Hey L.A. Times: Correct the record
By Gina Spadafori
January 11, 2009
Love ‘em, hate ‘em or just wish they’d be honest about their agenda with donors and the media (me, door No. 3: Tell the truth, PETA), PETA sure stirs up the emotion.
Unfortunately, as usual, they also stir up the inaccuracy.
Such as this doozy on the L.A. Times Web site:
Of the comments over the last two days are any indication, PETA has no fans among L.A. Times readers. Three recent posts addressed People for the Ethical Treatment of Animal’s latest move: urging the USA network to drop their plans to air the Westminster dog show. Recently, the group was able to persuade the BBC to refrain from airing the Crufts Dog Show. Readers ranging from general pet lovers to professional dog breeders set the comments section aflame with their burning hatred for all things PETA.
Um, no. PETA had nothing to do with the BBC’s plans to not cover Crufts, and Jemima Harrison (the producer of BBC’s “Pedigree Dogs Unleashed”) herself steps into the comments to correct the writer, as do others. So far, no correction. (”Professional dog breeders” pretty much shows you where the writer is coming from — the PETA school of “a breeder is a breeder is a breeder and all are greedy murderers of shelter dogs” style PETAthink — pretty lazy, really, when you consider how many pets PETA kills — more than 90 percent of the pets that come into their shelter). I’ve been a “general pet lover” all my life, have run a breed rescue and this spring, I’ll be a dog breeder, for the first time in my life. If I’m planning to make money, “professionally,” I’m sure off to a bad start, about $10K in the hole and counting on the mommy dog, her screening tests, the costs of earning her titles, etc. This is the reality of reputable, ethical breeders. A breeder is a breeder is a breeder? This is a lie.)
As for PETA’s call for USA Network not to televise Westminster, well, that’s just them as usual making a lot of noise for the purpose of raising money and working towards their goals not of reforming breeding practices to preserve and protect our heritage breed, but to end the existence of all domestic animals, one step at a time.
“…Eventually companion animals would be phased out, and we would return to a more symbiotic relationship, enjoyment at a distance.” — Ingrid Newkirk
Why is anyone still listening to PETA?
I’m so over the take-no-prisoners divisiveness of zealots … of any political ilk. I am not on the same page as animal abusers (factory farmers, puppy millers) nor do I think I have to be to fight the pet-extinction zealots running PETA. There is a third way. In the pet world, it’s no-kill communities of animal-lovers working together, and an understanding and support of reputable, ethical breeders as we work to reform breeding practices.
The third way is also about humane, sustainable agricultural practices for food animals. My dogs and cats are not vegans, but I do not keep them healthy by supporting factory farms. I support regional, small agriculture. In terms of cost, that means I personally eat a lot less meat (and that’s fine by me, as my veggie garden grows). It’s about choices, about asking questions and thinking things through. And not letting the USDA, the FDA or PETA do the thinking for you.
There is a third way. PETA is not it.
***
The keen-eyed readers among you have noticed I haven’t been blogging much, and figured out why. Yes, my father is worse. The good news: He’s finally in the hospital, where they’ve got him feeling much better. But the long-term situation is, to be honest, pretty grave. Thanks for your kind thoughts.
***
Another update: It’s not exactly a medical miracle, but it’s pretty darn amazing what a some serious dental work and 10 days of antibiotics can do for a senior dog’s disposition. Drew is eating normally, sleeping less and behaving like a dog half his age — playful and engaged. And yes, that all makes me feel even more guilty, thinking that those dental issues didn’t develop overnight. Good news: He doesn’t mind the brushing at all.
Family, human and animal, comes before blogging, of course, however much we all miss you. Best to you, your dad and darling Drew.
Why IS anyone still listening to PeTA?
Comment by Susan Fox — January 11, 2009 @ 10:42 am
I would just love to smack Ingrid Newkirk over the head with a metal shovel. Of course that wouldn’t solve a damn thing…. too bad.
