More on PETA

[Guest guest]

I am a long time supporter of PETA and always find it disturbing that there is

so much anti-PETA sentiment in the animal rights/welfare movement, much of it by

those in favor of a " no kill " approach to animal welfare. Many seem to view

PETA as the enemy of animals. But the real enemies of animals are those who are

raising and killing animals for meat, dairy, eggs and fur, those who are running

puppy mills, or abusing animals in circuses and rodeos. And what I have seen is

that, every day, PETA staff are fighting against these and other forms of animal

abuse, putting in long hours for very little money, some actually risking their

own lives and safety doing undercover work to expose animal cruelty.

 

Everyone I know of who works at PETA truly loves animals. That's why they work

so hard. That's why they work for so little money, including Ingrid Newkirk

whose salary in 2005 was $32,000. They are dedicated people trying everyday of

their lives to make life better for animals.

 

Perhaps some disagree with PETA's stance on euthanasia. Ingrid Newkirk has

stated that she is in favor of euthanasia when animals are sick or unable to be

placed in good homes. This is not a stance taken because she or others at PETA

like to kill animals. It is because they really care about animals and don't

want them living in substandard conditions or left uncared for and unable to

care for themselves.

 

Others may disagree with the " no kill " stance because it often leads to animals

being kept in cages in garages for their entire lives, or released back into the

wild to be killed by disease or other animals or run over by cars.

 

We are all trying to do our best to help animals in the way we think best.

Let's try to support each other in those efforts, have healthy arguments about

the pros and cons of our differing positions, and focus together on opposing

those who do not care about animal rights or welfare and want to exploit animals

for their own purposes.

 

Karen