Is PETA Dangerous...?

Question

I am a strong advocate of humane treatment of animals but there is activism and there is extremism as well as cold blooded hypocrisy. If what is in these two links below is true, then should PETA be trusted and supported? What do you know about hypocrisies and extremism of PETA (please share link)?

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/06/23/EDG11DC9BK1.DTL

http://www.petakillsanimals.com/article_detail.cfm?article=134

Here are excerpts from the links,

-The arrest followed a rash of unwelcome discoveries of dead animals dumped in the area. According to veterinarian Patrick Proctor, the PETA people told North Carolina shelters they would try to find the dogs and cats homes. He handed over two adoptable kittens and their mother, only to learn later that they had died, without a chance to find a home, in the PETA van.

-The Center for Consumer Freedom, which represents the food industry, a frequent target of PETA campaigns, released data filed by PETA with the state of Virginia that shows PETA has killed more than 10,000 animals from 1998 to 2003. "In 2003, PETA euthanized over 85 percent of the animals it took in," said a press release from the lobby, "finding adoptive homes for just 14 percent. By comparison, the Norfolk (Va.) SPCA found adoptive homes for 73 percent of its animals and Virginia Beach SPCA adopted out 66 percent."

-And PETA vegetarian campaign coordinator Bruce Friedrich told an animal rights convention in 2001 that “blowing stuff up and smashing windows” is “a great way to bring about animal liberation.”

-PETA activists regularly target children as young as six years old with anti-meat and anti-milk propaganda, often waiting outside their schools to intercept them as they walk to and from class-without notifying parents.

Answer 1

I wouldn't support PETA, they seem to thrive on negative sensationlism

Answer 2

The story about PETA being charged with killing and dumping animals in a dumpster is a hoax. A while back someone took a quote from Ingrid Newkirk out of context. The quote, "I would go to work early, before anyone got there, and I would just kill the animals myself. Because I couldn't stand to let them go through that. I must have killed a thousand of them, sometimes dozens every day" was in reference to her working at the pound in DC. These animals had been severely abused and tortured and it was more humane to put them down than have them suffer. PETA does not run an animal shelter or have an animal shelter facility. They work with local animal shelters to encourage no-kill proceedures and humane euthanasia proceedures as well as educate the public on pet overpopulation. There are a lot of people out there who are against PETA and go as far to set up anti-PETA web sites such as the www.petakillsanimals.com. The other one I've never heard of but most likely it is an anti-PETA web site as well. PETA has not had any charges filed against any of their employees however there are a few volunteers which are pretty radical. Since PETA has an open membership program it's very difficult to filter any problem people.

Answer 3

The website peta kills animals is put out by the CCF. The CCF is a front group for big tobbacco, resturaunts, meat industry, and alcohol. The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit corporation run by lobbyist Richard Berman. Berman is known as a spin doctor. He misinforms, alters the truth and down right lies to get his message across.

This is the same man that went against the group, mothers against drunk driving(MADD) and wanted to lower the legal blood alcohol level. He goes against groups that are will impact the profits of his financial backers(meat and alcohol, industries, etc0. The group denies the obesity problem in the U.S. and is against Unions and a minimum wage for workers.

In Bermans own words his strategy is "to shoot the messenger ... we’ve got to attack their credibility as spokespersons"

Be careful what you read, not everything on the internet can be trusted to come from a credible source that does not have some sort of agenda behind it.

Most of the info about PETA killing animals is either false or exaggerated. PETA works with shelters, and shelter must euthenize animals sometimes. The animals that are euthenized are sick. Sometimes the most humane thing that can be done for these poor animals is euthenasia.

Answer 4

I think in the most part, PETA does a good job and definitely makes people aware of certain issues. Sometimes they may just not have the money or means to care for animals they have rescued and so therefore euthanize them. If they've saved animals from research labs and then haven't the money to care for them then at least they give them a painless death instead of a prolongued one where they'd be tested on. It's a shame that the people that actually care for animals end up having to make these hard decisions because other people care so little for them.

There may be some cases that their members take things too far but this shouldn't affect people's general opinions of the rest of them. Just like there may be some radical religious people who take their beliefs too far, this doen't mean that the religion as a whole should be discredited or just like there are trolls on here pretending to be veg... that doesn't mean we all are. Generally I think peta does a good job and they have good intentions. They're not perfect but they've saved millions of lives so therefore should get some respect rather than being thought of so negatively.

Answer 5

I visited the PETA headquarters last year, and though they do a remarkable job in stimulating public awareness and discussion of animal rights, the articles you cite are essentially correct.
If you get On-demand TV or have a friend who does, there is currently running a show on HBO called "I am an Animal" mostly about Ingrid Newkirk.
It does give some counterpoints to PETA's tactics.

Answer 6

Great answer Lorenzo. I'd love to visit Peta's headquarters. I'm sure it was an awesome experience. Peta is only as extreme as they need to be to get people to help and protect animals.

Answer 7

Only for the animals.

Answer 8

no, it isn't.i'm a member of peta!!!