An Idea to Let FWS Know How We Really Feel.

[Crazy4Herps]

Our plan of attack is going to be to expose PETA and HSUS for what they truly are, anti-pet organization with the ideal of ending all pet ownership. We are also going to expose how donating to them doesn't really do much to stop animal cruelty or help local shelters/any shelter.

I keep hearing this and I'm interested to know how much of it is speculation. I have trouble seeing how ending pet ownership would benefit these organizations. I understand anti-reptile organizations being motivated by fear, but ending all pet ownership? Why would they take that stance? I'm not discrediting or attacking your post in any way, I'd simply be interested in seeing your sources.

[Kinra]

I keep hearing this and I'm interested to know how much of it is speculation. I have trouble seeing how ending pet ownership would benefit these organizations. I understand anti-reptile organizations being motivated by fear, but ending all pet ownership? Why would they take that stance? I'm not discrediting or attacking your post in any way, I'd simply be interested in seeing your sources.

I may be putting words in their mouths as they often do for us, but PETA is very anti breeders and in a world with only spayed/neutered "companion animals" they die out pretty quick. If you read PETA's stance on keeping pets you can see how they think keeping domestic pets is cruel. http://www.peta.org/about/why-peta/pets.aspx

I don't have a link from HSUS handy, but I have seen some very negative quotes floating around from the CEO of HSUS.

[Crazy4Herps]

I may be putting words in their mouths as they often do for us, but PETA is very anti breeders and in a world with only spayed/neutered "companion animals" they die out pretty quick. If you read PETA's stance on keeping pets you can see how they think keeping domestic pets is cruel. http://www.peta.org/about/why-peta/pets.aspx

I don't have a link from HSUS handy, but I have seen some very negative quotes floating around from the CEO of HSUS.

While I do agree that PETA is a radical group with mixed up priorities, I don't think that the spay/neuter movement is an attempt to eradicate domesticated animals. As someone who volunteers at local animal shelters, I am also strongly against breeding cats and dogs (with a few exceptions). Of course with snakes there is still a higher demand than supply, so that's a different matter, though they may not see it that way. All I'm saying is that while I think PETA takes things way too far, their claims are not necessarily unfounded.

[wilomn]

I think PETA takes things way too far, their claims are not necessarily unfounded.

Really? Which claims in particular do you refer to?

[Kinra]

While I do agree that PETA is a radical group with mixed up priorities, I don't think that the spay/neuter movement is an attempt to eradicate domesticated animals. As someone who volunteers at local animal shelters, I am also strongly against breeding cats and dogs (with a few exceptions). Of course with snakes there is still a higher demand than supply, so that's a different matter, though they may not see it that way. All I'm saying is that while I think PETA takes things way too far, their claims are not necessarily unfounded.

I wasn't trying to say that people shouldn't spay and neuter their pets. Both my dog and cat are adopted and I try to support local shelters, so I can understand their point of view, but I also support responsible breeders. If you read the first part of the link I posted you can clearly see that PETA does not approve of "companion animals".

"we believe that it would have been in the animals' best interests if the institution of "pet keeping"—i.e., breeding animals to be kept and regarded as "pets"—never existed."

"This selfish desire to possess animals and receive love from them causes immeasurable suffering"

Neither my dog or my cat suffer. They are both spoiled rotten so I disagree with PETA on this. I also disagree with their stance on Zoos, how they try to get their message across, the pointless lawsuits they pursue (the one where they were suing SeaWorld or something similar because keeping wild caught Orac was a violation of the Orac's civil rights and they were basically slaves comes to mind here), and many other issues. I may stretch what they are saying by interpreting their message in a way that supports my arguments, but they are clearly against keeping pets and kill way too many every year.

[snake lab]

To spay and neuter, not to spay and neuter, it comes down to owner responsibillity. I have my own personal views on zoos. I dont believe certain species of animals deserve to be confined in zoos. Big cats, primates, open ocean species and other big animals dont need to be penned up. They belong in the wild in their natural habbitat. Endangered species breeding programs are essential as long as an good reintroduction into the wild program is in place. Thats just my oppinion. Peta has always had the same agenda and they are doing more harm then good. Look as a species humans are a destructive species and we have done alot of harm to this planet on so many levels which is why we as reptile enthusiasts need to educate in a possitive manner.

[WingedWolfPsion]

HSUS has many PETA members at its highest levels...the two organizations are inextricably intertwined.
Everyone needs to understand who these people really are. We are NOT being paranoid. We are NOT spreading libel, or making wild accusations. These people ACTUALLY ARE against pet ownership, against all animal agriculture...and perfectly willing to lie to achieve their goals.

"Don’t breed dogs, don’t buy, don’t even accept giveaways" HSUS CEO John Hoyt in a 1991
speech.

"..your everyday meat-eaters and cosmetics users; they are not vivisectors, they are not
slaughterhouse operators, and they have basic feelings of compassion. But they are accustomed
to eating, wearing, and using animal products, and they need to be convinced to give them up.
They can be won over—slowly but surely they are being won over—….." Michael Markarian.
Executive VP Humane Society of the United States; Past President, Fund for Animals; Board
member Institute for Animals and Society.

When asked if he envisioned a future without pets, "If I had my personal view, perhaps that
might take hold. In fact, I don’t want to see another dog or cat born." Wayne Pacelle quoted in
Bloodties: Nature, Culture and the Hunt by Ted Kerasote, 1993, p. 266.

We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock produced through
selective breeding. . One generation and out. We have no problem with the extinction of
domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding." Wayne Pacelle, Senior VP of
Humane Society of the US, formerly of Friends of Animals and Fund for Animals, Animal
People, May, 1993

"We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United
States ... We will take it species by species until all hunting is stopped in California. Then we
will take it state by state. Wayne Pacelle, Senior VP Humane Society of the US (HSUS), formerly
of Friends of Animals and Fund for Animals, Full Cry Magazine, Oct 1, 1990.

My goal is the abolition of all animal agriculture. Statement made on "AR-Views," an animal-
rights Internet discussion group, J P Goodwin, HSUS Grassroots Coordinator while executive
director of the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade

“We don’t want any of these animals to be raised and killed [for food] ... unfortunately we don’t
have the luxury of waiting until we have the opportunity to get rid of the entire industry.” Miyun
Park, former HSUS Vice President for Farm Animal Welfare, October 2006, Animals and
Society Institute conference