Using motivation as a criterion, to liberate animals for one’s own freedom from samsara is viewed as a supramundane Hinayana practice. To do it out of bodhicitta, the wish to attain Buddhahood for the sake of all sentient beings, is a supramundane Mahayana practice. To couple the Mahayana practice with some Vajrayana views essentially makes animal liberation a Vajrayana practice.
~ Depicted from Luminous Wisdom Book Series 1