Because I read PETA's website, I already knew from several reports at different times about how PETA employees drop everything when a truck carrying a load of pigs or chickens crashes on the highway, leaving dead and wounded and terrified creatures running around everywhere. They go there to be humane, to try to help the poor animals. They also perform similar rescue operations with all sorts of animals in trouble.
So even though I didn't know that it was their policy to send the healthy and cute cats and dogs that they get at their shelter to other adoption agencies until I read their response to that Times Square billboard, I did know that attempting to rescue very seriously wounded animals would result in a high kill rate at the PETA shelter. I also read Ingrid Newkirk's book, Making Kind Choices. She bothered to write a book about how to keep tiny creatures like ants, whose lives seem insignificant to most of us, outdoors so we don't have to kill them in our kitchens. (I included some information about the book at the bottom of this post, if anyone is interested.) She also wrote a book about how to care for cats.
It isn't logical to me that the people at PETA, who as we know from Bill's posts make very little money and are totally dedicated to improving the lives of animals, would callously euthanize healthy animals at their shelter. There is no logic to that. They allow employees to bring their pets to work, and published a memorial photo and a eulogy on their website of an office cat they had rescued who finally died. Saving animals is their entire mission in life.
When you say "Right off the bat, what would you expect them to say?" it amazes me that you seem so cynical. You immediately took the word of that right-wing organization, and assumed that PETA had some dark hypocritical underside. YOu called them hypocrites in your first post. I have to ask you the same thing, sort of. We know that the organization that paid for that anti-PETA billboard is a lobbying group of the meat, alcohol and tobacco industries. They are financially threatened if more people become concerned about animal rights, especially factory farming. So what would you expect THEM to say? Why are they credible to you, and PETA is not?
We have on the one hand, an organization of do-gooders who love every tiny insect and mouse and want to protect their lives. On the other side, we have the most callous and calculating people who think factory farming is a perfectly good and defensible way to make a living. To me, that looks sort of like pure good on one side, and cold unfeeling evil on the other side.
The thing is, PETA is not trying to profit from animals. They are making an argument based on their ethical concerns about factory farming. The other side cares nothing about animal welfare and animals are simply dollar signs--walking, feeling meat that they incarcerate and mistreat.
Usually when I have to make a choice between the credibility of nonprofit do-gooders who have nothing to gain and an organization whose profits are threatened, all things being equal, I assume that the nonprofit organization is the entity more likely to be telling the truth, and the profiteers are more likely to say anything, to make totally untrue charges, in order to make more money, more money.
So I would find it ludicrous, and more importantly, totally illogical that PETA does all those wonderful things for animals and then viciously euthanizes happy healthy adoptable pets at its shelter, something that you apparently immediately assumed was true and seemingly joyfully posted here when you read about the billboard campaign.
Here's a little information about Ingrid Newkirk's book, Making Kind Choices:
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
If the term animal-friendly living conjures up only images of eating nothing but bland vegetarian casseroles and wearing dowdy cloth coats instead of sumptuous full-length furs, then this practical, comprehensive handbook will go a long way toward dispelling these popular misconceptions by enlightening readers about the many simple ways in which more environmentally aware and cruelty-free behaviors can be incorporated into everyday routines. Newkirk, president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), brings nearly a quarter-century of involvement in the animal awareness movement to bear as she addresses such diverse issues as home decoration, food preparation, vacation destinations, and childhood education. Brief but informative chapters provide a thorough overview of a wide array of topics, supported by specific tips and instructions, and conclude with helpful contact information for additional resources. For the dedicated practitioner looking for additional ways to act upon his or her beliefs or for the beginner contemplating adopting such a lifestyle, Newkirk shows how easily such conscientious choices can be made. Carol Haggas
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
"As this book explores, acts of kindness, even in the simplest ways, are what make our lives meaningful, bringing happiness to ourselves and others."
- The Dalai Lama
"This powerful book offers easy ways to make your compassionate mark on the world."
- Moby
"Ingrid Newkirk's wonderful new book is about us - about how in a world so violent and cruel, there is no way to pretend we're kind people unless we extend our kindness to those who are the most innocent and helpless."
- Bill Maher, host of "Real Time with Bill Maher"
"Ingrid Newkirk's book shows us practical ways to foster compassion towards animals. She is a true teacher."
- Martin Sheen
amazon.com |
