I have become deeply disappointed with PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
I must confess that I drank the Cool-aid too, then I started seeing some really off-the-wall postings on Facebook, on their own website, and on other animal rescue and advocate sites, so I blocked them from my Facebook page and un-subscribed to their emailings. Now I am hearing from my fellow animal rescuers about some really radical beliefs that PETA has that are undermining our rescue efforts.
How did this group of get so off track?
PETA started out with good intentions: fighting for better treatment of lab and zoo animals and running campaigns against the fur trade, but they have lost their focus. They have become a killing machine. It has become their philosophy that all feral cat colonies be eliminated becausethey believe feral cats spread disease. In actuality, feral cats are no more likely to suffer from disease than the average house cat. Yet, PETA wants to exterminate them like the very disease carrying vermin that they are controlling for us. What have feral cats done to deserve such scorn from PETA?
Also, according to their own figures, year after year PETA has killed more animals than 80% of the animal control shelters in their own state of Virginia. In 2005 PETA killed 90% of of the animals taken in and adopted out only 6% - a ratio far worse than almost any pound in the country. PETA was indicted by a grand jury in 2005 for euthanizing animals retrieved from pounds, even though veterinarians and animal control officers were told by PETA workers that they would "find homes for the animals rather than euthanize them". Criminal indictments were handed down charging PETA staff members with obtaining animals under false pretenses.
PETA also supports BSL or "breed specific legislation.' PETA leader Ingrid Newkirk wholly endorses the complete extinction of 'Bully Breeds'. This is not animal advocacy, nor is it an ethical treatment of animals- it is the licenced extermination of unwanted or "nuisance' companion pets.
PETA needs some serious oversight of their activities. They have no business in animal rescue - that's obviously not their focus nor is it their intention.
PETA is an obsolete idea. The organization should be dismantled. There are many thousands of rescue groups and shelters that can do a much better job of animal rescue and advocacy. PETA needs to step out of theway - their time has past.