PETA killing animals

**VoodooJoint** · #1 08-11-06, 02:25 pm

I'm starting a new thread about one issue that was attempted to be brought up on the PETA members thread http://www.guineapigcages.com/forum/...a-members.html

In the PETA bashing post that was taken off the thread was mentioned that PETA kills about 85% of the animals it takes in. I wanted to address this issue since it was the first argument against PETA brought up and lately seems to be a hot button issue. It has no business being discussed on the PETA Members thread but does need addressing.

People that get their anti-PETA material from anti PETA websites are subjecting themselves to the one-sided views of those who want to destroy PETA and everything it stands for. Of course they aren't going to get the full story as all the anti-animal welfare people want you to see is the numbers as they seem extreme and would rightly raise eyebrows.

You want to know the truth about that 85%? Without PETA's help 100% of those animals would have died in cruel gas chambers.

PETA is not a shelter or rescue. PETA takes animals from shelters facing a certain and inhumane death due to overcrowding, temperament and/or illness. These are shelters that use gas chambers for euthanasia.

PETA tries to rehabilitate the animals it can and place them in homes (however, we know there are more animals than homes). Some are not "repairable" either due to illness or past neglect and abuse. PETA offers these animals a more humane death than the gas chambers. PETA euthanizes with something like Phentobarbital which is fast acting (unlike CO2), Pain free (unlike CO2) and does not cause the animals to become fearful (unlike CO2).

So, if you look at the numbers from the other side, you see that PETA saves at least 15% of the animals that are facing certain, painful and fearful deaths. They offer 100% of those animals a more humane death than they were otherwise assured of.

**Sabriel** · #2 08-11-06, 02:48 pm

I'd also like to add that CO2 chambers do not always work. There was a story posted on GL a while back about a dog who survived. He was scared, in pain and the fluids from the animal above were dripping on to him.

He has thankfully been adopted, but think of the 1000's of animals who die horrible prolonged deaths in such chambers.

In the parts of America where the death penalty still exists mass murders are treated better.

**vics2004** · #3 08-11-06, 03:02 pm

But there are some society's who will never put a healthy animal down, ever, so not sure how they still justify that?

**diane** · #4 08-11-06, 03:27 pm

Is PETA just in the United States or are they global? I was wondering due to the fact that I seen this clip on the news probably about two weeks ago. It was about a country that was having a large rise in the number of dogs contracting rabies. So the government was asking people to euthanize all dogs. I can't remember which country it was. I was just wondering would they step in on something like that? I think it would be cheaper for the country to vaccinate the animals like your supposed to anyway.

**salana** · #5 08-11-06, 03:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by vics2004

But there are some society's who will never put a healthy animal down, ever, so not sure how they still justify that?

Well, there's an overpopulation of animals. PETA does some of the euthanasia of those homeless animals. No-kill shelters are a great idea in theory, but they're simply overwhelmed by the vast overpopulation problems.

**Access** · #6 08-11-06, 04:51 pm

C02 kills by suffocation, while phentobarbital kills by putting the animal to sleep. Also C02 is a greenhouse gas and believed (debated) to be a cause of climate change or global warming.

As far as social issues, they vary widely. In many parts of India, harming a cow in any way isn't permissible, and many people would gladly sacrifice their own life for the life of a cow. Whereas in China (the PRC, not ROC) it isn't uncommon to hear about a mass 'culling' of cats and dogs in an area for human 'health' reasons or fear of a disease outbreak.

"It was about a country that was having a large rise in the number of dogs contracting rabies. So the government was asking people to euthanize all dogs." That was China. It is done on a regional basis, strays are rounded up, and anyone in the area who keeps a dog has to turn it in for a mass cull. And don't even get me started about how the killing is actually done... it makes a C02 chamber look like a kind death.

**sophistic_chick** · #7 08-11-06, 05:09 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Access

while phentobarbital kills by putting the animal to sleep.

I know when I studied euthanasia in school we learned that it doesn't "put them to sleep" it sedates them so much that their hearts stop. It relaxes all the muscles including the heart.

