Reptile & Amphibian Forums

It is time to educate CNN about the radical animal rights agenda and their dangerous promotion of it!

CNN is set to air a full hour special tonight called Jane's Fight for Animal Rights. It features representatives from the hardcore animal rights fundraising groups, PETA, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Sea Shepherd, In Defense of Animals, Farm Sanctuary, and Mercy for Animals -- not one of which represents mainstream values. It also includes cameo appearances from celebrity spokespeople for animal rights, Bob Barker, Pierce Brosnan, and others used to legitimize extremist views.

Media depends on ratings to stay on the air, so it's understandable that TV networks sometimes select groups whose media-grabbing antics and out-of-the-mainstream views makes them newsworthy, at least as representing a minority point of view. What makes CNN's show so reprehensible is their lack of balance, their lack of providing people representing the majority view the opportunity to refute extremist claims with fact-based evidence.

The result is that CNN's show is providing radicals a platform to be seen as America's go-to resource when it comes to animal issues. Thus, PETA, a group that has refused to condemn violence committed in the names of animals, HSUS, a group with a spokesperson who said his goal is the abolition of agriculture, and Sea Shepherd whose leader, Paul Watson was recently placed on Interpol's International Wanted List all get free publicity and the CNN bully pulpit.

It's vitally important that you tell CNN how you feel about their program and about the groups they've selected to represent animal issues. CNN needs to understand that pandering to sensationalism not only hurts the people who actually care for animals, it hurts the animals themselves. Let's use this opportunity to educate CNN about the animal rights agenda and how it differs from true animal welfare.

Please click on the following link to write CNN:
www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form5.html?106

Here are some resources you can use in composing your letter:
Quotes from animal rights leaders showing how radical they are
The animal rights agenda
Description of animal rights versus animal welfare
NAIA's value statement

Good luck!

Sincerely,
Patti Strand, national director NAIA

Isn't this a bit too political? I understand it concerns animals but your group promoting an agenda against CNN and animal rights here is ok with Kingsnake.com? Does Kingsnake.com assume everyone here is against animal rights? I just opened an account here today and first I see is this along with the Boycotting PETA post. Pretty lame.

People boycott groups like PETA and the HSUS here because those groups are trying to eradicate the exotic pet industry.

A little political? Hell, yes, it's political. It has to be! With a handle like pythons4pets, you, of all people, should understand that. After all, pythons are one of the most 'under the microscope' of the exotic pets right now. What you, and unfortunately a lot of other people, don't differentiate is the difference between animal RIGHTS and animal WELFARE. The animal RIGHTS movement is definitely something that should be fought, tooth and nail. Groups like Peta are for the eradication of ALL animals in captivity, both exotic and domestic. Supposedly impartial news media such as CNN should not air such slanted "journalism" unless they follow it up with an equally weighted program on the other side. However, this is a more and more common occurrence - the so-called 'news media' and 'nature documentarians' highlighting the AR agenda, throwing exotic animals (and animal owners in general sometimes) under the bus, often just for ratings.

Since you are new to the forum, maybe you should take a moment to get your bearings before you pass judgment on those who are fighting for your rights to your pets.

I understand what you're saying. I don't agree with everything that PETA stands for, one of them being their stance on "responsible breeding" whereby their aim is to restrict all breeding, even those who love animals and take the best care and apply responsible husbandry. I understand their reasoning for it, but it takes it too far. On the other hand, I also understand that PETA isn't interested in taking people's pets/animals that are well cared for to have them set them free. They advocate dogs and cats population be reduced through spaying and neutering. I don't have a problem with that, do you? Like anything, there's always two sides to every story, I'd rather inform myself of all sides, and not fall into someone's hysterical assumptions. I'll take your advice but I'm not interested in coming here to be told what news I should and shouldn't watch.

Thanks and I appreciate your response.

"On the other hand, I also understand that PETA isn't interested in taking people's pets/animals that are well cared for to have them set them free."

Actually, that's exactly what they are interested in - only that 'free' in most cases means dead.

"I don’t use the word "pet." I think it’s speciesist language. I prefer "companion animal." For one thing, we would no longer allow breeding. People could not create different breeds. There would be no pet shops. If people had companion animals in their homes, those animals would have to be refugees from the animal shelters and the streets. You would have a protective relationship with them just as you would with an orphaned child. But as the surplus of cats and dogs (artificially engineered by centuries of forced breeding) declined, eventually companion animals would be phased out, and we would return to a more symbiotic relationship – enjoyment at a distance" -- Ingrid Newkirk, PETA's President, quoted in The Harper's Forum Book, Jack Hitt, ed., 1989, p.223.

