Thug Life Army

On the 17^th of this month we ran an article about PETA and how we felt that maybe hip-hop culture should investigate the programs that we support.

We had mentioned how they (PETA) have got hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons involved in their chicken killing rant, and they have gone up against different hip-hop and rap artists for wearing ‘fur’ and the list really goes on and on.

Though some in the hip-hop culture support PETA, we just wanted to report both sides of things so those who are interested can make up their own minds on what programs they feel they should support.

Just because Russell Simmons or some other ‘respected’ member of the hip-hop culture may or may not support a program; that does not mean we as individuals can not make up our own minds. And sometimes our convictions will not meet the majority of what everyone else thinks. That is called ‘individuality’.

The original article we published was about two People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) employees who were arraigned on 31 felony animal cruelty charges for allegedly dumping seven dead puppies and 11 other animals in a dumpster and driving a PETA-owned van containing another 13 animal bodies.

The article also stated information that was broadcast on WAVY-TV's coverage in Norfolk included heartbreaking details of a property manager who’s dumpster became an impromptu pet cemetery.  "They just slung the doors (open) and started throwing dogs ... beautiful cats.  I saw a (dead) beagle last week that was pregnant ... last week it was 23 or 24 dogs ... it's happened to us nine times ... they disposed of the dogs in 30 seconds."

Authorities told WNCT-TV in Greenville, NC that they''ve discovered more than 70 dead animals in the last month that may be connected to PETA.  WKTR-TV reported that Cook and Hinkle are out on bond, "thanks to the President of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals."

The original article can be seen here.

We received a response from PETA on our article and we want to be fair and give their side of the story.

Official Response From PETA Representative:

It is against PETA’s policy to put the bodies of animals in dumpsters, and we are appalled that a member of our staff apparently did that. There is no excuse for that and, despite the fact that she is a caring soul, we have suspended her from work.

PETA has always supported and spoken openly about euthanasia. It is easy to throw stones at those doing the dirty work for society, but euthanasia is a necessary evil until the massive animal overpopulation problem can be solved. We invite anyone who can offer a home to any animal, pay for one or a hundred spay/neuter surgeries, or persuade others not to go to a pet shop or breeder, to please join us in doing these things. In the last year, we have spayed/neutered more than 7,600 dogs and cats, including feral animals, many free of charge and all others at well below our own costs. Support for this program is much needed.

To clarify, we do not run an adoption facility, although we do place animals, approximately 360 in the last year, despite having run out of friends and family members to approach. We are a “shelter of last resort,” taking in and giving a painless death in loving arms to animals who would otherwise have been shot with a .22 or gassed in a windowless metal box, which is what happened in North Carolina before PETA offered free euthanasia services to agencies there. North Carolina has the second highest rate per capita of euthanasia in the country—35 animals killed annually for every 1,000 residents—and most do not die a humane death. Sadly, the shelters we work with have no adoption programs or hours set aside for adoption. At the Bertie County dog shelter, residents were throwing unwanted dogs over an 8-foot-high fence, where they became infected or injured by other sick or aggressive dogs from whom they could not escape. Bertie County also had no facility for cats and used to let them go to breed in the woods and fend for themselves until PETA built a shelter for them this year. PETA has begged for years, through formal proposals and numerous meetings, to have the county allow PETA to implement an adoption program as part of a larger picture of sheltering that would also include a spay/neuter program, a humane education program, 24/7 emergency services, and rabies clinics. For more information on our efforts, please visit http://www.helpinganimals.com/f-nc.asp.

We try never to take in adoptable animals unless we know we have a home for them—only those who are mange-covered, have parvovirus, are injured, old, unsocialized from life on a chain, or unwanted and for whom there are no good homes available. We also work at the roots, spending more than $240,000 in one North Carolina county alone, to provide shelter in winter for animals left out in the cold, to spay/neuter, to get vet care for animals in dire straits, to send Bertie County’s one animal control officer to professional training, to pay a cleaner to maintain two shelters, and much more. 

We have always outspokenly advocated fixing the problems of overpopulation through practical methods. Sadly, those stories don’t get coverage in the media.

We urge you to look closer and do your part to help us help these animals. For information and resources on how to do that, visit HelpingAnimals.com

In the correspondence that we received from a PETA representative it is suggested that ‘the group whose info you posted before, the Center for Consumer Freedom, is not exactly an unbiased source—they’re a front group for the meat, tobacco, and alcohol industries who get paid millions of dollars to run smear campaigns against groups like PETA and Mothers Against Drunk Driving who try to educate people about the truth behind their industries.’; but failed to mention if WNCT-TV in Greenville, NC and WKTR-TV fall into that category as well.

I have always believed that if a person has convictions based on their investigation of the facts and they truly uphold their convictions – then that is good; be it popular or not. Both sides in this seem to have their convictions and that is good – to a point. If we are to respect another’s convictions then they should respect ours. So if I want to get a bucket of chicken and a bottle of hot sauce and enjoy the NBA finals then I should be free to do so without scrutiny but if someone feels that is wrong I should respect their position but that does not mean I have to agree with it.

We will all not agree on all things, what a boring world that would be, but we should be able to agree to disagree and go on.

This will have to play itself out in court and it is not for us to try to solve here. But now you have both sides of the ‘story’ and it is up to you to form your own opinion.

I do not agree with everything that PETA does nor do I condemn everything they do. It should be remembered that you can not force your opinions or convictions on others. And if you could force them on others – would you really want those types of people in your corner?

We appreciate PETA representatives for letting us know their side of this and hopefully now both sides of this story are made available for you.

Visit the PETA site http://www.peta2.com/