PETA calls guide dogs users cruel

[Amstaffer]

PETA does no good. Ever. Any "good" they do is only one step further towards ending what they view as "domestic slavery".

I know you have pretty strong feelings about PETA but how is it bad that they reveal the horrid treatment of food animals (Chickens, Pigs, Cows etc....) and the sadistic abuse of animals (which include dogs) for make-up and perfume testing?

They say some crazy stuff....there is no doubt about it but IMHO I think most will admit they have had some positives contributions to enlightening people to the Hell behind the Big Mac and the McNuggets.

Even if you could care less about Cows and Pigs I think you still benefit from knowing or at least should want to know what is going on to your plate.

 

[Dekka]

The problem is I don't believe what PETA tells me about those things. Its like this issue. Because we know better it sounds ludicrous. But to other people these acusations about guide dogs will seem good and 'eye opening'. Often the cruelties they site about farm animals bears the same amount of truth. (at least those that I have looked into myself.)

IMO if PETA says there is a problem with "x" my first reaction is to think there is no issue with "x".

 

[Amstaffer]

The problem is I don't believe what PETA tells me about those things. Its like this issue. Because we know better it sounds ludicrous. But to other people these acusations about guide dogs will seem good and 'eye opening'. Often the cruelties they site about farm animals bears the same amount of truth. (at least those that I have looked into myself.)

IMO if PETA says there is a problem with "x" my first reaction is to think there is no issue with "x".

Thats exactly what I mean, they show you pictures of what is going on and yet we doubt the clear truth because of the ridiculous things they say about other topics. They hurt the good work they do with the over exaggeration of other stuff.

When I became a vegetarian I looked into food animal treatment and believe me....PETA hasn't even scratched the surface of what goes on in some commerical farms, feed lots and slaughter houses. This board talks all the time about Puppy Mills....PETA has broke some stories on them, does that mean they don't exist?

 

[Sojourn]

Strange timing - I work with someone who used to do medical research and he happened to mention PETA yesterday (and his intense dislike). I thought nothing more of it until I saw this post. What boggles my mind is that the spokeswoman completely insults the intelligence and capability of those who require a seeing eye dog. She "doubts the fitness" of them to care for their guide. What was she thinking? I know...don't answer.

 

[Dekka]

Amstaffer.. some of the films they have got at meat plants and stuff have been staged. They have been caught paying employees to do 'bad' stuff so they can catch it on film.

The CBC had a segment on horse slaughter that was horrible. At least I could believe it as the source was good. To me PETA harms their cause. I instantly doubt what they say. So to say they have done good things to me is incorrect. If they want to expose the plight of animals.. then they should hand it over to someone we will believe.

 

[Romy]

Amstaffer.. some of the films they have got at meat plants and stuff have been staged. They have been caught paying employees to do 'bad' stuff so they can catch it on film.

The CBC had a segment on horse slaughter that was horrible. At least I could believe it as the source was good. To me PETA harms their cause. I instantly doubt what they say. So to say they have done good things to me is incorrect. If they want to expose the plight of animals.. then they should hand it over to someone we will believe.

On the exotic animal owner list there was a private zoo owner who had a small zoo. He took very good care of his animals. Among the zoo animals were a pair of black bears. Bears hibernate every year and when they wake up they are sloughing a lot of coat, and missing a lot of fat.

Well, some PETA activists broke in and took a bunch of photographs of "emaciated" bears with "mange" and there was a big old uproar about it. The bears in the photo did look bad, just like any bear that has just woken up from sleeping for 3 months does.

Anyway, this poor guy had AC come in and take ALL his big cats who were VERY well cared for. AC auctioned them off for a goodly amount of money. And, get this, left the "neglected" black bears in his care...even though the bears condition was their justification for confiscating and selling all of his valuable animals.

Just one example of how PETA doctors photos and puts them out of context to further their agenda.

ETA: on topic, I wish people would realize that if a dog doesn't WANT to work, it won't. You can't FORCE a dog to become a service dog, or a police dog, or a SAR dog, etc. A goodly portion of washouts has plenty of ability to do the job, they just don't want to so they are placed in companion homes. Which is of the dog's own choosing in a way.

The dogs have a lot more say in whether or not they will be working than people think they do.

