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
Bron,
What do you do with the animals looking for homes? You make every attempt to find them homes.
The numbers of animals currently killed in the US shelter system every year averages about 3-4 million.
There are more than enough adoptive homes for these 3-4 million shelter animals. If only the so called “shelters” and animal control facilities WANTED to put forth the effort required to find them homes.
For more details please read up on the No Kill Equation and the No Kill Movement. Many communities around the country are embracing this new sheltering model and saving over 90% of the animals coming into their shelters.
It’s not a pipe dream, it’s a reality backed up by real facts. It’s all a Google search away, but if you request, I will provide you with a few links.
In regards to PeTA: The big animosity comes from PeTA’s unyielding stance, where they insist that the animals that end up in shelters should be killed. They deny that “No Kill” is possible and they blatantly spread lies about the No Kill Movement as well as use their significant monetary resources to influence legislation that might save thousands of animals lives – but PeTA actually argues for the oppositve – PeTA supports legislation that would allow shelter workers to KILL on demand (with even less mandatory holding times,etc…)
Lucy Van Pelt:
Was it needless? I am not a fan of PETA but there are so many animals looking for homes, what do you do?
Mike Appleton:
you are a keen observer of human interaction, I can see not much slips by your trained eye. 🙂
Mike – this blog is about ME, in part. I was one of the commenters named in PeTA’s lawsuit against the Huffington Post.
Mary Tully is well known PeTA supporter who trolls the internet 24/7 defending PeTA’s right to kill on demand as well as spreading lies.
She has lied repeatedly, but when she lies about me – then I’m rightly annoyed, so to speak.
I did not defame anyone. The legal action was long ago withdrawn by PeTA – yet here she comes to dredge things up and claim that PeTA was defamed.
Sorry, but I felt the need to set the record straight. It’s long I know and I apologize, but so is this entire sordid saga of PeTA’s attempts to silence me simply for speaking out against their needless killing of cats and dogs.
Lucy Van Pelt:
Am I correct in assuming that you and Ms. veaganmeanie are mutually antagonistic?
and Ms. Tully – PeTA IS a “corporation” – every bit as much as “Smithfield” and “Monsanto”. The “non-profit” status is irrelevant.
I only wish there were more hours in the day because I need them to point out every single, nonsensical, wacked-out, delusional, vulgarity-laced lie that you spew every single day via the various web pages you manage.
Truth is, I try to avoid you, as you make me embarrassed for the females of the world as well as the animal activists of the world.
But since you seem unable to keep your nose out of my life and my business, I’m going to “take you to church” (a term you have used before).
It’s sad that you have no ability to shut your mouth and leave well enough alone, Ms, Tully.
Although I am rather a bit busy today to elaborate on the Shelter Inspection Report made by Dr. Kovich – fear not, Ms. Tully – I will get to it.
In the meantime, I would like to share this:
http://pastebin.com/u9wFpQh7
The link provides a deeper understanding of the commenter posting as, “veaganmeanie”. It’s her own public rants or shall I call it her public diatribes? Or maybe just call it the ravings of a severely deranged person. Anyway, judge for yourselves.
Enjoy the freak show….
continued…
Furthermore, Ms. veaganmeanie, Even if those animals were all owner surrendered, that still does not justify PeTA killing them, especially without a proper evaluation by a veterinarian. The point being that you, veaganmeanie, lie – either outright or by omission – but the real facts do not support your claims. You mention the VDAC stats and the VA Dept of AG’s Inspection report only to give the appearance of legitimacy for your claims when the exact opposite is in fact true. They do not offer any proof for the claims you make.
It’s getting late, tomorrow I will be sure to continue discussing the more interesting points contained within the Dept. of Agriculture’s report on PeTA’s Norfolk facility. (since you brought it up, Ms. Tully)….
to be continued….
continued….
Here, I’ll even provide links to them for you, in consecutive order:
http://www.nathanwinograd.com/…/2012/02/PETA.2011.pdf
http://www.petakillsanimals.com/proof
Please do explain to us all where in the VDAC stats does it show proof of your claims that all of the animals killed by PeTA (in 2011, in this case) were either A. “owner surrenders”, B. “sick and injured”, or C. “both”?
By “proof”, Ms. Tully, I mean to say that we would like to see some actual documents that would back up your statements? It would be helpful in settling this debate once and for all if you (or PeTA ) could actually show us all the “owner surrender” signed statements AND the official veterinarian’s signed statements that would back up your claims that 94% of the animals that PeTA took in (and subsequently killed) were actually, “sick and injured”.
