PETA Editorial

[Team Realtree]

From "The Outdoor Wire" Newsletter:

Recent news out of North Carolina has animal-rights activists doing some head-scratching and serious back-pedaling. Two People for the Ethical Treatment of animals (PETA) employees were caught - and arrested - for illegally dumping thirty-one cats and dogs they had picked up from shelters and veterinarians.

In conclusion of a month-long investigation in Hertford County (NC), officials charged PETA employees Adria Hinkle and Andrew Cook with 31 counts of animal cruelty, eight counts of illegally disposing of dead animals and trespassing. Bertie and Northampton counties also suspended agreements with the Norfolk-based animal rights group to pick up unwanted animals.

Huh?

PETA regularly picks up dogs, cats, puppies and kittens from shelters and veterinarians, often proffering assurances new homes will be found for them. That, as many PETA opponents know, simply isn't the case. In 2003, Norfolk-based PETA killed more than 85 percent of all the various household animals it took in.

In the North Carolina arrest, the animals were dead less than an hour after two PETA employees picked them up. All 31 were killed in a windowless, cage-lined van. Killed, authorities say with drugs the PETA pair were not legally authorized nor trained to dispense.

After the animals were killed, the two simply dumped the bodies in a strip-mall dumpster - again illegally. According to investigators, the capture of Hinkle and Cook answered the question as to the source of more than 80 animals found in garbage bags in dumpsters around the area in the month-long investigation.

In response to this incredible act animal cruelty, PETA's not marching around the country seeking the scalps of those horrible humans. Instead, they find themselves frantically working to preserve what's left of PETA's public image.

PETA acknowledges killing more than 10,000 animals between 1998 and 2003; recent reporting suggests nearly 2,500 more in 2004. All that while running a fundraising operation that brought in more than $28 million last year - certainly more than enough to care for the animals they instead executed.

Instead of saving animals, PETA really spends its time - and contributors' money - working to demonize those of us who eat meat or aren't raising their children vegan. And let's not forget the time they spend obfuscating facts regarding animal testing. After all, PETA seems to feel that any disease befalling humans is, apparently, just reward for our many injustices to our animal-equals. PETA has repeatedly attacked research foundations like the March of Dimes, the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the American Cancer Society, because they support animal-based research that might uncover cures for birth defects and life-threatening diseases. PETA president Ingrid Newkirk has repeated said "even if animal research resulted in a cure for AIDS, we would be against it."

Unfortunately, that's not all PETA does with their significant war chest. They also contribute -usually through "shadow organizations" - to the bail and legal defense funds for animal rights extremists - and their own most recent "unintentional celebrities" Hinkle and Cook - who run afoul of the law. After all, as PETA vegetarian campaign coordinator Bruce Friedrich told an animal rights convention in 2001 "blowing stuff up and smashing windows" is "a great way to bring about animal liberation."

This time, the North Carolina incident is simply too-well documented to ignore and wait for it to simply go away. PETA's Newkirk was forced to concede that "what they did was wrong" and the ensuing scandal is "so shocking it's bound to hurt our work."

Of course, what Newkirk was hoping to imply was the "work" of saving animals. What she really meant, however, was their relentless money-raising from unsuspecting animal enthusiasts.

This North Carolina incident has provided documentation of the facts PETA opponents have been making for years - what PETA says versus its actions are in diametric opposition.

Hinkle and Cook's next court appearance is scheduled for July 19. According to published reports in The Virginia-Pilot, PETA will be paying for the legal team. Again, an action not out of character for PETA. A "significant" portion of the expenses of animal rights activist - Animal Liberation Front member - and convicted arsonist Rodney Colorado was paid by PETA. Again, money raised from well-meaning animal lovers who believe a catchy acronym assures ethical actions.

[Tominator]

Re: PETA Editorial

Interesting Scott. Thanks.

[HuntingInMaine]

Re: PETA Editorial

I think I saw something about this in the political forums....I always knew PETA was a bunch of weirdos, but I think what they did by killing those animals was worse than any of the abuses they claim to be fighting against!

[buckee]

Re: PETA Editorial

"Follow The Money"