Why PETA is Wrong

I must have been 9 or 10 when I first learned that PETA stands for people for the ethical treatment of animals . And that sounded like a group I wanted to belong to for sure. Afterall I was an animal lover, and they must be animal lovers too. I wasn't exactly a typical 10 year old, however so I had to do my own research to find out more details. While PETA claims to support the simple belief that no animals should be mistreated, they are actually about way more than most people ever realize.

Animal extremists take loving animals a few steps further. They claim that animals have the same rights as humans do. This means they are against keeping animals as pets because that equals slavery. They are against eating animals because it is cruel and unnecessary. They most definitely are against using animals in the entertainment industry because that is like exploiting them. I don't have to tell you what they believe about using animals for biomedical research; you get the point right?

Extremists of any belief take it beyond this. They are not satisfied until their belief is also heard and supported by the masses, and they are willing to take any action necessary to get their point across. Animal rights extremists will protest meat production companies, pet stores, and research facilities. If the protest doesn't yield the result they were pushing for, i.e. concedence, they will protest louder and more aggressively next time. Extremists will threaten bodily harm to the employees of these industries, vandalize research labs, and set fire to businesses that support them. They have went so far as to let animals in labs out into the world to fend for themseves. Their actions are often misguided since animals raised specifically for research have no clue how to hunt for their own food or hide from predators.

Law enforcement authorities often classify animal extremist groups as "terrorists" because of the violent methods they will use to get their voices heard. PETA is the group we are most recognize when we hear "animal rights" or "prevent animal cruelty"; however, they are not the only ones. They are just the biggest and most influential. So if groups like this are so dangerous, what makes them so effective? Money. PETA is one of the most heavily funded organizations of its kind. Where do they get their money? Celebrities and private donations from ignorant supporters who believe their money is going to good use. While I understand fighting for what you truely believe in, I do not understand being completely hypocritical in doing so. Members of animal rights groups will claim that they do not participate in any of the activities that exploit or otherwise harm animals. 

Let's be realistic for a moment while you answer the following questions:

• Do you eat meat of any kind?
• Do you eat eggs? milk? cheese?
• Do you or have you ever taken antibiotics?
• Have you received immunizations?
  
• Have you permitted your children to get immunized?
• If you have pets do you get them vaccinated? Do you provide flea treatment?
• If your pet gets sick or injured do you seek treatment from a veterinarian?
  
• Do you take over the counter pain relievers, antacids, vitamins, anti-histamines, etc.?
• Have you or anyone in your family ever been treated in a hospital?
• If you or a loved one gets diagnosed with a life altering disease will you agree to use the medications and therapies prescribed by the doctor?
  

If you cannot answer every single question above with an honest "no" than you have benefitted from animal research. You have benefitted from animals being raised for specific purposes. The United States has very stringent regulations that must be followed before new drugs, therapies, and medical devices are released for human or animal consumption. It's virtually impossible to live in modern society without using animals for the things we need. I will take the opportunity to also give you a free tip: save your money buying "not tested on animals" products. While the company named on the label may not have done the testing themselves, the ingredients in their products have already been tested by whatever company used them first. Don't be like the uninformed masses; do your own homework before you make a decision. Here are some of the most credible sources out there and where I often refer people to who ask me questions about this topic:

• FDA
• USDA
• FBR
• AMP