Do these things exist, Ms. Tully? If so, please provide us with copies and/or a link to where we can view these things for ourselves. Otherwise, your claims are nothing more than that – unsubstantiated “claims” made by a well known PeTA troll – and they have no basis in truth. The truth is, we don’t know what the condition of the animals that PeTA killed in 2011 was, and we don’t know if they were all “owner surrendered” or if they were all, “sick and injured”. Are we supposed to take YOUR word for it, Ms. Tully? Because I know what your “word” is worth, and it isn’t worth much. As you have repeatedly made bogus claims of me having left over 250 “defamatory” comments regarding PeTA over at the Huffington Post (yet you fail to provide us all with the comments in question). You have also made erroneous statements on your crap web pages, and attributed those bogus statements to me, when I have absolutely never said anything even remotely close to what you claim.
Excuse me, but who has actually been defaming who here, I seem to have lost track?
to be continued…..
This is why journalism is dead: PETA’s VDACS animal reporting summaries are public information. Furthermore, the records are immediately accessible online. According to PETA’s animal reporting summaries, almost NONE of the animals they receive are “strays,” the overwhelming majority being “owner-surrenders.” Now, considering that the state of Virginia requires citizens seeking owner-requested euthanasia through animal shelters to sign a legal release stati g that their animal may be immediately euthanized I’m accordance with the laws of the state, and PETA’s shelter inspection reports verify that PETA is incompliance with this requirement, it’s pretty easy to see1) that PETA’s doing what they say they’re doing, and that’s euthanizing sick and injured community animals at their guardians’ requests, and 2) PETA feels that their reputation is being disparaged my false allegations, which it obviously is. This blogger actually proves it.
At some point the major orgs have to step up and put an end to the malicious attacks on credibility that interfere with helping animals trapped in a rather over- populated animal kingdom
The devil sees life as overpopulated. God sees souls in them for his plan in his kingdom. The devil would talk sweetly carrying a lancet.
That was Artie again. I thought I was on my side of the Email
To believe Debi Day’s version of whether there was an actual guilty verdict based ion evidence submitted during the trial you would also have to believe that SHE is a honest person. In the court case each side is allowed to ask specificv questions in a process known as “admissions”.
Here are just a few of the blantant lies she submitted to the court
When asked to admit or deny the following;
Item 2 Admit that No Kill Nation collected over $100,000 under their 501c3 for the 100 + Abandoned Dogs in the Everglades Project
ANSWER : DENIED
So, in court she denies ever depositing money into NKN’s bank account yet in her piece on the “nokillfund” she includes an accounting for the funds collected? Which statement is truthful?
Item 12 Admit that DEBRA DAY is a public figure.
ANSWER: DENIED
Item 13 Admit that Amy Restucci is an employee, and or an associate and or a volunteer of NO KILL NATION INC.
Jeanne and Jetson409, thanks for posting the link.
Kay, no matter how you paint it, it was SLAPP. And I’ve also seen Debi Day threaten other bloggers and commenters with lawsuits, just for expressing an opinion.
Kay, Of course Debi Day is going to claim that and you should for the sake of clarity point out you are a no kill nation supporter.
The fact are I defaulted on a civil lawsuit rather than attempt to fund a legal defense that would have cost $50,000 or more.
There was never any testimony heard on the issues surrounding the alleged “libelous” comments’ Do you even know what “tortious interference is”? Those allegations were alleged against the volunteer non profit I started years ago. So Debi is saying that MDRR (which never charged for their volunteer effort) was interfering with her ability to make a profit?
Do you know stupid that sounds. One could make a case that No Kill nation “tortuously interfers” with groups like HSUS and PETA everyday now couldn’t we?
If Debi Day had a problem with any of the blogs I wrote she could have simply used the COMMENT feature and addressed those issues. Unlike Nathan Winograd and No Kill Nation Drats has ALWAYS allowed people – even Debi – to disagree with any comments or blog written.
But that wasn’t the reason why she selected me to sue. She was more concerned that I would expose Nathan’s and her relationship with breeders while they both try and peddle that nonsense they call pet overpopulation being a myth.
