16. I have not met one nice Peta person, and I know a few. These people are just cruel, what can I say.

Ester Wilhelm at 8:13PM on May 7th 2008

17. PETA is a bunch of whackado crazies. These same people say nothing about abortion of millions of human babies and yet they get freaked out about a hamburger. If I ran PETA it would stand for - PEOPLE FOR THE EATING OF TASTY ANIMALS

Dr. David Berman at 9:01PM on May 7th 2008

18. Hunters, fishermen and outdoorsmen contribute more in one year in license fees to protect wildlife than PETA. PETA is just a stop in the life journey of a loon.

IRONBLUEEYES at 9:46PM on May 7th 2008

19. Is there a freakin' ECHO in here?

Strados at 7:55AM on May 8th 2008

20. Whitney-
First, let's take a step back and ask: Have you ever been to a rodeo or on a farm where non-free range animals have been raised?
My guess is going to be no-but just for your information, and everyone else's that reads this article and hasn't; those animals are treated with such great care, you would be amazed. Think about it this way, if you spent $50,000 on a prize bucking bull or horse, why would you allow your animal to be 'tortured' or mistreated in anyway? That is a major investment and you want returns from it (you get returns from their performance at rodeos).
Next, the free-range animals. Did you know that some people sell their chicken under the label of 'free-range' when in reality, their chickens' pens are only slightly larger than traditional pens? Also, these animals that are grown for consumption are treated as an investment too. You won't get any returns if the animals aren't healthy and doing well. So why would you create conditions in which the animals will not prosper? I have personally been to several corporate farms and have seen first hand the care that goes into the meat that goes on someone's plate. Free-range just creates difficulty for institutions that weren't mistreating animals in the first place. Now they have to accomidate so that extremists will be satisfied that a label of 'free-range' cures all problems within the animal industry.

*I am NOT saying in anyway that mistreatment does not go on. I AM saying that single instances get blown out of proportion and the few bad apples ruin it for the rest of the industry.

PETA loves to take things out of context and misconstru the facts. Please, everyone, don't be fooled because of the 'everyone is doing it' mentality. Find out for yourself!

Always be informed, make educated decisions, and think before you speak (or type).

SED2009 at 9:09AM on May 8th 2008

21. Whitney, you are insane and laughable.
You know nothing.
What a piece if used scum.

Judirh at 10:54AM on May 8th 2008

22. While I don't think that animals should be abused, I don't feel that PETA needs to step in with their rhetoric everytime an animal dies... The situation with horsebreeding is no different than it is with breeding of dogs. Unfortunately, in trade for a tiny cute chihuahua or a pure-bred boxer you have to accept certain health issues associated with them. The same goes for thoroughbreds, better care and attention should be given to these animals the same way thorough attention is given to human athletes. In some cases these animals DO receive this kind of care and even beyond, but often greed gets in the way of their care. That may or may not be the case with Eight Belles. The owners and trainers know this and are the only ones to live with the choices.

I suggest a system similar to the English soccer's governing body where before a person can invest in a team the FA must approve the new owner based on their background and likely motivations; for the betterment of the sport not the individuals.

severedgein at 12:02PM on May 8th 2008

23. I applaud PETA for continuing to TRY & bring "enlighenment" to the masses of people; who continue to IGNORE the mistreatment of animals. They do the job "no-one else" does. NO PETA does NOT "hate people", they HATE the "cruelty that humans do" to innocent animals in the name of greed and amusement! Peta wouldn't have to "humanely euthanize" animals, IF, pet owners would "spay/neuter" pets themselves. STOP bashing, people who do a very difficult job, instead use your energies to SAVE MORE life, ALL life is precious!

Anna at 12:12PM on May 8th 2008

24. Let's get real peeps! These horses are kept & breed, for ONE purpose ONLY! That's to feed the GREED of it's owners! Horses were NOT meant to run in such close quarters, nor pushed to it's limit by "whipping etc." The poor horse was just trying to "please it's rider", for it's reward, it was MURDERED! Real nice example for our kids... When will the madness of "using animals" end????

Anna at 12:17PM on May 8th 2008

25. PETA! What is it good for... absolutely nothing! Or maybe that was WAR?

Jason Adams at 12:19PM on May 8th 2008

26. First I am not a PETA member. They are far too radical for my thinking, BUT they do have some very valid issues they strive to change. Look up "chinese fur farms" or "mulesing" on your browser. There is NO reason to skin animals alive for fur when we have great synthetic fabrics. Nor is there a reason to slice skin and muscle tissue off non sedated lambs to stop a bug problem. PETA goes to extreme measures yes...but then look at some of the issues they are against. There is good and bad to be said here. I breed, raise and train dogs ... They would be after me as well. But I do support their fight against cruelty. there is no need for that anywhere.

Renee at 12:23PM on May 8th 2008

27. The number of animals killed for food in the United States is 70 times larger than the number of animals killed in laboratories, 30 times larger than the number killed by hunters and trappers, and 500 times larger than the number of animals killed in animal pounds.

“If anyone wants to save the planet,” says Paul McCartney in a PETA interview, “all they have to do is stop eating meat. That’s the single most important thing you could do. It’s staggering when you think about it. Vegetarianism takes care of so many things in one shot: ecology, famine, cruelty. Let’s do it! Going veggie is the single best idea for the new century.”

The animal rights movement should be supported by all caring Americans.

Vasu Murti at 12:23PM on May 8th 2008

28. PETA is a cult. They brain wash their members. That's sad though, because there are animals out there that could use their help. PETA completely fails at what they claim to do.

Nathan at 12:39PM on May 8th 2008

29. Nathan,

Ingrid Newkirk, Executive Director of PETA is an atheist. If, as you claim, PETA is a "cult," then the Humane Society, the ASPCA, Greenpeace, etc. must also be "cults."

In his 1975 book, Animal Liberation, Australian philosopher Peter Singer (an atheist) writes:

"Killing an animal is in itself a troubling act. It has been said that if we had to kill our own meat we would all be vegetarians. There may be exceptions to that general rule, but it is true that most people prefer not to inquire into the killing of the animals they eat.

"Very few people ever visit a slaughterhouse; and films of slaughterhouse operations are rarely shown on television...Yet those who, by their purchases, require animals to be killed have no right to be shielded from this or any other aspect of the production of the meat they buy.

"If it is distasteful for humans to think about, what can it be like for the animals to experience it?"

Peter Singer concludes in Animal Liberation that "by ceasing to rear and kill animals for food, we can make extra food available for humans that, properly distributed, it would eliminate starvation and malnutrition from this planet. Animal Liberation is Human Liberation, too."

Vasu Murti at 1:03PM on May 8th 2008

30. Don't believe everything you hear from the ( so called ) Humane Society either. I know from experience that they are nothing but pure liars. And their veterinarians who work for them are not going to go against what they say ! I used to think the Humane Society was a good thing & often sent them donations until I found out the hard way how they down right lie & fabricate the truth. They will never get another penny from me & none of my family or friends that know too what they do !
The ( so called ) Humane Society is nothing but down right cold blooded murderers ! Educate yourselves on the ( so called ) Humane Society before they educate you !!!!

pat delehanty at 1:28PM on May 8th 2008