**VoodooJoint** · #8 08-11-06, 05:20 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by sophistic_chick

I know when I studied euthanasia in school we learned that it doesn't "put them to sleep" it sedates them so much that their hearts stop. It relaxes all the muscles including the heart.

Correct, but before the heart, lungs and everything else stops the animal falls into a deep sleep and is unaware of what is happening and so sedated that it cannot feel pain.

**sophistic_chick** · #9 08-11-06, 05:49 pm

Yes that is true VJ and I do agree with what you said.

**janetangel** · #10 08-12-06, 03:12 am

VJ I am glad to read the clarification on PETA. I had no idea PETA put any animals down, but I can also understand the reasoning behind it.

I hate that any animal has to be put down for any reason. At the same time I know it is necessary at times too. I had a few of my animals put down to speed up their death process, not that I wanted them gone, but due to doing the most humane thing for them. All of them were already dying and their life span was probably shortened, but more humane by a day or so if that.
Other than that, I wish and wish no animals were ever put down just because of breeding and over population. It breaks my heart. That is why I have so many animals now, so they did not have to go. I would rescue all if I could, but I could not afford to properly feed or care for anymore than I have.
Reading through some of this on this thread about euthanasia really tore me up. It really saddens my heart to hear or read of the reality out there. I do what I can to help animals and I am thankful to PETA and many others out there for animal welfare.

**jackrussellgirl** · #11 08-13-06, 08:05 pm

I'm still on the fence about whether or not I am willing to support PETA. One of the major reasons is their view on Pit Bulls. I don't know if this is true or not but one rumour is that PETA advocates the killing of all Pit Bulls because of the rising problem in cities. I have found no information on their website that addresses this issue and until I am sure that this is not true I will not support PETA. I'm not saying that PETA is a bad orginazation, and eutanizing animals that would otherwise die a death by clubbing in China is something I would support but, I still cannot find any information reagarding their views on Pit Bulls. Has anyone else heard of this? or can anyone clear this issue up for me?

**HandcuffedAngel** · #12 08-13-06, 08:09 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabriel

I'd also like to add that CO2 chambers do not always work. There was a story posted on GL a while back about a dog who survived. He was scared, in pain and the fluids from the animal above were dripping on to him.

I read that article. How sad is that? My boyfriend and I were just talking about it the other day.

Gas chambers need to be outlawed and the humane society that had his dog is fighting to get lethal injection materials so they can finally euthanize animals humanely.

**Jennicat** · #13 08-13-06, 08:12 pm

I don't think it's so much that Peta has taken a stance against them, but that the story I read was an editorial type piece written by the president about how she supported breed bans and euthanasia because of her experiences with bad rap dogs.

**HandcuffedAngel** · #14 08-13-06, 08:16 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by salana

Well, there's an overpopulation of animals. PETA does some of the euthanasia of those homeless animals. No-kill shelters are a great idea in theory, but they're simply overwhelmed by the vast overpopulation problems.

I believe no-kill shelters could work if done properly and with a few law changes.

What I really freaking hate is when a dog has a food agression issue after taken out of a horribly neglectful/abusive home and is immediately "put down" because of it.

Why won't anyone try to rehabilitate these dogs?

**HandcuffedAngel** · #15 08-13-06, 08:19 pm

I located an article concerning PeTA and pitbulls.

Pitbulls Are Another PeTA Target

And here is another site with something to say about it.

The Working Pitbull: The Truth About PeTA

**jackrussellgirl** · #16 08-13-06, 08:19 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by HandcuffedAngel

Why won't anyone try to rehabilitate these dogs?

Amen

Thank you VoodooJoint, for this useful post, say these 11 members:
Carissa (08-11-06), fourbwabbys (08-11-06), janetangel (08-12-06), My Baby Mu (08-13-06), PiggieMom (08-11-06), Sabriel (08-11-06), SandyF (08-13-06), Slap Maxwell (08-11-06), Sugar & Spice (08-11-06), Tatalp (08-12-06), Texas Cavys (08-11-06)

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