Buzz
Founded in 1980 by Ingrid Newkirk and Alex Pacheco, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) may not have been the first animal rights organization, but it has certainly gained notoriety for its extreme methods. Known for provocative publicity stunts, PETA has drawn comparisons between serial killers and animal slaughter while organizing nude protests. Though many of PETA's ideals are rooted in noble causes, they are often overshadowed by the extreme nature of their approach. Below are ten of the more eccentric aspects of this highly controversial animal welfare group.
10. Milk
As an advocate for a vegan lifestyle, PETA is fervently against dairy products. They have controversially labeled milk as a 'racist drink' due to the higher incidence of lactose intolerance in certain ethnic groups. On their website, PETA argues that not only is taking milk from cows a cruel act, but consuming it also leads to numerous health issues, ranging from asthma to osteoporosis. In an attempt to stir up attention, PETA even suggested that Ben & Jerry’s swap cow’s milk for human milk in their ice cream, a proposal that ultimately went nowhere.
9. Euthanasia
For pet owners in distress, it might seem like the safest place to bring their animal is a PETA-run shelter. After all, an organization committed to the welfare of animals would surely do everything in their power to help pets find loving homes. However, PETA believes that euthanizing homeless pets is an act of kindness, and they do so at an alarming rate. Their shelters euthanize far more cats and dogs than those operated by the ASPCA. PETA shelters have been known to put down over 90% of the animals they take in, with only a small number being adopted. As Daphna Nachminovitch, PETA's vice president of cruelty investigations, has stated, 'Our euthanasia program has never been a secret. This is one of many, many things that we do to alleviate the suffering of animals.'
8. Human Testing
It is widely believed that animal testing in laboratories can be quite cruel, but it is often viewed as a necessary evil in the development of products, especially medicines that benefit humans. PETA firmly opposes such testing, promoting alternatives like computer simulations. They have even proposed that humans are better suited for testing than animals. As stated on their website, 'There are some medical problems that can probably only be cured by testing on unwilling people, but we don’t do it because we recognize that it would be wrong.'
7. Gordon Ramsay
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has repeatedly clashed with PETA. In 2007, he caused a stir when he prepared horse meat on his TV show 'The F-Word'. PETA responded by dumping a massive amount of manure outside his London restaurant, Claridge’s. More recently, PETA released an undercover video shot at the Hudson Valley Foie Gras factory in Sullivan County, New York, which supplies a Manhattan restaurant operating under Ramsay's name. The footage shows ducks enduring harsh conditions as they are force-fed through tubes to enlarge their livers.
6. Company Stock
Although it may seem that PETA focuses mainly on outrageous publicity stunts to spread its message, the organization is far more strategic in its approach. In fact, they have invested a considerable amount of their funds into purchasing stock in companies they oppose, such as fast food chains and meat processing plants. This gives them the power to influence these corporations' policies from within. A notable example of this was their confrontation with McDonald's, where PETA protested the company’s methods of slaughtering chickens. Some companies opted for gas to kill the birds, but McDonald’s was notorious for immersing them in an electrified bath.
5. Fur
Though some people might dismiss campaigns against milk consumption as absurd, the fur trade is often viewed by many as an unnecessary form of cruelty. Apart from the small group of people who earn their living from trapping, raising, and selling fur, ending the industry would likely not cause major social disruption. In earlier times, fur activists took extreme measures, such as splashing red paint on people wearing mink coats. However, even groups like PETA have adjusted their approach. They have started donating fur to the homeless, a tactic that not only helps those in need but also reduces the high-status appeal of fur clothing. While the pro-fur community largely remains silent, PETA has managed to secure a major celebrity supporter—Lady Gaga, whose wardrobe unfortunately features entire collections of animal pelts.
4. Ingrid Newkirk
Ingrid Newkirk, a co-founder of PETA, has been the architect behind some of the organization’s most unconventional and controversial stunts. One of her most infamous actions involved releasing a public will in which she proposed that her body be ‘used’ in ways similar to those of animals. Her bizarre requests included having her flesh cooked for a human barbecue, her skin turned into leather goods, her feet transformed into umbrella holders, and one of her eyes sent to the head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Additionally, parts of her body were to be dismembered, preserved, and shipped worldwide to draw attention to various causes like circuses and mink farming.
3. Pets
Although humans have kept pets since long before recorded history (and many historians argue that civilization itself would not have been possible without the domestication of animals), PETA envisions a future in which pet ownership is no longer a reality. According to their website, 'The selfish desire to possess animals and receive love from them causes immeasurable suffering.' Their ideal future includes a scenario where dogs and cats are systematically neutered into extinction.
In an even more peculiar claim, PETA argues that dogs and cats should be put on a vegetarian diet. Cats, in particular, are obligate carnivores and need a diet rich in meat, protein, fat, and taurine. While they might survive temporarily on supplements, their health would eventually deteriorate.
2. Pokemon
Led by the lovable yellow mouse Pikachu, Pokémon is one of the most harmless sources of entertainment, offering a children's franchise centered around imaginary creatures battling each other. However, PETA has argued that Pokémon promotes the idea of animal cruelty, similar to dog fighting. When the Pokémon franchise launched a video game called 'Black & White', PETA responded by releasing a parody version titled 'Black & Blue', where players work to save animals from their abusive trainers.
PETA has long been vocal in its protests against the video game industry, which often produces titles featuring extreme violence (though rarely involving animals). One of their most outlandish and public disputes occurred over the Super Mario series, specifically the Tanooki suit—a raccoon dog-inspired outfit that grants Mario the ability to fly.
1. Porn
For years, PETA has employed nude celebrity imagery in its campaigns to raise awareness. In 2009, NBC controversially pulled a PETA Super Bowl commercial featuring scantily clad women making suggestive gestures with vegetables. By 2012, they launched a porn site, which, while containing some provocative material, primarily serves as a bait to draw viewers to its website. The disturbing footage of animal cruelty on the site far outweighs the risqué content.
