Really PETA?
As much as I love animals and support their humane treatment, I've never been a fan of the organizations that are more talk, pomp and circumstance than they are direct help for animals (PETA, Humane Society of the United States - NOT to be confused with individual local humane societies with actual shelters, etc.). I've often shaken my head at the tactics, antics and cultish behavior I've seen from such organizations. Well PETA has managed to touch a nerve with me and I had to speak up about it. Their latest campaign is Win A Vasectomy where " In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week (April 24 to 30), PETA will give one free vasectomy to a man who has recently had his companion cat or dog neutered." A voluntary vasectomy for a man I have no issue with. The neuter of a companion cat or dog is awesome. It is the "In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week" that ticks me off.
PETA says, "Human overpopulation is crowding out animal life on the planet, and dog and cat overpopulation is creating a euthanasia crisis that is a crying shame. Disappearing wilderness, vanishing water resources, and pollution is the price that future generations will pay for more human births, while losing their lives is the price that millions of homeless dogs and cats pay when guardians neglect to "fix" their companion animals."
Wow, PETA. Way to take a medical condition (infertility) and twist it for your own agenda. How insulting to over 7.3 million women aged 15-44 in the United States alone and countless others who are not included in those statistics not to mention the millions of men suffering from infertility. 7.3 million women in the U.S. alone. That is 7,300,000. Almost the equivalent to the entire population of Virginia. Only 12 states out of 50 have an equivalent population more than that. That is an awful lot of people to offend in one fell swoop with such a shameless bid for attention. We know, though, that to organizations like PETA any attention is good attention. But I digress.
In the interest of free speech and the recognition of opinions different from my own, I chose to question PETA from a slightly different standpoint. Hypocrisy. I joined up with others speaking up about infertility and against PETA with Hannah Wept Sarah Laughed and wrote my own letter to PETA.
This is what I wrote to Ingrid Newkirk and Carrie Snider of PETA:
I’m not sure if I am as shocked by this PETA “campaign” as much as I am disgusted. There are so many policies of PETA that I find misguided that this becomes just the latest in the string. I was part of the hands-on animal rescue community for many years spaying and neutering every animal I could legally get my hands on and then adopting them out to responsible owners so I do have the proper perspective needed to evaluate the policies of PETA. That being said, I’d like to focus on the hypocrisy of this latest ridiculous idea. I would like PETA to publicly publish the family and fertility status of each and every member of the organization. How many pushing this campaign already have children they birthed? How many have had themselves voluntarily made infertile? How many have or are in the process of adopting a child? How much money has PETA donated to offset the costs of an infertile couple to adopt? How much money has PETA donated to support an orphaned child? I do expect every organization to practice what they preach so please, prove to the public that all of the members of PETA practice everything they preach.
I will post any responses if any are sent. I am still shaking my head.
PETA says, "Human overpopulation is crowding out animal life on the planet, and dog and cat overpopulation is creating a euthanasia crisis that is a crying shame. Disappearing wilderness, vanishing water resources, and pollution is the price that future generations will pay for more human births, while losing their lives is the price that millions of homeless dogs and cats pay when guardians neglect to "fix" their companion animals."
Wow, PETA. Way to take a medical condition (infertility) and twist it for your own agenda. How insulting to over 7.3 million women aged 15-44 in the United States alone and countless others who are not included in those statistics not to mention the millions of men suffering from infertility. 7.3 million women in the U.S. alone. That is 7,300,000. Almost the equivalent to the entire population of Virginia. Only 12 states out of 50 have an equivalent population more than that. That is an awful lot of people to offend in one fell swoop with such a shameless bid for attention. We know, though, that to organizations like PETA any attention is good attention. But I digress.
In the interest of free speech and the recognition of opinions different from my own, I chose to question PETA from a slightly different standpoint. Hypocrisy. I joined up with others speaking up about infertility and against PETA with Hannah Wept Sarah Laughed and wrote my own letter to PETA.
This is what I wrote to Ingrid Newkirk and Carrie Snider of PETA:
I’m not sure if I am as shocked by this PETA “campaign” as much as I am disgusted. There are so many policies of PETA that I find misguided that this becomes just the latest in the string. I was part of the hands-on animal rescue community for many years spaying and neutering every animal I could legally get my hands on and then adopting them out to responsible owners so I do have the proper perspective needed to evaluate the policies of PETA. That being said, I’d like to focus on the hypocrisy of this latest ridiculous idea. I would like PETA to publicly publish the family and fertility status of each and every member of the organization. How many pushing this campaign already have children they birthed? How many have had themselves voluntarily made infertile? How many have or are in the process of adopting a child? How much money has PETA donated to offset the costs of an infertile couple to adopt? How much money has PETA donated to support an orphaned child? I do expect every organization to practice what they preach so please, prove to the public that all of the members of PETA practice everything they preach.
I will post any responses if any are sent. I am still shaking my head.
Comments
Okay, off to read more.