PETA Shelter Euthanizes About 90 Percent of Pets [Report]

Norfolk, VA – PETA euthanizes about 90 percent of dogs and cats taken in by its headquarters shelter, according to a report from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

In 2012, the animal rights organization put down 94 percent of cats and 82 percent of dogs that were mostly surrendered by their owners to its Norfolk shelter, for a total of 1,647 pets killed, the report indicates. Only 19 of the canines and felines were adopted out.

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) claims that many of these animals are societal rejects because they are “aggressive, on death’s door, or somehow unadoptable.”

Last year, the state of Virginia apparently considered changing PETA’s status from a shelter to a euthanasia clinic.

The Center for Consumer Freedom, a long-time PETA foe, claims that PETA has put down about 29,000 dogs and cats since 1998. Based on these latest results, CCF argued, “It’s the height of hypocrisy for PETA to demonstrate for the ‘rights’ of rats and pigs, while killing tens of thousands of pets. It’s time that the Commonwealth of Virginia finally reclassifies PETA’s pet shelter for what it is – a slaughterhouse.”

In a December 30, 2012, interview, PETA President Ingrid Newkirk was asked about the PETA euthanizing policy: “Newkirk says the rate is so high because most of those turned over to PETA are too ill, injured or old to be saved: ‘If people who won’t even kill an animal for a sandwich are euthanizing, it’s pretty clear we’re being forced to do society’s dirty work.'”

In a quote from 2000 that is being widely circulated on the internet, however, Newkirk allegedly said that “We could become a no-kill shelter immediately. It means we wouldn’t do as much work.” PETA reportedly has a $38 million annual budget.

Do you think that the PETA euthanizing policy is a form of hypocrisy?

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