In the wake of the Westminster Kennel Club dog show, and the subsequent and ongoing talk about PETA, I would like to say a few things. Firstly, know, that PETA’s main goal is to remove our ability to have ANY type of domestic animal for any purpose(1). That means carriage horses, service dogs, pets, police dogs, chickens for production or meat, farm animals, search and rescue dogs, hamsters, ferrets, show dogs, and on and on. It is their idea that, the only logical way to to end the “suffering” of domestic animals (pets, livestock, or other) is to make it to where humans are no longer able to own these animals. Period. “But my pets aren’t suffering,” you say? Neither are mine, but that is beside the point. They seriously believe that domestic dogs, bred for thousands of years to be in the service of mankind, are being tortured to the point of agony by sleeping on orthopedic beds, being provided with proper, reliable nutrition, being housed safely and in a responsible manner, being walked on leashes, and co-existing peacefully with their human owners. I am sure that my dogs, and yours as well, would beg to differ if they could speak. They are willing to toss 20,000 years of domestication by human beings, because an unfortunate handful of animals do end up being mistreated. The same theory would be true if having children was completely outlawed everywhere, because some children are victims of molestation, domestic abuse, and neglect. No one is suggesting such, because it punishes far more people than it benefits, and likely those abuses would just be shifted elsewhere.
Secondly, PETA is a “death cult”. I realize that word choice may seem harsh, but it seems the most descriptive, and accurate label for their policies. A vast majority of PETA’s “services” involve euthanasia (3). PETAs mission includes the “humane euthanasia” of animals who are ill, elderly or debilitated, and owned by people of fixed or limited incomes. PETA also works with shelters and humane societies to provide the same “humane euthanasia” in places were outdated methods (such as gas chambers) are still in place, or in places where “untrained” technicians routinely administer fatal injections into the chest cavity, instead of intravenously through a leg. They also euthanize any animal that is aggressive, seriously ill or injured that comes into their possession. On the surface, it seems like PETA is offering a final kindness to many, many animals that might otherwise suffer, or languish on the streets, or with owners who can’t afford the vet bills or the cost of euthanasia. But stop a minute and think about this. According to a recent article (2), PETA took in $52,000,000 in donations last year. That same year PETA took in 1,605 cats and euthanized 1,536 (a kill rate of 96% according to the article). They also took in 1,021 dogs that year, 788 were euthanized, 210 transferred to “kill” shelters, and only 23 were adopted. All this is a matter of public record. That amounts to almost $20,000 they could have spent PER ANIMAL for medical treatment, surgery, testing, vaccinations, housing, food, etc. With that amount of money PER ANIMAL you would think that PETA could save and adopt out more than 23 dogs in a calendar year. But their goal is not to “save” as many animals as possible. It has even bed said that PETA equates “no kill” shelters with “animal hoarders” stating that dogs are better off released from the cruelty of this world, than to have basic care for a few weeks or months, until a permanent home can be found.
"We are not in the home finding business, although it is certainly true that we do find homes from time to time for the kind of animals people are looking for. Our service is to provide a peaceful and painless death to animals who no one wants."
-- Ingrid Newkirk, PeTA President, The Virginian-Pilot, July 20, 2005
It sounds completely ludacris, right? But it isn’t. Currently, I have dogs, cats and chickens. The chickens are mostly pets, and are kept for their egg production (if you have never tasted a farm fresh egg, from free range chickens, it will make store bought eggs taste like cardboard in comparison!). I have in the past owned, ferrets, rats, fish and rabbits. Some were rescues, some were purchased, some were raised. PETA would like to see that aspect of our lives disappear altogether. No more teaching children compassion and responsibility by including “pet” chores in their raising. No more service dogs for the disabled, or guide dogs for the blind. No more eggs for breakfast, steak for dinner, or sausage for brunch. No more trips to the zoo, to learn about animals that aren’t native to this continent. No more medical testing, leading to better pet and human health (many medical procedures, that save countless human lives daily, were perfected on animal models first). No more teaching generations about conservation, by harvesting controlled numbers of target animals, thereby SPARING them from death by starvation or disease. No hunting, no fishing, no dog shows, no meat, no more medical breakthroughs, no pets. Think about what a large chunk of our lives those things encompass.
