for agreeing to disagree. My problem with PETA is that it is very clearly anti-dog breeder, and I breed dogs. Since I am one of those being accused of being a "partner in crime" I am a little sensitive. I don't agree with the philosophy that buying a dog from a breeder results in one less home for a shelter animal, that is too simplistic. Although I think it is wonderful when people adopt homeless pets (both my cats are strays) I understand why people might desire a purebred dog from a breeder or no dog at all. I don't agree with the notion that I am promoting genetic diseases in the dogs that I breed. My problem with PETA is a personal one, so as a result I don't support PETA and am happy to explain the reasons why. I do not understand how people who purchase dogs from breeders can support PETA, unless possibly they now regret their decision and have decided next time they will adopt a shelter or rescue dog, but maybe that can be explained to me so that I can understand.
As for "companion" animal issues not being at the forefront, I would agree, but today's "headline" article on the PETA website deals with confessions of people who wish they had been a better "guardian" to their pets (which if you click on the link appears to include buying a purebred instead of adopting and also crating) so it is not like it is something that is taking a back seat either.
Although I agree PETA is not actively lobbying for the eradication of animal "companions" (if they did I am sure they would be a bit harder up for donations) PETA does take the position that no companion animals should be bred or be allowed to breed. If that goal was possible, that would mean no more pets. It is their position that, in theory, pet ownership is wrong:
"We at PETA very much love the animal companions who share our homes, but we believe that it would have been in the animals' best interests if the institution of "pet keeping"—i.e., breeding animals to be kept and regarded as "pets"—never existed. The international pastime of domesticating animals has created an overpopulation crisis; as a result, millions of unwanted animals are destroyed every year as "surplus." This selfish desire to possess animals and receive love from them causes immeasurable suffering, which results from manipulating their breeding, selling or giving them away casually, and depriving them of the opportunity to engage in their natural behavior. Their lives are restricted to human homes where they must obey commands and can only eat, drink, and even urinate when humans allow them to."
That last part makes me giggle, although I train my dogs, the notion that they "must obey commands" is something they would think was pretty funny. My dogs do what I ask because they think there might be a cookie in it for them, not because they are "obeying." And they eat and drink whenever the heck they want (without having to hunt it down unless you consider the use of a buster cube hunting), and on occasion, more than one of them has been more than happy to mark my dining room table legs, most definitely without my permission.