“In the end, I think it would be lovely if we stopped this whole notion of pets altogether.” -- Ingrid Newkirk, Bewsday, Feb 1988

“There is no hidden agenda. If anybody wonders about -- what’s this with all these reforms -- you can hear us clearly. Our goal is total animal liberation.”
— Ingrid Newkirk “Animal Rights 2002” convention, Jun 2002

“One day, we would like an end to pet shops and the breeding of animals. [Dogs] would pursue their natural lives in the wild ... they would have full lives, not wasting at home for someone to come home in the evening and pet them and then sit there and watch TV.”
— Ingrid Newkirk, The Chicago Daily Herald, Mar 1990

“I wish we all would get up and go into the labs and take the animals out or burn them down.”
— Ingrid Newkirk, "National Animal Rights Convention", Jun 1997

"In a perfect world, we would not keep animals for our benefit, including pets," Tom Regan, emeritus professor of philosophy at North Carolina State University and author of "Empty Cages" - speaking at University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, March 3, 2004

"Our goal: to convince people to rescue and adopt instead of buying or selling animals, to disavow the language and concept of animal ownership." Eliot Katz, President In Defense of Animals, In Defense of Animals website, 2001

"It is time we demand an end to the misguided and abusive concept of animal ownership. The first step on this long, but just, road would be ending the concept of pet ownership." Elliot Katz, President "In Defense of Animals," Spring 1997

"Pet ownership is an absolutely abysmal situation brought about by human manipulation." Ingrid Newkirk, national director, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA), Just Like Us? Harper's, August 1988, p. 50.

"We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock produced through selective breeding. . One generation and out. We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding." Wayne Pacelle, Senior VP of Humane Society of the US, formerly of Friends of Animals and Fund for Animals, Animal People, May, 1993

“One day, we would like an end to pet shops and the breeding of animals. [Dogs] would pursue their natural lives in the wild ... they would have full lives, not wasting at home for someone to come home in the evening and pet them and then sit there and watch TV.”
— Ingrid Newkirk, The Chicago Daily Herald, Mar 1990

I know this is preaching to the choir here but does this lady even have a clue about dogs. Dogs are not natural at all they are seriously inbred wolves (I'm not speaking ill of dogs, I love dogs, I'm just saying.). Most of them would not even survive in the wild and the ones that did would merely end up pets again anyway. They have had way too close of a relationship with humans. I am pretty sure that their relationship with humans goes back further than any other domesticated animal. It is much less common these days due to leash laws but outside dogs that are free to roam wherever they want still come home to their humans. I had one like this when I was a kid it never knew what a leash was almost never saw the inside of our house and yet not only did it stay at our house but it followed me everywhere. So much for her "be free" concept.

"On the other hand, I also understand that PETA isn't interested in taking people's pets/animals that are well cared for to have them set them free."

YES, they do. They want our hobby stamped out and GONE. Exotic keeping, (well, any animal keeping) is WRONG in thier eyes.

"They advocate dogs and cats population be reduced through spaying and neutering. I don't have a problem with that, do you?"

They advocate the extinction of the dog and cat from our homes by the ending of breeding animals as pets forever. They are lunatics. The animal rights front and its many factions are THE MOST DANGEROUS THING THAT OUR HOBBY FACES. PETA, HSUS, and that
lot = Terrorists.

Animal Rights supporting folks usually are ignorant of animals, their natural history, husbandry, the real issues facing them & habitat, and more. They are very often young, urban, and now, trendy. They usually have a "disneyfied" or "fluffy bunny" view towards animals.

Here is more info on animal rights (and the insane hypocrisy associated with it) versus animal welfare, someone I am pretty sure everyone on this board would agree with -

http://homepages.sover.net/~lsudlow/ARvsAW.htm
http://www.animalwelfarecouncil.com/html/aw/rights.php
http://www.americananimalwelfare.com/rights.html
http://www.consumerfreedom.com/issuepage.cfm/topic/8

pythons4pets,

>>I understand what you're saying. I don't agree with everything that PETA stands for, one of them being their stance on "responsible breeding" whereby their aim is to restrict all breeding, even those who love animals and take the best care and apply responsible husbandry. I understand their reasoning for it, but it takes it too far.

What reasoning is this when "it takes it too far"?

>>On the other hand, I also understand that PETA isn't interested in taking people's pets/animals that are well cared for to have them set them free.

Unfortunately you are wrong about this...Do some more research..."Set them free"?

>>They advocate dogs and cats population be reduced through spaying and neutering. I don't have a problem with that, do you?

