PETA killed more than 1,600 cats and dogs at its Virginia headquarters last year - almost 90% of the animals handed over to the charity's American shelter

By Katie Davies

PUBLISHED: 15:57 EST, 20 March 2013 | UPDATED: 20:01 EST, 20 March 2013


Animal rights charity PETA killed almost 90 per cent of dogs and cats placed in the care of the shelter at its Virginia headquarters last year, it has been revealed today.

The charity, well-known for attention grabbing publicity campaigns such as the 'I'd rather go naked' anti-fur campaign, euthanized 1,647 cats and dogs last year and only placed 19 in new homes according to the data submitted to the Virginia Department for Agriculture and Consumer Services.

PETA told Mail Online that the animals they take in at the center are 'unadoptable', however 89.4 per cent of pets is much higher than their own approximation that half of animals taken to shelters end up being euthanized. 

Criticism: PETA, well-known for its hard-hitting adverts such as the one pictured, has come under fire for the number of animals it kills at its shelter in Norfolk, Virginia.

Criticism: PETA, well-known for its hard-hitting adverts such as the one pictured, has come under fire for the number of animals it kills at its shelter in Norfolk, Virginia

Defense: The charity says euthanasia is a 'necessary evil' as aside from those suffering they can't find homes for all the cats and dogs handed to them

Defense: The charity says euthanasia at its Virginia HQ shelter, pictured, is a 'necessary evil' as aside from those suffering they can't find homes for all the cats and dogs handed to them

According to the statistics 1,110 cats and 733 dogs were handed in to the charity in 2012.

22 cats and 108 dogs were transferred to another shelter, two cats and three dogs were reclaimed by their owner while 1,045 cats and 602 were euthanized.

34 cats and 7 dogs were placed under a category entitled 'Miscellaneous'.

 

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The statistics have been promoted by a restaurant advocacy coalition called Center for Consumer Freedom, which has had numerous run-ins with the charity in the past.  

They say that since 1998 the shelter has euthanized a total of  29,398 pets.

Justin Wilson, CCF Senior Research Analyst said: 'The animal rights group is talking out of both sides of its mouth – on one side preaching its animal liberation agenda, while on the other signing the death warrant of over 89 percent of pets in its care. It’s beyond hypocritical.'

Well-known campaigns: The charity often uses celebrities for its hard-hitting campaigns. It was accused today of being more interested in 'publicity stunts than keeping animals alive'

Well-known campaigns: The charity often uses celebrities for its hard-hitting campaigns. It was accused today of being more interested in 'publicity stunts than keeping animals alive'

Campaigns: Among its many projects PETA encourages vegetarianism and veganism and is against animal testing

Campaigns: Among its many projects PETA encourages vegetarianism and veganism and is against animal testing

'It seems PETA is more dedicated to publicity stunts than to keeping the animals in its own care alive. It’s the height of hypocrisy for PETA to demonstrate for the 'rights' of rats and pigs, while killing tens of thousands of pets. It’s time that the Commonwealth of Virginia finally reclassifies PETA’s pet shelter for what it is – a slaughterhouse.'

A PETA spokeswoman told MailOnline that they had no choice but to euthanize the animals.

'We have a small division that does hands-on work with animals, and most of the animals we take in are society's rejects; aggressive, on death's door, or somehow unadoptable,' she said.

'CCF's goal is to damage PETA by misrepresenting the situation and the number of unwanted and suffering animals PETA euthanizes because of injury, illness, age, aggression, and other problems, because their guardians requested it, or because no good homes exist for them.'

Sex sells: PETA often uses models in their campaigns. They hit out at critics of euthanasia at their cat and dog shelters yesterday saying it received many unadoptable pets

Sex sells: PETA often uses models in their campaigns. They hit out at critics of euthanasia at their cat and dog shelters yesterday saying it received many unadoptable pets

A later statement added: 'PETA refers adoptable animals to the high-traffic open-admission shelters where they have the best chance of being seen and finding a new home.'

In a 2009 blog the charity wrote about their opposition to 'no-kill' animal shelters saying they often get filled and just have to turn animals away.

It said in some cases euthanasia is a necessary evil and PETA is willing to do 'society's dirty work'.

