Related Stories SHOP THE FREDERICKSBURG AREA SERVICE LEAGUE'S MERRY MARKET, A BOUTIQUE CRAFT EVENT, 10 A.M.-6 P.M. SATURDAY AT UMW'S JEPSON CENTER. COST: ADULTS $3, KIDS UNDER 12 FREE (11/19/2009) • A calendar of events coming up in the Fredericksburg area ANIMALS: INSPIRATION BEHIND HER STORIES (11/15/2009) • Review of "Animal Magnetism," a new memoir by Rita Mae Brown >> A FANTASTIC EXHIBIT BY ARTISTS KAREN WHELPLEY AND LINDA WARSHAW IS AT ART FIRST GALLERY IN FREDERICKSBURG (11/12/2009) • A fantastic exhibit by artists Karen Whelpley and Linda Warshaw at Art First Gallery in Fredericksburg School News (11/10/2009) • School News BPOL, donations are issues in Aquia (10/23/2009) • Milde faces two challengers in Stafford's Aquia District supervisor race HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS: FRIDAY-SUNDAY, IT'S THE FALL HOME SHOW AT THE FREDERICKSBURG EXPO CENTER! ADULTS, $6; KIDS 12/YOUNGER, FREE! INFO: FREDERICKSBURGEXPOCENTER.COM (10/15/2009) • A calendar of events coming up in the Fredericksburg area Local dogs have their day (10/5/2009) • Fredericksburg celebrates canines in three days of events REV IT UP: SATURDAY, HEAD TO CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT SPOTSY COURTHOUSE FOR THE EIGHTH ANNUAL CAR SHOW: CLASSIC CARS, FOOD AND MORE! INFO: 540/785-4451. FREE TO LOOK! (10/1/2009) • A calendar of events coming up in the Fredericksburg area SPCA COMPROMISE REACHED (9/17/2009) • A Stafford County SPCA gets a limited go-ahead from supervisors TCB, BABY: CATCH MICHAEL HOOVER'S 'MEMORIES OF ELVIS' AT ORANGE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL (201 SELMA ROAD), 7 P.M. SATURDAY! SEE LIST ABOVE; CALL 540/854-6283 FOR MORE INFO! (9/17/2009) • A calendar of events coming up in the Fredericksburg area SPCA hot topic again (9/16/2009) • Stafford Board of Supervisors hears public on SPCA proposal >> LOTS OF FANTASTIC EVENTS FOR DOGS AND THEIR PEOPLE THIS WEEKEND (9/10/2009) • Lots of events for dogs and their people this weekend HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW: AT BELMONT (224 WASHINGTON ST., FALMOUTH) SATURDAY, 9 A.M.-NOON, IT'S "LAWN CARE FOR VIRGINIA GARDENS"--FREE! INFO: 540/654-1015. (9/10/2009) • A calendar of events coming up in the Fredericksburg area Animal rescue having hard time (9/8/2009) • Nonprofits that assist animals are struggling in this economy Stafford debates election finance (9/8/2009) • Stafford County supervisor Paul Milde racks up big bucks SPCA has moved, but still needs funding (9/8/2009) • SPCA needs $500,000 to pay off building debt, and a lot of cat and dog food CORRECTIONS (8/21/2009) • Corrections SPCA is charged issue at meeting (8/19/2009) • Stafford puts SPCA application on September agenda Please, rescue helpless animals with the SPCA (8/19/2009) • Please, rescue helpless animals with the SPCA Gandhi had it right: Treat our animals well (8/19/2009) • Gandhi had it right: Treat our animals well SPCA would relieve the underfunded, outdated shelter (8/19/2009) • SPCA would relieve the underfunded, outdated shelter in Stafford SPCA opponents are using scare tactics to make their point (8/18/2009) • SPCA opponents are using scare tactics Put the SPCA in an industrial zone instead (8/18/2009) • Put the SPCA in an industrial zone instead Area SPCAs pass the smell, noise tests (8/18/2009) • Area SPCAs pass the smell, noise tests SPCA will enhance all of Stafford County (8/18/2009) • SPCA will enhance all of Stafford County Family could help rising third-grader (8/13/2009) • Dajah wants a permanent family with pizza, lip gloss and pets >> JACK BROWN'S TATTOO REVIVAL BENEFIT EVENT HELPS THE FREDERICKSBURG SPCA (8/13/2009) • This weekend, Jack Brown's Tattoo Revival donates all proceeds to help the Fredericksburg SPCA

Guess who's killing animals? Those moral high-grounders, PETA

Date published: 10/4/2005

SAN FRANCISCO--Don't be fooled by the slick propaganda of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The organization may claim to champion the welfare of animals, as the many photos of cute puppies and kittens on its Web site suggest. But recently, two PETA employees were charged with 31 felony counts of animal cruelty each, after authorities found them dumping the dead bodies of 18 animals they had just picked up from a North Carolina animal shelter into a Dumpster. According to The Associated Press, 13 more dead animals were found in a van registered to PETA.

The arrest followed a rash of unwelcome discoveries of dead animals dumped in the area. According to veterinarian Patrick Proctor, the PETA people told North Carolina shelters they would try to find the dogs and cats homes. He handed over two adoptable kittens and their mother, only to learn later that they had died, without a chance to find a home, in the PETA van. "This is ethical?" Proctor railed over the phone. "I don't really think so."

This is not the first report that PETA killed animals it claimed to protect. In 1991, PETA killed 18 rabbits and 14 roosters it had previously "rescued" from a research facility. "We just don't have the money" to care for them, then-PETA Chairman Alex Pacheco told The Washington Times. The PETA animal shelter had run out of room.

The Center for Consumer Freedom, which represents the food industry, a frequent target of PETA campaigns, released data filed by PETA with the state of Virginia that show PETA killed more than 10,000 animals from 1998 to 2003. "In 2003, PETA euthanized over 85 percent of the animals it took in," said a press release from the lobby, "finding adoptive homes for just 14 percent. By comparison, the Norfolk (Va.) SPCA found adoptive homes for 73 percent of its animals and Virginia Beach SPCA adopted out 66 percent."

The center's David Martosko considered PETA's hefty budget--reportedly $20 million--and many contributions from well-heeled Hollywood celebrities, then figured, "PETA has enough money in the bank to care for every unwanted animal in Virginia (where it has its headquarters) and North Carolina."

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Date published: 10/4/2005