Thirdly, PETA’s tactics are sneaky. The chip away gradually, using already existing laws, or statutes and lobbying for them to be expanded or amended(4). They “rescue” dogs, only to have them euthanized later, without ever even attempting to find them homes. Because their philosophy is, “Better off dead…”. A dead dog, no matter what conditions it came from, is immune to any type of suffering permanently. If they cared about animals, they would make strides to ensure they were cared for properly, adopted out to the RIGHT homes, and given every opportunity to thrive. Instead they euthanize (under the guise of there not being enough homes everywhere), guilt (Adopt don’t shop! or Everytime you buy from a breeder, you condemn a shelter dog to death!) and use emotional videos and pleas to get you to have an EMOTIONAL (not rational) reaction to what is going on. Sometimes even going to great lengths to fabricate the “abuse” they are claiming to document (5)(6). I have had Scottish Terriers for 27 years now. None of my dogs have ever condemned a shelter dog to die, because I would not be going to a shelter to select a dog. I believe that mixed breed and rescue dogs are worthy (I did rescue for some 12 years) but they are not always the choice for everyone. If you love mutts, GREAT! I’m not going to try and talk you into owning a Scottish Terrier. Go forth and rescue! But that’s not for me. I am an advocate of pure bred dogs.
This is a dangerous slope. They try to mislead the public and say that breeders breed exaggerated and crippled examples of dogs, that spend a lifetime in excruciating pain, for the almighty dollar (7). That even “show” breeders house their winners in wire bottom cages by the dozens out behind some barn somewhere. Or that we only show our dogs so that we can charge more money for the puppies! Those of us who breed know better. There may be occasions where a dog has some painful or debilitating condition (I currently own a Scottie with CA) or a show breeder who mishandles their stock, but those animals are the EXCEPTION and not the reality in the world of dogs. Responsible breeders do their best to make sure those conditions aren’t perpetuated in our bloodlines. But even with the best testing, decision making and interventions, dogs will still get sick. Just like humans do. Despite anyones best efforts.
Imagine for a moment that you find out your Grandmother has cancer. Now imagine an organization, claiming to be supportive, caring and looking out for the best interest of the elderly (maybe they run a National chain of Nursing Homes, or hospitals specializing in geriatric care). This group runs an ad campaign claiming that “humane euthanasia” is the best thing to do for Gran, because, obviously you love her, and don’t want her to suffer AT ALL, do you? And cancer is painful. So is chemo. If you love your Gran, when she becomes ill at all, you should release her from her pain, after all, It’s the kindest thing to do. That is COMPLETELY out of the ball-park nuts to say the least. Because after all, that would deny your grandmother any quality of life she might have, based on the assumption that shes suffering terribly (even though she might tell you she’s not). That is what PETA does. They run emotional ad campaigns, soliciting donations under the guise of being an organization that looks out for the best interest of animals. But they really don’t have, what the general public at least, would consider “best interests” in mind at all.
This, is what PETA’s primary goal is, their ultimate “vision”
“For one thing, we would no longer allow breeding. People could not create different breeds. There would be no pet shops. If people had companion animals in their homes, those animals would have to be refugees from the animal shelters and the streets. You would have a protective relationship with them just as you would with an orphaned child. But as the surplus of cats and dogs (artificially engineered by centuries of forced breeding) declined, eventually companion animals would be phased out, and we would return to a more symbiotic relationship — enjoyment at a distance.(8)”
“enjoyment at a distance”, that’s right. The ONLY animals in PETA’s utopian vision, would be wild animals, enjoyed at a distance, we would all be VEGAN (meaning no milk, eggs, fish or anything other than plant products) and that is their end goal. And since Scottish Terriers, Arabian horses, Scottish Highland cattle, Nigerian dwarf goats, Rhode Island Red chickens, Tennessee fainting goats, Persian cats, and countless other “breeds” would not exist in a wild state, they would all be considered just a distant memory.