That’s good to hear Drew is doing well and doesn’t mind teeth brushing! I hope everything goes well for McKutie, and hope to see lots and lots of pictures of the pups on flickr =]
Comment by Alex Verrastro — January 11, 2009 @ 10:45 am
First thing this morning…(I didn’t even have coffee yet) I turned on the TV news to see PETA release a lobster from a resturant in NYC to the oceans of Maine. Why does anyone call them, and why do TV stations give them press? So very sorry to hear about your Dad.
Comment by nancy freedman-smith — January 11, 2009 @ 11:11 am
Well, some students at a certain HS may think twice before becoming card carrying PeTa members now:
PETA: Spearfish school should be called Sea Kitten
SPEARFISH, S.D. (AP) — The activist animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has asked school officials to change the name of Spearfish High School to “Sea Kitten High School.” The new name would “reflect the gentle nature of its current marine namesake,” the organization said in a letter to Steve Morford, Spearfish High School principal.
PETA said the letter is part of a new Sea Kitten campaign aimed at children.
If children were taught to refer to fish as “sea kittens,” reflecting that fish, like cats and dogs, are “individuals” that “do have friendships,” fewer fish might be killed for food or sport, said Pulin Modi, a PETA spokesman.
“We want people to realize that more fish are killed each year than all animals combined,” he said. “They don’t have the sympathy of more popular animals like cats and dogs.”
Morford said he did not want to share his feelings about PETA. “Obviously, it’s nothing we’re taking seriously,” he said.
http://www.google.com/hostedne.....gD95JS6480
I have to wonder why PeTA is just trying to change the name of the school and not the whole town, lol!~
Comment by straybaby — January 11, 2009 @ 11:17 am
Spearfish, one of the top marine predators, “sea kittens”, hmmm, does not compute…
But then very few petaisms do, sigh.
Gina, all my heartfelt best thoughts for you and you Dad.
Comment by Jenniferj — January 11, 2009 @ 12:14 pm
Spearfish are gentle? We’re talking about marlins here, right? Whoa … are these folks landlubbers … O.o
Scratch that. Between this and Newkirk’s bassackward misunderstanding of the term ‘symbiotic,’ I’m beginning to think that when it comes to the biological sciences, the folks at PeTA are just plain clueless.
Comment by Eucritta — January 11, 2009 @ 12:42 pm
“Sea kittens” is to “Spearfish” as meaningful speech is to Orwellian doublespeak. In fact, it’s a good example of language/meaning distortion to support a particular agenda.
What PeTA DOES get is that words have power and if you can get the media and public to use your words, you have defined and framed the debate. They know exactly what they are doing. And they do it with malice aforethought.
Time for a re-framing. Seriously.
Comment by Susan Fox — January 11, 2009 @ 12:54 pm
I completely agree with your post, Gina. I often get very frustrated with PETA because I feel they actually undermine the animal protection movement…. If we want people to take issues about animals seriously (whether about animal rescue/companion animals or fur, factory farming, etc.) it’s crucial to stay away from such extremism.
Comment by Humane Mewsings — January 11, 2009 @ 2:44 pm
Gina, I was wondering how your father was doing.
May your father not suffer too much, even though he sounds very brave.
It is harder to concentrate on other matters when a family member is sick, so I understand why you are not blogging as much.
As to dental in animals, I will have to take Batman, my cat, in February for a tooth cleaning. I am not as good as you and refuse to brush his teeth. I want to keep my fingers.
Comment by Colorado Transplant — January 11, 2009 @ 4:51 pm
2. ”I would just love to smack Ingrid Newkirk over the head with a metal shovel. Of course that wouldn’t solve a damn thing…. too bad.” My thoughts exactly!
Comment by Dogs — January 11, 2009 @ 5:37 pm
Just keep talking everyone. Tell everyone what PETA’s endgame is. Just keep saying it over and over. Slow and steady wins the race.
Gina, I don’t know how you keep so many balls in the air. You keep yourself well, too, please.
Comment by Lori — January 11, 2009 @ 7:02 pm
All the best to you, your family, and your father, Gina.
Comment by Alex Verrastro — January 15, 2009 @ 3:29 pm