Purdue vs. PETA

Brooke — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:54:19 +0000

Recently, there has been a new and (not surprisingly) upsetting attack on Purdue’s Veterinary School, specifically Veterinary Technology, by famed animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The well-meaning letter from a veterinary technician student asking for someone to adopt her laboratory dog fell into the hands of PETA, who took the opportunity to focus their attention on Purdue’s use of dogs for student teaching. While most of you will agree, allowing students to learn their trade in a hands-on manner is an excellent idea, PETA has sent a letter to Purdue demanding all animal-related learning to “cease and desist”. Of course, PETA has no actual power in the matter, but I felt that clarification of how valuable these animals are to veterinary students and veterinary technicians is called for. First off, each of the dogs are assigned to students who take care of them, walk them, play with them in a big yard, and teach them tricks (so they are even more adoptable). They are bathed regularly, given all of their flea/tick/heartworm control, and medications when they are sick. They are treated exactly as any other pet that comes to Purdue Veterinary Teaching Hospital if they are ill. Some of the skills that students learn include physical examination, behavior training (using only positive reinforcement), and how to put on bandages. Now PETA argues that all of these skills can be learned on models and client-owned animals, but I believe that learning with a dog that is yours for the semester is much more valuable and educational. Once students progress to their final years of training, they do indeed practice their skills on animals at the hospital under the supervision of clinicians and registered veterinary technicians, but they are at that point highly competent from their previous experience! I hope that PETA supporters will think carefully and weight the sides before concluding that anyone at Purdue has ever mistreated an animal, as veterinarians and veterinary technicians are some of animals’ greatest advocates. I appreciate that occasionally PETA hits the nail on the head with some of their investigations and findings and even yesterday they revealed what we can all agree are atrocious conditions at one of Petsmart’s distributors. However, in attacking Purdue, they have alienated and upset students how are dedicating their lives to helping those who cannot speak.
http://blog.peta.org/archives/2008/01/purdue_universi.php

http://www.purdueexponent.org/?module=article&story_id=9390
p.s. For the record, dogs are not euthanized when they do not find a new home. They simply repeat the year with a new group of students!

Hamas under fire for animal cruelty

Brooke — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:06:46 +0000

“Do as I say, not as I do” is the message to children on a Hamas-run television program. According to Forbes.com, one of the show’s characters, a man in a bee costume, swings cats by the tail and throws rocks at tigers in a zoo, while another character admonishes children not to be cruel to animals. Is this a mixed message? Children are notorious for imitating behavior seen on TV, so it is reasonable to think that they are far more apt to repeat the cat-swinging act, than to remember what the “actual” message is: be kind to animals. PETA has spoken out against the program and while they are sometimes themselves considered extremists, in this case I believe their outrage is justified. Unfortunately, public outcry from the United States is not something that phases Hamas, as seen by their anti-U.S./anti-Israeli cartoon character “Farfour,” the Mickey Mouse look-alike, who met was “martyred” on the same program earlier this summer. So what good can come from this story? Perhaps the American people will be further inclined to remind their own children that animal cruelty is unacceptable and all creatures need to be treated with respect.

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/15/ap4023493.html

animalnewsblog.com » Animal Cruelty

Purdue vs. PETA

Hamas under fire for animal cruelty