No I don't but this is the PR that they want you to see...They don't tell you about the other stuff...Like the fact that they are in the LAND acquisition business (and I'm not talking about land for animal shelters)...

>>Like anything, there's always two sides to every story, I'd rather inform myself of all sides, and not fall into someone's hysterical assumptions. I'll take your advice but I'm not interested in coming here to be told what news I should and shouldn't watch.

Then you should read EVERYTHING available, meaning the pro and con of HSUS and PETA...

Later,
Jim.

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CSRAJim

The HSUS (Humane Society of the US) published this book {Reptiles as Pets} in 2001 - a persuasive political ploy disguised as a 'scientific report'. It was freely distributed to all U.S. governmental regulatory bodies to sway them to help their cause. This is how donation money sent to the HSUS is put to 'good' use. The last paragraph of the entire 'study' sums up their position:

"Finally, we recommend that [government] regulatory bodies put an end to the reptile trade: State and local authorities are encouraged to ban the commercial collection of reptiles to protect wild populations of reptiles and ban the sale of reptiles as pets to the general public in order to protect human health..."

They said ban commercial collection AND ban the sale of reptiles, so that means no c.b or w.c. - they want the total destruction of the reptile hobby/ trade. If you agree with their animal rights agenda, then you should not be keeping pet reptiles.

Kathy,

It's just one tree of their utopian forest...Here are just a few articles of HSUS and PETA I found in about 20 minutes…

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2010/03/connecticut-humane-society.html

http://saova.org/articles/HSUS_ItsNotAboutAnimalShelters-Oliver.pdf

http://www.hsvma.org/resources/ethical_concerns.html - I wonder if they have the same “ethical” treatment of “euthanized” humans for research…

http://www.examiner.com/x-32884-Eugene-Dogs-Examiner~y2010m4d24-United-States-Humane-Society-directives-to-animal-health

http://www.boycottthehumanesociety.org/ - As usual, it’s about the money!

http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/The-Humane-Society-of-the-United-States-Company-History.html

http://www.newsweek.com/2008/04/27/peta-and-euthanasia.html - Perhaps they should spend less money on their own salaries and more on the animals they purport to care for…

http://www.naiaonline.org/articles/archives/hsus01.htm

http://activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/o/136-humane-society-of-the-united-states

http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2010-04-14/news/the-humane-society-and-big-agriculture-slug-it-out-over-animal-rights/

Later,
Jim.

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CSRAJim

Our members support the stance of animal welfare.

We do not support animal rights.

There is a difference
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
Visit kingsnake on Facebook!
Follow Kingsnake on Twitter!

Cindy,

>>Our members support the stance of animal welfare.

First, I agree with you as I'm for animal welfare (humane treatment) as well but I have to ask, membership of what organization? Who is "we"?

>>We do not support animal rights.

Neither do I...After all, to whom does a zebra file a complaint with while they're being preyed upon by lions and croc's?

>>There is a difference

Again, I agree...There is a difference.

Later,
Jim.

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CSRAJim

>>Cindy,
>>
>>>>Our members support the stance of animal welfare.
>>
>>First, I agree with you as I'm for animal welfare (humane treatment) as well but I have to ask, membership of what organization? Who is "we"?
>>

I was referring to the members here at kingsnake.
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Cindy Steinle
PHFaust
Visit kingsnake on Facebook!
Follow Kingsnake on Twitter!

Cindy,

Thanks and I agree.

Later,
Jim.
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CSRAJim

Let me be the first to offer you to close your account and leave. Are you kidding!? You are as obvious as an elephant turd on a putting green. Fortunately, I could care less about try to "win" you over or change your mind. But then that's NOT why you're here anyway. It's high time we call out these garbage sifters and quit wasting time on them. On with the boycotts! And that should include trolls and agenda agents. pythons4pets....what a friggin joke.

And you know what else? Fox News also reports on animal abuse, why aren't you complaining about that?? This is BS Kingsnake.com!!!

And you? Young affluent well educated female? Idealistic naive and new to Herps?
Please tell me where you're coming from and how you arrive at your opinions? Honestly, I swear. I'm very interested in your perspective.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

You wrote "And you? Young affluent well educated female? Idealistic naive and new to Herps?

Please tell me where you're coming from and how you arrive at your opinions? Honestly, I swear. I'm very interested in your perspective.
jsc"

Depends what age group you consider "young", let's just say 30 something, "affluent" hell no, "well-educated" eh.. 3 yrs of college and had enough,, "idealistic" perhaps, "naive", by all means no, "new to herps" I'm a fairly experienced herper. I've been bitten by the best of them. "How do I arrive at my opinions?" I base them on human experience, best available facts, some gut instincts, having lived in different parts of the world, and my love for all god's creatures, yes including humans. But I know nothing about you...