'As long as animals are still purposely bred and people aren't spaying and neutering their companions, open-admission animal shelters and organizations like PETA must do society's dirty work. Euthanasia is not a solution to overpopulation but rather a tragic necessity given the present crisis,' it said.  

In response to the post, supporters of the charity were torn on the issue but many said a charity in its position on issues such as medical testing, the fur trade and as advocates for veganism should never allow the killing of healthy animals over a lack of suitable home.   

'In my book, the only time it's acceptable to kill animals is the same as the only time it's acceptable to kill people: when their illness is painful and terminal.'

'Anything else is a speciesist double standard. As soon as I hear of a campaign to kill homeless people because it's 'more humane' then I might consider it an acceptable option for homeless animals too,' said one post.

 
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HONESTLY before you KILL the animal why don't you have a day where people can take them for free as pets I have never seen a free animal ad anywhere I don't own any pets but if I could save a life I would

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kywstbride, I foster. Since I started fostering 14 months ago, over 70 dogs, and a few kittens, have come through my home. I have bottle raised pups, watched dogs transform from mange and skin infections, midwifed mama dogs, rehabbed fear biters, etc. It would be fantastic if there were enough people out there willing to foster all the animals that come into shelters. It would be better if there were enough people out there to adopt them into permanent homes. What is in major need is for people to take responsibility for the pets they bring home. Spay/neuter, keep pets in control at all times. Fenced yards. Don't allow pets to roam loose. Get medical treatment for health issues. Pets are not disposable. They have feelings. Moving? SEARCH for a place that takes animals. Baby? Doesn't mean you have to get rid of the 4-legged kid, dogs/cats love kids. A pet is a lifetime commitment. If you are not prepared to keep that pet for its lifetime, don't get it in the first place.

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For those who stick up for PETA, ask yourself why, if they don't have the room for more pets, do they spend so much on over blown ads? When they could take that money, and add more shelter space for more animals. No, they are nothing but spotlight seekers, looking for the next big donation to keep their con going, and their pay checks big. As a few on here have said, there are so many other shelters around, that do a much better job of helping animals, for a lot less money, and with a lot less publicity. Peta is great at running their mouths and spending the big bucks, but crappy at doing the job they are suppose to be doing, that of helping animals.

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PETA, all I can say is how come Best Friends Animal Society in Utah, and quickly spreading their "no kill" shelters all across the USA can do this and you can't? Give them a call the next time you feel you have to euthanize at your shelter. They don't post expensive ad campaigns and don't hold "splash in's" on celebrities wearing fur, but they simply rescue animals every day in every state, 24/7. They get my donations. Not you.

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They have the worst charitable rating of money taken in and money spent on the actual cause than most of them. Total hypocrites. Everyone gives them money and they spend it on flashy crap. Have they ever heard of REAL shelters, like North Shore Animal League? Who kills NONE of the animals they take in? These people are all just an excuse for rich liberals to feel good about themselves. Pure greed and pure hypocrisy.

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Yet in CA PETA has condemned and sued business for selling things like foie gras, the state actually making it illegal to sell yet PETA kills thousands of animal's each year; last time I checked people did not specifically kill ducks for their livers and if they are going to kill the ducks why not use as much of the animal as possible especially since the over feeding the ducks does not cause them any suffering ?????? 90% of animals killed or a duck fead too well for the time it is here, that is cruel?

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The problem here is this: until recently PETA and its supporters harassed -- to the point of physical violence -- the directors and employees of animal shelters that euthanized dogs and cats that could not be placed in homes. PETA supporters camped out at the offices and homes of these shelters' employees, screaming obscenities at them and telling the employees children -- that their parents were killers. Thus, after PETA had for years tormented those shelters who didn't follow their "no kill orthodoxy" -- they now come to sad realization of the situation. Its just too bad these zealots had to ruin so many people's lives before they understood the problem.

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PETA is about politics and clout - and nothing about protecting or saving animals.

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PETA is the same as many of the other high profile charities - its not about the charity, its about keeping a crisis going constantly to keep the money rolling in. Check out the salaries of the staffers of some of these charities; some are really astounding. Then compare against that of the head of the Salvation Army, which collects something toward (my memory is not good here) $750 millions. His salary is about $35,000 !

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Delightful! This is so Peta: Goran and pup, on a suede sofa!

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