Why is PETA suing animal rights organizations?

Why is PETA suing animal rights organizations?

Examiner.com

March 30, 2:59 PM

http://www.examiner.com/x-4198-Omaha-Vegan-Examiner~y2009m3d30-Why-is-PETA-suing-animal-rights-organizations

If dressing up like clan members, exploiting women in protests, investing in the animal industry, or euthanizing 80-97% of 'rescued' animals doesn't change your mind about PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, perhaps their recent lawsuit will get your attention.

Is PETA suing KFC as part of their KFCruelty campaign?  Are they suing Lowes for selling moustraps?  PETA has decided to take it easy on these guys and instead go after the Friends of Animals animal advocacy organization's primate sanctuary.

I mentioned FoA in an earlier post on a new cookbook the president has released offering essential vegan recipes for various occassions.  Foa Also hosts "Vegan Means," a site to help those curious about veganism to make the transition.

Why?

I asked FoA's Dustin Rhodes why on Earth would a self-proclaimed animal rights organization sue another animal rights organization, his response: "In essence, we do not know."

Friends of Animals is an organization whose work is wide-spread and far reaching. I wonder sometimes if people realize how costly it is to run a nation-wide spay and neuter program, print various animal rights literature, conduct legal actions for various non-human animals, run an animal sanctuary with 450 animals in Texas, support Marine Animal Rescue in California, write and publish cookbooks and animal rights books....Right now, money should be feeding mouths at PPI [Primarily Primates], not legal fees PETA is disclosing their actions as in the best interests for the animals, but is an organization which lauds euthanasia as the most humane alternative going to shelter these animals?

PETA’s latest attempt at shutting PPI down alleges that PPI is in violation of the “dangerous wild animals” statute. The suit asks the Court to force PPI to get rid of all of its “dangerous wild animals,” including its chimpanzees, African lion, and baboons. However, the “dangerous wild animals” statute does not apply to animal shelters such as PPI. Although PETA’s own recruitee, Mr. Hensley, admits PPI is an animal shelter, his attorneys, who are being funded by PETA, insist that PPI is NOT an animal shelter.

FoA shells out legal fees

"Get rid of"?  Where on earth are the primates who fill this sanctuary supposed to go?  According to the Primarily Primates homepage, PPI offers rehabilitation and care for the primates: "Many are cast-offs from the pet trade and biomedical research institutions. Individuals who have been accepted into the refuge include chimpanzees once used in space training and testing protocols by the United States Air Force and Oliver, a chimpanzee once paraded on television shows as the "humanzee" due to a habit of walking upright." 

I asked Rhodes how this lawsuit was effecting FoA and PPI and there is no doubt, the outcome of these needless lawsuits are very real: "Whether we are in a recession or the next great depression, that does not alter our responsibilities to animals in any way; donations have dropped off (as they probably have for every non-profit in the country) as people struggle in their own lives, with their own responsibilities. It’s one thing to be very frugal and careful with how we use resources; it’s quite another when Friends of Animals must literally throw money away to feed a senseless lawsuit. Right now, money should be feeding mouths at PPI, not legal fees."

Shelters across America are in trouble

I'm known to push "opening your schedule, not your wallet" when it comes to activism however in these hard times, sanctuaries and animal rights organizations (who don't have a $30,000,000 annual budget like PETA) are feeling the pain.  If you're looking perform a simple act to help some sanctuaries care for living animals, donating to sanctuaries like Friends of Animals, Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary, or the Maple Farms Sanctuary would sincerely help the management of these shelters to feed and shelter their animals.

Rhodes tells me, "First and foremost, PPI needs support. Ideally, people who are able could do whatever they could to sustain PPI during this difficult economy; it’d be wonderful if Friends of Animals did not bear this entire financial responsibility. Even small donations to PPI matter. Secondly, people can boycott PETA—an organization that’s worked tirelessly to destroy Primarily Primates. Write letters, e-mails, call PETA: tell them to stop their assault on PPI."

Friends of Animals (Primarily Primates)

Peaceful Prairie Sanctuary

Maple Farms Sanctuary

It is not clear whether PETA’s motivation is personal vendetta, greed, or a movement to shut down all animal sanctuaries, but this latest assault against PPI threatens every animal sanctuary in the state of Texas. As a $30 million per year organization, PETA can afford to file all the frivolous lawsuits it wants, hire as many lawyers as it wants, and make all of the frivolous arguments it wants. However, PETA is hard-pressed to explain how this lawsuit helps any of the animals in PPI’s care. We are asking for your help to stop it.

Source: Priscilla Feral, FoA president: http://www.friendsofanimals.org/news/2009/march/petas-ongoing-assaul.html