Posted February 15, 2012 by Whitney Calk
We’ve got some pretty crazy myths to tackle today, so let’s get right down to business!
I know that we all want to believe that animals who end up sprawled out and belly-up on our lab tables just simply passed away of natural causes in nature, but seriously, this is just not the case, folks. Every year, more than 10 million cats, pigs, frogs, and other animals are killed for classroom dissection. They’re gassed, embalmed, cut from the wombs of their mothers, stolen from the wild, and even purchased from animal shelters … all while humane alternatives to dissection exist.
The bottom line here is that it’s just not ethical to dissect animals who have been tortured and killed so that students can cut them up to learn about human anatomy. If you’re ready to kick classroom dissection to the curb, click here to see if your state offers a dissection-choice policy. If it doesn’t, click here to find out how you can get an alternate assignment—and e-mail us at peta2@peta2.com if you need help.
Sigh. Elephants in circuses don’t perform difficult tricks because they want to; they perform them because they’re afraid of what will happen if they don’t. These intelligent and emotional animals are beaten, chained, and electro-shocked and are forced to perform confusing, uncomfortable, repetitious, and often painful acts.
Circuses like Ringling Bros. easily get away with routine abuse because no government agency monitors training sessions. So really, if you think elephants like being a part of the circus, you are definitely mistaken. Elephants never forget the beatings and isolation that they suffer at the hands of the circus. I mean, would you?
OK, I admit it. This is a myth that I used to believe too. Just a little snippety snip of a kitty’s nails, and all is well, right? Yeah … not so much.
Cats’ claws and the bones and cartilage that hold them in place allow cats to balance properly, climb, and defend themselves. Declawing, which removes the claws, bones, and cartilage, is a painful and permanently crippling procedure. This serious surgery involves 10 separate painful amputations of the last joint of each toe, including the bones, not just the nail. Instead of putting your fur babies through an extremely painful, debilitating, and cruel surgery, all you really need to do is just buy a few scratching posts and make sure you are trimming their nails regularly! It’s really that simple.
Comment below with a common myth that YOU hear, and we’ll tackle some of them next time!
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Too long to explain here, it's long enough for a novel.
Father loves to farm, be self sustainable, loves to read, he's a antiques/vintage auctioneer, art student, and looks like mr. Rogers. My mother is a Montessori teacher and is amazing with children, all about local organic foods, loves gardening, cooking etc. my sister who is nine years older than me was into indie music and introduced me to all sorts of things at a young age. This all rubbed of on me and from that base I grew into similar things. I'm an INFJ
I'm tall, a geek, nacho - obsessed, I love sewing and Cath Kidston, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.)
Well let's just say life ain't always beautiful but it's a beautiful ride. I love all my pets and would do anything for them. I have one dog, two cats, a ferret and my babygirl shaymin,(the cutest hedgehog alive) I'm into all different kinds of music. I'm a singer myself and love art.
I love animals about as much as rock, heavy metal, tea, and coffee. Hoping to make a difference and help animals through PETA!!!
I want to get into marketing but not have to rely on people which have different morals and worldviews than I do to hire me. While I'm figuring this out, I want to show everyone what I believe in and spur them into action against injustices.
Life On A Tour Bus
I am Angela. When I am not helping animals I am listening to music, reading, or playing video games. My spirit animal is a fox and I love nature. What else is there to know? Want to know anything about me, need advice or anything message me :)
451 days ago
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“Animals kill and eat other animals, so why shouldn’t I?” I then explain to them that other animals means of killing are fast and not cruel like ours.
458 days ago
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the first one is so stupid, of course they are dead, the reason is why is taking away their life justified?
i just heard “vegans break their teeth all the time , it like how they have weak bones” i quickly corrected them
459 days ago
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1. “Vegan food is gross!”
2. “My dog should have puppies before I spay her!”
459 days ago
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“Cats/Dogs can’t be healthy vegans”
Oh and another one, “humans are natural carnovires”!
And then the dumb ones… “vegetarians are really eating all the animals’ food”, when people and animals don’t eat the same food… lol. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a flock of people grazing before.
459 days ago
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My cat, Toby-kun, was taken from his previous owner who had OCD. My mom was a psychologist back then (she’s now in cosmetology school) and his owner was one of her clients. She’d had Toby declawed and let him run around outside at night.
Now, people letting their cats out doesn’t really bother me, so long as they know the cat will return within a reasonable period of time. But Toby had no means of defending himself, really, and he would be out all night.