And if that’s not bad enough to get to you think twice, suppose we fast forward to PETA’s utopian vision. We’ve all been converted to being Vegan, like it or not. We only eat things that come from plant sources, consider this: It would still be illegal/impermissible to: poison rats that were eating/contaminating your grain stores, shoot rabbits or deer that were invading your garden and eating the only source of food you had to live on, kill raccoons who were acting erratically and could possibly have rabies, hit a coyote or a moose with your car, and so on. Because in PETA’s world vision, animals have just as much right to life and freedoms as human beings do. That’s right a rat = dog = fish = buffalo = eagle = child. And while perhaps noble in theory, isn’t in any way practical. If a bear is running at your child, you are not going to stand back and let “survival of the fittest” happen, you are going to defend your child (or any other family member) because in human society, humans have ultimate value above any animals.
Humans have domesticated animals for centuries to deal with these very problems. Terriers were bred to deal with vermin. Cattle were developed for milk and meat properties because as we developed agriculture, we no longer had the luxury to run after migrating herds of elk and buffalo. Before cotton, sheep and goats provided us with fiber to clothe ourselves and our offspring. Herding breeds keep those sheep in check, while guardian breeds kept them safe when the farmer wasn’t around. Fish provided easily obtainable sources of protein, with minimal risk for injury, and fertilizer to newly emerging crops. Domestic fowl provided cheap protein, and when laying tapered off, a nice meal for the table. Horses took us to faraway places, carried our goods to market, and lugged us into battle. Our lives as human beings, are inextricably woven with all that is around us, animals, the environment, and so on. If we lose our domestic animals, along with our ability to conserve wild ones, we lose touch with our history and humanity, and ultimately this planet. In addition to losing companions and compatriots part of being human is being able to connect with something outside ourselves. Which serves to not only remind us of our uniqueness, but ground us in the fact that we aren’t as unique as we once thought we were. Engaging with something that you have to work at to understand, because it lacks verbal language, is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of life. Dedicating your life to preserving and protecting those things, deepens the experience even more. Who hasn’t had a dog, cat or horse intuitively know that you are sad, depressed, or upset about something and made some sort of move to comfort, and maybe in some small way understand or alleviate our pain? We owe a large part of our existence to domesticated animals, it seems unthinkable to let someone take that away.
So the next time you see a PETA ad on television, or get a letter in the mail, that gets you right in the “feels”, take a minute and think about what you are actually donating to. A world where ONLY wild animals exist. A world where the standards are so high, that dogs and cats with basic needs met are seen as so miserable, killing them is better than having them wait a few weeks or a few months for a loving, permanent home. A world where the end goal is so viscerally important, that fabricating evidence, even if that includes harming some animals in the process, is just part of the game plan. Then, after your stomach stops churning, take your checkbook, and send a donation to your LOCAL shelter, or animal rescue. Put your money to work where you can SEE what is being done with it, and make a REAL difference for domesticated animals that deserve more than just alleviated suffering, but a chance to LIVE!
For more information:
PETA Euthanized A Lot Of Animals At Its Shelter In 2014, And No-Kill Advocates Are Not Happy About It http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/05/pets-shelter-euthanization-rate_n_6612490.html
PETA recommends euthanizing ALL Pitt Bulls or mixes (amoung other things) This was a letter sent to the Mayor of Williamson Co. TN http://www.nathanwinograd.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/PETAWilliamson.pdf
Dogs killed by PETA (graphic) I include this ONLY because the dogs look plump and healthy (except one puppy who migh have had mange) and all were destroyed http://www.whypetaeuthanizes.org/photos/
Philosophy on Euthanasia vs. more shelters (From their website) http://www.peta.org/about-peta/faq/couldnt-we-just-build-more-animal-shelters-rather-than-euthanize-dogs-and-cats/
PETA states your dog will “likley thrive” on a vegetarian diet (from their website) http://www.peta.org/about-peta/faq/is-it-safe-to-feed-my-dog-or-cat-a-vegetarian-diet/
PETA’s “Better off Dead” philosophy (also touches on Pitt Bulls and Ferals) http://blogs.bestfriends.org/index.php/2011/01/25/petas-better-off-dead-philosophy/
animalsbirds.com/discus-fish-images-gallery/
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