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The animal
rights group PETA has based its advertising on outrageous things. They
attract the media attention posing as a news item, and thus spend very
little on advertising.
Past
examples include comparing serial killer/cannibal Jeffery Dahmer to
slaughtering pigs; equating butchering chickens to the Jewish holocaust,
and parading nude at the zoo to protest zoos.
Many of us
have come to believe there is nothing too grotesque that PETA will do
"to advance the cause." Thus when I read the headlines this
summer proclaiming "PETA employees charged with animal cruelty,"
I assumed it was another ploy for attracting the gullible media. In
retrospect it is a horrible conclusion, that I could entertain the idea
that PETA would be willing to abuse animals just to get attention. But
there is an old Hollywood saying, "as long as you get your name in
the paper, it doesn’t matter why. It’s all publicity."
I keep
thinking of Paris Hilton or Pam Anderson’s X-rated videos. It kept them
in the news. Where there is no shame or decency, or whatever you call
human restraint, no line in the sand, there is no perspective, no common
ground for mutual understanding.
In my heart
I would still like to believe that there are some base acts even PETA
would not stoop to. To Ingrid Newkirk’s credit, (PETA President) she
told me personally that in spite of her comments previous to 9/11, she no
longer thinks it would be a good thing if the U.S. was infected with Foot
and Mouth Disease.
I remember
years ago it being reported that PETA had brought a young calf to a
protest rally. It was a hot day; the calf was left in an enclosed truck.
The calf suffered. PETA employees lately have been accused of dumping dead
dogs and cats in a shopping center garbage bin. The animals had been taken
from nearby animal shelters to be offered for adoption or to be humanely
euthanized and disposed of. Both instances are demonstrative of a
situation where the perpetrator means no harm but is not qualified for the
job and doesn’t know the difference.
PETA makes
a living maligning the ability, motives and concern of livestock people,
horsemen, zookeepers, lab animal scientists, and virtually any group that
uses animals to the benefit of mankind. If PETA employees spent a little
time on a dairy raising baby calves, or at a farrow-to-finish hog
operation, or even with a hunting dog trainer, they might learn something.
Because all of us in the animal business know from experience, you may be
able to talk a good story but the animals in your care can sort through
bluster, bragging and bull pucky like a light saber and leave you standing
there with fool on yer face... whether you’re an animal rights activist,
a crocodile hunter or a former large animal veterinarian.
Baxter Black is a former large animal veterinarian who can be followed nationwide through this column, National Public Radio, public appearances, television and also through his books,
cds, videos and website,
www.baxter
black.com.
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