edward
04-10-2009, 01:43 PM
At PETA, another silly idea
BY BRIAN HICKS (CONTACT)
The Post and Courier
Friday, April 10, 2009
It's hard to question the motives of a group whose only goal is to champion animal rights, but PETA has gone off the leash.
This week, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals attacked Charleston horse carriage tours, said they ought to be banned because horses are forced to dodge cars, breathe car exhaust and walk on the pavement all day long in the heat.
Well, that sounds like a meter maid's job description, and no one's picked up their cause yet.
Why do this when there are plenty of real villains? Pick on the cretins who put on pit bull death matches, the hunters who kill whales, club baby seals.
But instead of these worthy causes, they go after people who actually love animals.
"I got in the animal business because I like animals," says Tom Doyle, owner of Palmetto Carriage Works. "Most of the people involved in this business feel the same way."
What about horse sense?
You know, it was all fun and games when PETA had the campaign with the models who stripped, said they'd rather be naked than wear fur.
When they picked on the circuses, it got a little murky. For every shady outlet that mistreats animals, there are many others like the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus, where trainers treat the animals pretty well.
By that reckoning, we'd ban parenting because some people abuse their kids. How about we ban voting because of how Congress turned out?
Truth is, the horses in Charleston have it better than many animals. Sure, they have to work for their supper — but who doesn't?
Doyle treats his horses better than most companies treat their employees. His horses get eight weeks of vacation and, between jobs, sit in front of a fan that blows a cool mist. When's the last time a firefighter got the day off because it was too hot?
PETA doesn't want to negotiate conditions for horses, which is a legitimate debate. They said horses ought to be given their freedom.
Well, where are they supposed to go, and what are they going to eat? In case you haven't noticed, there are few amber waves of grain left in this country — somebody paved paradise, put up a parking lot.
If PETA wants to stand up for animal freedom, sue the developers. The critters have a good case.
Dog and pony show
The problem here is that some nonprofits, like PETA, have to spend all their time raising money. They do that by doing stupid things that attract media attention. You can only harp on cockfighting and neutering so long before people get bored.
So PETA will have to get progressively wilder to make ends meet. Maybe they'll start a campaign to arm deer so hunting is a more evenly matched sport. Or they'll argue for slower cars so the dogs can actually catch them.
But they aren't going to get anywhere in Charleston, thanks to Mayor Joe Riley. New York City argued over carriage tours for about two years. Riley put this one to rest in less than a day.
He told PETA they were barking up the wrong tree. Again.
Reach Brian Hicks at 937-5561 or bhicks@postandcourier.com.
BY BRIAN HICKS (CONTACT)
The Post and Courier
Friday, April 10, 2009
It's hard to question the motives of a group whose only goal is to champion animal rights, but PETA has gone off the leash.
This week, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals attacked Charleston horse carriage tours, said they ought to be banned because horses are forced to dodge cars, breathe car exhaust and walk on the pavement all day long in the heat.
Well, that sounds like a meter maid's job description, and no one's picked up their cause yet.
Why do this when there are plenty of real villains? Pick on the cretins who put on pit bull death matches, the hunters who kill whales, club baby seals.
But instead of these worthy causes, they go after people who actually love animals.
"I got in the animal business because I like animals," says Tom Doyle, owner of Palmetto Carriage Works. "Most of the people involved in this business feel the same way."
What about horse sense?
You know, it was all fun and games when PETA had the campaign with the models who stripped, said they'd rather be naked than wear fur.
When they picked on the circuses, it got a little murky. For every shady outlet that mistreats animals, there are many others like the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus, where trainers treat the animals pretty well.
By that reckoning, we'd ban parenting because some people abuse their kids. How about we ban voting because of how Congress turned out?
Truth is, the horses in Charleston have it better than many animals. Sure, they have to work for their supper — but who doesn't?
Doyle treats his horses better than most companies treat their employees. His horses get eight weeks of vacation and, between jobs, sit in front of a fan that blows a cool mist. When's the last time a firefighter got the day off because it was too hot?
PETA doesn't want to negotiate conditions for horses, which is a legitimate debate. They said horses ought to be given their freedom.
Well, where are they supposed to go, and what are they going to eat? In case you haven't noticed, there are few amber waves of grain left in this country — somebody paved paradise, put up a parking lot.
If PETA wants to stand up for animal freedom, sue the developers. The critters have a good case.
Dog and pony show
The problem here is that some nonprofits, like PETA, have to spend all their time raising money. They do that by doing stupid things that attract media attention. You can only harp on cockfighting and neutering so long before people get bored.
So PETA will have to get progressively wilder to make ends meet. Maybe they'll start a campaign to arm deer so hunting is a more evenly matched sport. Or they'll argue for slower cars so the dogs can actually catch them.
But they aren't going to get anywhere in Charleston, thanks to Mayor Joe Riley. New York City argued over carriage tours for about two years. Riley put this one to rest in less than a day.
He told PETA they were barking up the wrong tree. Again.
Reach Brian Hicks at 937-5561 or bhicks@postandcourier.com.