Quote Originally Posted by krinklebearcat View Post
I really think that a lot of people on this forum and elsewhere are much too harsh on PETA, especially considering our actions/decisions and theirs are rooted in the same thing: love for animals.

There is a TON of animal cruelty and inadequate care in the world, INCLUDING among reptile keepers... I don't blame them for fighting for animal rights, and I try to do the same (though perhaps not to some of the same extremes).

I don't agree with some of the measures that they suggest, but the world is a much better place for animals as a result of PETA. Really, we aren't so different from them. If we want to ensure that we are able to keep reptiles in our homes for years to come, we need to focus on education and public awareness. PETA bashing is certainly not going to help the cause.

There are a lot of really dedicated, passionate, and wonderful people that work for PETA. I know a few myself, and the ones I know are open-minded to what I have to say. I encourage others on this forum to take that same approach.
I'm sure there are plenty of great people that love animals at PETA. The problem is that, as a group, they are too extremist. If they focused more on accomplishing realistic goals such as shutting down puppy mills and improving the conditions of meat and dairy animals, I'd be all for them. The problem is that they go shooting WAY past this goal. Instead of working with the system to make improvements, they sit up on a pedestal and insist that, unless they get their way 100%, everyone else is doing EVERYTHING WRONG. They leave no room for more moderate opinions.

That's why I always liked the HSUS better, they seemed more balanced to me. Though I recently got an email from them asking me to sign a petition to put HUGE restrictions on exotic pets. I'm totally for permitting and restrictions on large mammals and venomous stuff, but because they've gone waaay overboard and openly targeted normal "minor" exotics such as pythons, I'll no longer support them.

It's a shame that animal rights advocates in this country are such extremists. I feel that things would actually get done if we focused on making smaller, more reasonable changes. When it comes down to it, real animal lovers are a minority. If we come across as raging, foaming at the mouth pushy vegans, we'll never get anywhere in public opinion.