically sound and proven evidence.
This is not a matter of opinions, it's a matter of facts.
I am a registered dietitian and my two dogs are seen by two different vets in two separate states, both of whom agree with the vegan diet for my dogs.
We are all vegan.
I know from a nutritional perspective that omnivores do not require animal protein to provide an adequate and beneficial diet.
Animal protein is bad for your health, the environment, and the animals it comes from.
It's science, not opinion.
We are all healthy and happy and likely get better nutrition than the majority of people in this country. Yes, my dogs would probably eat meat if I put it in front of them and they would also probably drink antifreeze too.
They aren't out hunting for food in the wild, they're relying on me to provide them with healthy, nourishing food and I know a vegan diet is the best diet for myself and for my dogs.

Ed- I think most of the comments have been supportive of your view and several here are vegan or vegetarian.

Wow, so many people on here think you need flesh for protein! Anyone ever hear of plant protein?
Vegan dog food is made to meet the nutritional needs of dogs - and this includes protein.
Yikes, people need to do research before they rant against people for refusing to support animal exploitation and suffering in the name of "pet food".
I hope all the ones complaining about vegan dog food don't buy commercial brand dog food which contains diseased animal parts, animal feces, and euthanized dogs and cats (including the poisons they were euthanized with and the plastic and other materials that made up their collars).