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

~ Luminous Wisdom 1 : The Three Differences