 

[Amstaffer]

Amstaffer.. some of the films they have got at meat plants and stuff have been staged. They have been caught paying employees to do 'bad' stuff so they can catch it on film.
\

They are not the only ones who have caught the "bad" stuff on film. I personally have been to a commercial chicken operation and seen the "bad" stuff with my own eyes and it was worse than I have even saw on film.

 

[Dekka]

No one said things aren't bad. But it was a cows that they were caught bribing employees. Its just that they are harming the very cause they are 'trying' to help.

 

[heartdogs]

:yikes:

Hey, the crazier they get . . . the crazier they look

My sentiments precisely. I like it when they go over the edge and start to blather - they are so much less credible that way.

 

[sprintime]

When everything is said and done I think the majority of the public is being educated more and more everyday about SD, guide dogs, etc. Most people have a friend or relative in need of a SD so it isn't the rare sight it used to be. As for believing the dogs are slaves then all they have to do is look at a dog working and see the tail wagging. A slave would look downtrodden, not happy. As for the drivel peta spouts I think most people take it as just that...drivel.

 

[Lilavati]

No one said things aren't bad. But it was a cows that they were caught bribing employees. Its just that they are harming the very cause they are 'trying' to help.

PETA manages to do two things . . . one is to convince some people that things that are good are bad (like seeing eye dogs) . . . the other is to discredit any kind of animal advocacy with the rest of the population. Many people think that everyone who supports, say, stricter cruelty laws, or humane farming practices, or even actively works with rescue is a lunatic, like the PETA people. I had to explain to a co-worker yesterday (long story how it came up) that I am not a vegitarian and support animal testing if it is for the purpose of preserving human life and health. I had to explain the difference between animal welfare and animal rights, and that although there are two other people who work at the firm whom I occasionally work with on animal issues, they and I have VERY serious disagreements on many issues . . . because they are AR, and I am AW. Many people don't understand there is a difference . . . so PETA hurts not just their own cause (which is fine with me) but my cause, and that just plain hurts animals.

Some people will buy this crap . . . but more will be turned off by it . . .unfortunately, those same people may be turned off by all animal advocacy . . "Aren't those the nuts that want to ban seeing eye dogs?"

 

[lizzybeth727]

ETA: on topic, I wish people would realize that if a dog doesn't WANT to work, it won't. You can't FORCE a dog to become a service dog, or a police dog, or a SAR dog, etc. A goodly portion of washouts has plenty of ability to do the job, they just don't want to so they are placed in companion homes. Which is of the dog's own choosing in a way.

The dogs have a lot more say in whether or not they will be working than people think they do.

Exactly. The org I work for had a great dog we were training. She was extremely smart, a very quick learner... when she was interested. We use positive reinforcement training, too, and could not find anything that would motivate her enough to be interested in learning when we were ready to train her. Our dogs also LOVE going on public outings - meet new people, experience new things, have some quality one-on-one time with their trainer, it's a fun day. But this dog, just didn't like going out. For whatever reason, she just didn't enjoy it, and ultimately that's why she got released from our program. At the same time, I'm now working with two advanced dogs, who just act like we're fulfilling their biggest dream in life, to be a service dog. I really believe they would not be happy being "just" a pet dog, that having someone rely on them and getting to spend practically all their waking moments with that person is the best thing in the whole world.

So yeah, our dogs definately choose whether they want to do the job or not.

That said, I have seen some unhappy assistance dogs. I saw one on a video just the other day, actually, he did all his skills perfectly, but the entire time he had his head/ears down, tail down, and just looked sad. So yeah, they are out there, and if someone saw one of the dogs I've trained looking like that, I'd LOVE it if they called me and let me know that my dog is depressed!

 

[Buckshot]

I am actually glad they say stuff like that because it undermines their credibility so when they talk about favoring pitbull bans they won't be taken as seriously.

Never underestimate the power of fear

 

[Paige]

Yeah but you see guys, they don't need to prove they are right. All they are trying to prove is that we are wrong. And they aren't after US to agree with them. The educated dog community. They want the sheep. The people who aren't going to form an opinion of their own. That will take their word for it.

 

[Renee750il]

Never underestimate the power of fear

All too true.