[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Lilah Charm

I realize that my opinion of PETA may not be popular but I do not support that group. I think that they exploit and distort many situations and often have very innacurate representations of situations. It is extremely unfortunate as much of that behavior is damaging to the ultimate goal of gathering support for humane treatment of animals and ultimately does a great disservice to further development/reinforcement of ethical and humane animal managment practices. I would say that this is especially true in the realm of rabbits as they are an animal in our social environment that may live on either side of the line as a livestock animal intended for consumption or as a beloved household pet and since PETA as an organization will express very clearly that choosing to eat meat is an unacceptable unethical crime they have a very one sided radical and often misinformed position on the subject of livestock-raised-for-consumption discussion.

That said, I do not have any knowledge about the specific operation referenced nor do I believe that all or even most of our livestock being raised for meat is being treated humanely or slaughtered with the care and respect that they deserve. Because the livestock industry is such a disgusting cesspool of poor treatment I have chosen over the years to raise meat on our property for my family's consumption. That way I am able to ensure that they live a good life with good nutrition and care and have one bad day- and we have worked hard to become careful and efficient in the dispatching process for the sake of the animal whose life is taken to feed my children.

We have raised chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, goats, sheep and pigs and one day I would love to raise a beef steer. As (prior to the development of severe allergies including dire pneumonia inducing respritory illness) my livestock interests have stemmed from a love of textile arts, fiber work and yarn spinning I have also raised angora rabbits, I have also raised angora and pygora goats. There are rabbits who 'pluck' and there are rabbits who do not. Angora goats do not pluck. Pygora goats are classified by three different fleece types: a, b and c and can be blends of more than one type. A needs to be sheared, be May be plucked or sheared and c is pluck. If you have ever had a golden retreiver who didn't get a daily brushing and saw the lengths of fiber easily plucked from that hind leg hair-shedding but you pulled it out because it sat amassed in a sea of golden locks- that is what plucking is like. On a type b pygora goat if you delay supporting the plucking process they will shed but slowly and uncomfortably and their fiber will begin to Matt and pull off in uncomfortable slabs instead of gently plucked across the body like thinning trees from a forest. They are dual coated and so the guard hair stays on the body while the secondary coat (if we were talking Icelandic sheep the right words would be thel and tog to describe the two seperate fiber types) comes of in soft uniform locks. I primarily raised satin angoras which I sheared every twelve weeks and groomed multiple times each week. We also butchered them for meat and I worked very hard to learn hide tanning practices as my goal is to carefully use as much of the animal that feeds my family as possible- I make stock from the bones, use organ meats etc

It is so painfully true that many currently accepted farming practices- primarily in large scale industrialized farms- are appalling cruel and damaging to our animals, our environment and our people. I do not support hanging a rabbit from one leg and ripping off its fur while it screams- that is horrific. Nor do I support debeaking chickens and shoving them in ages that they cannot turn around in where they will never see the sun-the list goes on!

I eat meat and I use animal products on a daily basis. Because of that I feel that I am responsible to be accountable for the choices I make in regard to that decision. I will not turn a blind eye while I buy a plastic wrapped styrofoam plate of chicken breasts and pretend I don't know what I am supporting when I purchase from a factory farm. I will not discredit the wholesome nutrition a rabbit can bring me because it is cute and fuzzy- I think cows are beautiful. Because I care about the treatment of animals I have learned how to raise slaughter and butcher them myself- if I choose to eat meat I think I ought to be able to be real about what that choice is. And while I most definitely do not agree with inhumane handling or treatment of animals, I discredit the wreck less and irresponsible organization called PETA and strongly encourage people making educated decisions about what they consume and wear. Plastic doesn't feed a hungry family and is not renewable, rethink wearing wool and eating lamb meat.

What a wonderful post and I agree with so much you say about PETA, I feel like because they don't want people to eat meat they lose the interest of so many people and the abuse of animals continues. If you ever hear about organizations with your philosophy, let me know.