Animals, Constitutional Law, Courts, Environment

PETA Accused Of Pursuing Bloggers After Criticism Of Its Animal Shelter

100px-Peta.svg People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is famous for its public displays designed to shock and sometimes disgust people (here and here and here). However, PETA appears a bit thin skinned this week with legal attacks on critics who accused the organization of killing animals in a Virginia shelter. PETA reportedly is asking a court to give it the personal information, email addresses, phone numbers, and other data for three bloggers who reacted to an April 2 posting by a no-kill shelter advocate. One of the bloggers called PETA “animal Kevorkians.”

PETA has refused to discuss its efforts.

Articles have accused PETA of killing roughly 90 percent of stray dogs and cats at a Virginia facility. Critics insist PETA is not open or honest on its kill policy with donors.

I have been unable to see any of the alleged PETA filings or any response from the organization on these allegations. I find it troubling to see public interest organizations going after critics. PETA thrives on free speech and often engages in speech that many find troubling. Yet, we all defend their right to do so even if we criticize their tactics. I would be interested in seeing the filings if they are public and anyone has run across them.

Source: NY Post

256 thoughts on “PETA Accused Of Pursuing Bloggers After Criticism Of Its Animal Shelter”

  3. FAKER? I’ll have you know she has an extensive vocabulary. She learned it on the Internet!

  5. So many trolls, so little time…

    @Really Enjoying this, Actually
    You state, “For the rest of you, the [PETA] legal action- a subpoena for information, not a lawsuit seeking damages- was in part to limit defamation which is not protected under the Constitution…But the [New York] case- which was highlighted in Ingrid Newkirk’s blog- was also about limiting cyber bullying, stalking and harassment.”
    You are clearly not an attorney. A subpoena is NOT a lawsuit or “legal action.” It is part of the discovery process in a lawsuit, and a subpoena can only be enforced if there is an underlying lawsuit pending. Period. And a legal action need not always seek money damages. Further, the shortlived PETA lawsuit in NY against the Huffington Post (in which they issued a subpoena seeking the identities of persons who posted negative comments about PETA) was about chilling freedom of speech, i.e., scaring the public from making comments adverse to Peta online. If the PETA lawsuit was actually about limiting cyber bullying and defamation as you absurdly purport, PETA would not have dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice but would have pursued it.

    @Randy DeCarlo
    You assert that “Lucy” is a “cyber thug.” Yet Lucy has no pending defamation lawsuits and judgments against her like you do per public record. Also, we are all waiting for your 10 gazillion dollar lawsuit against the world.

    @jetson409
    You state: “I am not claiming anything. I raised a question with a possible scenario explaining why a lawsuit may not have been necessary. If some or all of your statements were found to be defamatory or questionable and you recanted in writing ( a written statement for example made through the attorneys outside the courts) your comments would have been removed by Huff and a lawsuit would be avoided.”
    No one cares about your irrelevant lay person speculation. The facts are that PETA filed a frivolous LAWSUIT in NY against Huffington Post (to further clog the overburdened court system) and then issued a subpoena seeking the identity of posters. PETA then dismissed their frivolous lawsuit as they likely didn’t want to be on the hook for Huffington Post’s court costs or face a malicious prosecution lawsuit by Huffington Post.

    @Pig Pen
    You state: “The reason PeTa subpoenaed Huff is because you stated your irrational beliefs as facts. Therefore your beliefs are entirely the topic.” No Ward, I mean Pig Pen, no rational attorney would file a lawsuit because their client was displeased with others posting alleged “irrational beliefs” about the client. See my response to your friend Actually Enjoying This, Actually. It’s still a free country and people can post irrational beliefs without fear of incurring civil liability. In fact, you’re posting nonsense right now. Though when you post against a multimillion dollar corp like PETA, you may have to fear a frivolous lawsuit aimed at chilling the right to free speech. Also Pig Pen, if PETA was so fabulous why do you post a multitude of unsupported, pointless and unnecessarily insulting comments mostly aimed at denigrating Lucy and Marilyn. Though so like PETA you are, judging women on externals. And re your comment calling Marilyn a “crone.” Go read some Mary Daly. Crone or hag is actually a good word for women with knowledge but maligned by the patriarchy which you clearly are a slave to like the rest of your flock.

    @Pig Pen again:
    You also state: “Lucy any lawyer can issue a subpoena and in a civil case a judge doesn’t even review it. Look it up on your internet. So sorry you made such an utter fool of yourself once again spouting nonsense as if it were fact and then ridiculing others who were in fact correct! Really I am! (HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA)”
    Yes Pig Pen, any lawyer can “issue” a subpoena (I’ll spare the technicalities however, as you are not worth it). However, without an underlying lawsuit, there is no court to enforce it and it is worthless. Perhaps you should consult with an attorney or go to law school as you so desire to prove to the world you know how to lawyer.

  6. Yo, Mikey-
    I don’t give a flying feck about PETA, HSUS, ASPCA or NKN. I’m just highly entertained by the ramblings of that FAKER LVP.
    I barely have time to READ this crap, let alone post for hours and hours about it. Those Depends must come in handy!

  10. Is he part of Operation Mongoose too? Hey didn’t you guys have the ACTUAL Anon folks on-board with that one too? Yep that was a really scary time for us all

  11. Where’s the hot shot attorney Mike? Maybe he can help you get your head above water now.

  14. But seriously I’ve always been jealous myself if a clefted chin on another woman.

  16. Still waiting for the terror that was Operation Mongoose. We were all so afraid. Especially because there were so many spy pens involved.

  17. Dear Pig and Ann:

    We get it. PETA kills animals. You’re beating a dead dog. Time to move on to a new trolling spot. Aren’t there some ASPCA sites on the web?

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