Thank you for being the voice of reason, Shelley Powers. There are always two sides to every story and if something seems particularly unlikely or outrageous, further investigation is always necessary in order to get to the truth of the matter. Here’s a link to the legal document filed by PETA: https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/fbem/DocumentDisplayServlet?documentId=FAS0u4l9e2UITg7HCmTyfw%3D%3D&system=prod
More about why PETA euthanizes can be found here (contains graphic photos of sick/injured animals): http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/2013/03/21/Why-We-Euthanize.aspx
Here is a link to the petition. The comments and criticism are not simply directed at the number of animals euthanized. That information is public record and PeTA doesnt hide from it. It will be interesting to see what if anything will happen. Most likely a cease & desist will only be sent. Something that cant be done without knowing their identities. However if an intent to drive away donations can be established and it was based on their lies or reckless disregard for the truth, it wont be a good thing.
https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/fbem/DocumentDisplayServlet?documentId=FAS0u4l9e2UITg7HCmTyfw%3D%3D&system=prod
I am the “blogger” that NKN decided to file a civil suit against rather than simply providing the accounting on $100,000 in doantions they took in under the “Everglades Project”. Not only did NKN push to have the blogs written about the Everglades taken down but also deleted blogs written about puppy mills, about Winograds CAPA laws, about Winograd’s associations with breeders and surprisingly a few blogs written about my hounds. All were labeled as “lies and defamation” against No Kill Nation and its leader Debi Day. There were also two blogs written that included lyrics only from songs like “My Back Pages” and “Amusede to Death”.
Each blog deleted was mentioned in an affidavit signed and notarized under penalty of law by NKN Board Member Kathy Santomero (who just so happened to be the one who helped raise the 4100,000 in question).
One could only guess how a blog written about my first basset hound Maggie was considered defamatory but it does show that NKN main focus was on preventing me from expressing any comments on the animal issues surrounding this no kill movemewnt.
Even after succeeding in removing over 150 blogs NKN’s leader didn’t stop there. Through her attorney she demanded I sign a court agreement to never write about her or her organization in the future. I have pointed out to the judge that the Supreme Court is VERY clear that the first amendment allows for citiznes to write and post even defamatory comments without governmental interference. Granted only a fool would cross over that line but the intent is to provide all citizens with the right to write comments that even oppose our government without the risk or threats of being inprosoned for expressing their thoughts.
Peta is right to go after the anonymous posters in this lawsuit. I am fully aware of the situation with the poster who goes by the comic name of “Lucy Van Pelt”. Lucy is close friends with No Kill antion’s Debi Day and a supporter of the Winograd lead assault on Peta. Lucy’s REAL NAME is Maria Venuto and she resides in East Roxbury Ma. Ms Venuto has participated in an orchestrated attack on me which includes the likes of Huff Po writer Douglas Anthony Cooper as well. In all there are twenty two people who have posted comments on Facebook alleging that I am a “convicted felon, a felon, a drug trafficer, a meth user, abusive towards woman, mentally unstable, a hoarder and in Lucy’s case “an inbred fuck”. None of this is true. Yet, Debi Day wants to cry foul and free speech when her friend Maria and Douglas Cooper are on the receiving end of the same law suit mentality she has funded against me?
The animal welfare community is better than this. There is NO ROOM for this type of “no boundaries” attack mentality directed at anyone who doesn’t swallow Winograd’s cult like breeder enabling no kill movement.
Winograd is nothing more than a liar and a coward who lets others do his dirty work. It is my hope that Peta follows through with a lawsuit but doesn’t stop with the minions like Lucy and Cooper but goes right to the source of this misinformation in Nathan Winograd himself.
As for me, I have no intention in not writing on any issues I feel will help the animals or the issues I advocate for. Too many of our countries bravest have fought and died for OUR rights to free speech. To allow some rich bozo to “buy” my silence with some high priced lawyer who is willing to provbide false evidence in a court case isn’t something I would cave to.
You can follow the progression of our court battle on “Drats, the squirrels and nuts are taking over”. If No Kill nation’s attorney takes down a post – I’ll simply repost it all over again. Its really that simple.
Enjoy this recent article on Drats
http://squirrelsnnuts.blogspot.com/2013/05/even-breeder-rats-will-abandon-sinking.html
Peace and Love – Drats
Shelley Powers, you could not be more mistaken and yes, everyone should be more cautious about what we say online. It wasn’t a case of “free speech” but case of libel and tortious interference. http://nokillfund.com/letter-from-debi-day/