PETA Question

I do not know much about them except that they post a lot of videos online about cruelty to animals. Do PETA members eat animals at all? What exactly do they do to help stop animal cruelty? Any success stories anyone has witnessed? Do governments support them?

I was looking for ferret cages online and I saw this link from PETA showing horrible scenes about Petsmart "supporting" cruelty to animals and how to stop it. I honestly didn't know Petsmart supported that. I have honestly never seen sick animals at any Petsmart store.

Any thoughts on this?

I'm Puzzled.

[ILADVOCATE]

What they report is often true but they are rather extremist in their actions and are usually not taken seriously. There are more rational organizations supporting reform in the treatment and welfare of animals. However, how some pet stores breed and treat animals including and especially more unusual species such as ferrets has been of concern. Its just PETA's approach is confrontational and doesn't accomplish anything.

[VicUser]

PETA protested at our county fair one year about how the fair animals were inhumanly treated. If you have ever known kids with 4-H animals you would know that most of the animals are treated very well. What a bunch of whack jobs they were, so I would take what they say with a grain of salt.

[Cherie762]

I learned about Peta by watching the two Coreys reality show / Fieldmans wife is big into Peta,,,no meat, no leather products very extreame.....this is a totaly contraversial subject,,I love animals and sure dont believe in cruelty,,but to make medical advances it is neccesary to test products,,,and we dont want to test them on people until they have passed a few clinical trials on animals,,I can understand people getting upset about testing cosmetics etc,,,,but bottom line we need to use animals for scientific advancements to save human lifes,.

[HelpinUtah]

I agree that often they can be extremists. I do believe in animal rights - we as humans were given responsibilty for animals by God and because of that must treat them appropriately.  I do think that some of these organizations go to the extreme though.  

Having said that, I do not believe in using real fur as a coat for vanity purposes.  However, if you kill an animal to get food and use the fur to keep you warm - and then use the whole animal, than I think it's fine.

The other day I was watching a cow with her calf.  We have a lot of open space in the area I live and the cows are all around.  Anyway, I was watching how much she was loving on that little calf and it started to make me think about how reverant I need to be when eating beef or any animal that has lost it's life for me to have food.  There was a part of me that wanted to become a vegetarian after watching that exchange and it's happened watching other animals as well, but I do believe God granted us stewardship and that animals were meant for us to use sparingly when needed.  And so, I believe we should be thankful for them giving their lives for us.  Animals are so good at fulfilling their full potential here on this Earth.  What a great sacrifice they make for us!

As for testing cosmetic products, shampoos, etc on animals - I think it's cruel and should NEVER happen.  

I do understand that it's necessary to use animals for pharmaceutical and scientific reasons, but it really bothers my soul and so I could never watch it or be a part of it!  I never believe letting another life suffer is appropriate.

But, I have a love for animals and if I could I'd have a place to take in abused or neglected animals.  I watched Home Makeover a couple weeks ago and it was about a family who brought in the big cats among other animals who were given up or abused because their owners could not handle them anymore.  It was so sad, but a joyous thing to see somebody taking care of them.

Okay, I'll stop now.  I probably make little sense since I get so passionate about animals!  I just feel we should be more responsible with them.

No, I'm not a crazy PETA person - just love the animals!  LOL!!!

[Cherie762]

I agree wirh you I am a vegitarian the thought of eating animalflesh discusts me..cant do it and I am healthier for it,,,as for the cosmetics,,etc complete aggrement,,and my husband hunts (the rest of my family eats meat) he butchers his own deer and they eat it all winter long...

I dont think its wise or safe to have wild animals for pets,

I know its sad and i know they suffer but we do have to test meds on animals..at the present time there is not another solution,,,I would have a hard time watching it too and could never work in such a place,,,yet I am glad that so many meds are approved that can save humans suffering.

[PrettyKitty1]

I knew they were highly criticized for being a little extremist. The only thing I know about the organization is they post videos showing animal abuse all over the Internet. I know nothing else. I do know a lot of PETA members don’t eat animals. I don’t know if they do it because of their love for animals or just ‘cause they don’t like the way animals destined for human consumption are treated.

HelpinUtah, I’m the same way. I love animals. Can’t stand cruelty. I respect the fact that they serve a great purpose on Earth, keeping things balanced.

[Myown]

They have helped bring attention to animal cruelty, and yes I do feel they helped in many ways, but they got carried away and lost focus as far as I am concerned.

So, though at one time I did support them, I don't anymore, and would not be able to proudly display their bumper sticker on my car with the same sense of pride that my mother had when she proudly displayed her Barry Goldwater sticker on her Caddy:)

MO

FYI - Dead cats and dogs were found in a PETA dumpster - last year or maybe a couple of years ago (?)

I don't remember the whole story, but it didn't make them look too good from what I recall.

[PrettyKitty1]

'FYI - Dead cats and dogs were found in a PETA dumpster - last year or maybe a couple of years ago (?) '

Huh????? Are you serious? I was not aware of this...

[Myown]

Yep, true story. If you google you should find something about it. I'll take a look now to see if I can find something about it.

MO

[Myown]

http://www.petakillsanimals.com/Trial_Day3.cfm

[PrettyKitty1]

Oh My, this is disturbing!!!!

[Myown]

Yeah it sure is and I just found something that says the employees got off the hook which is even more disturbing.

http://www.newsobserver.com/141/story/539313.html

[April2]

What?! This doesn't even make sense! I thought they were out to protect animals?! Why would they kill them? They really ARE crazy!!!

[Myown]

It is crazy and whenever I am listening to the radio or watching TV and a story like that comes on, I turn the channel quickly - can't stand to hear things like this. And I must have blocked it out of my mind because not until I was almost finished with that post did I remember hearing something about it.

Nighty-night.
MO

[remar]

I think it's up to us to take care of animals. I'm a vegetarian and a huge animal lover. Don't buy an animal from a pet store. And if you do buy an animal from a breeder make sure you see the living conditions. So many pets need good homes so I'm all for adopting. Buy only products that say , not tested on animals. There's really so much we can do to protect animals. Remar