Well yes. I'd say I hit it exactly right. You may not be affluent now, but I'll bet you enjoyed an upper middle class upbringing. You didn't answer regarding your sex. Most men would be incensed and really let me know I was wrong. Guess I wasn't.
I'm an old geezer. Here is a link to me jscrick.com
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

I'm a fairly experienced herper. I've been bitten by the best of them.

Most of us "experienced herpers" don't look at bites as "experience" we look at them as "screw-ups" personally speaking I try to avoid bites myself. Of course I keep water monitors, those type of "experiences" can get expensive.

Calparsoni,

Not to mention the "stuff" impacted in and around those wonderfully designed tree climbing HOOKS...Now those leave a mark! Ha! Ha!

Later,
Jim.
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CSRAJim

Not to mention the "stuff" impacted in and around those wonderfully designed tree climbing HOOKS...Now those leave a mark! Ha! Ha!

The worst one for that is not the waters, it's the mangroves. I had a few of them for years, they would never bite but man they would rip my arms to shreds. I'm about 50/50 with wearing gloves with the waters but with those mangroves I put gloves on almost everytime and when I didn't I was quickly reminded of why I wore gloves with them.

Calparsoni,

If we weren't passionate about what we do...Who'd put up with such "torture"? Ha! Ha!

Later,
Jim.
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CSRAJim

It is now going on 2 years since I have had sattellite service at my house I have not missed it at all. Even when I did have it I never watched cnn in fact I didn't watch fox news for that matter.
Either one of them or the countless other news outlets could be doing a live report that I am patient zero for the next deadliest plague out there and I would not know from watching them (although I might suspect something as I got sick lol.) If every body kept this attitude these shows would fail.
I have posted about this before everytime you guys come on here and post about these shows what you do is give them free promotion. I actually know of bands who do something similar on craigslist. They post insults about their own bands on their and have other members post back in arguments with them. They get all these people fired up and voila instant crowd. This works because there is no such thing as negative publicity. the best solution is to not watch it not talk about and end up having no idea who their advertisers are. My wife could be secretly selling our house and advertising it on cnn. I would never know as I don't watch cnn.

I think it would be a worthwhile endeavor to bring suit against these media peddlers of HSUS and PETA political propaganda that offer this worthless tripe up as fact, forcing them to post serious warnings and disclaimers at the beginning and at the end of these entertainment fictions, as to their lack of truth and validity, and scientific merit.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

...than to advocate the severance of the age-old bond between humans and dogs???

PETA deserves to not only be ignored, but actually destroyed.
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Brad Chambers
WWW.HCU-TX.ORG

Breeder of:
Green Tree Pythons
Jungle Carpet Pythons
Pastel, Pinstripe, FIRE, Piebald, Clown, Lavender Albino, Leucistic, and Spider Ball Pythons
Striped Colombian Boa Constrictors
Kenyan, Rufescens, and Conicus Sand Boas
Red Phase Western Hognose Snakes
Spider Western Hognose Snakes
Albino Western Hognose Snakes
Locality Trans-Pecos Mexican Hognose Snakes
Southern Hognose Snakes
Eastern Hognose Snakes
Tricolor Hognose Snakes
Hypo Checkered Garter Snakes
Eastern Blackneck Garter Snakes
Stillwater Hypo Bullsnakes
Patternless Bullsnakes
S. GA Eastern Kingsnakes
Locality Desert Kingsnakes
Albino Desert Kingsnakes
Hypo Desert Kingsnakes
Mexican Black Kingsnakes
Desert Phase, Striped Desert, Newport, and Coastal California Kingsnakes
Locality Mexican Milksnakes
Spotted Mexican Milksnakes
Tangerine Mexican Milksnakes
Locality Alterna
Abbott Okeetee Cornsnakes
Mexican Baird's Ratsnakes
Cape Housesnakes
Tangerine Albino African Fat -Tailed Geckos
Locality Spotted Turtles

And the wolves will never take them back.

You know what they say -- feed a stray and you can never get rid of them. You've got a friend for life.
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

What Wolves????

i would like to see the stuff that was said, is there somewhere online i can watch the program, i like to know what im commenting on before doing so, not to support JVM, she is SO annoying, i found the transcript, but it has a disclaimer on it that its not final...
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hanging out under heat lights burns up my brain cells!!