PETA Petition

I am usually not a big fan of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). Oh, I applaud their philosophy but I think their tactics are a bit extreme and do little to advance their cause. When PETA activists throw paint on people wearing fur coats, the story becomes all about the paint and not about the reason for the action. Violent, extreme behaviors have given animal rights activists a bad name and many organizations who support animal rights go out of their way to deny any connection with PETA or its tactics.

That said, there is currently a petition on PETA that, in my opinion, is worth your perusal if you are serious about sending thoroughbred racing a message about change.

After Eight Belles' tragic death on Saturday, PETA is calling for suspensions for her jockey and trainer for unnecessary cruelty to animals. I do believe the jockey whipped Eight Belles incredibly hard coming down the stretch--much more so than was necessary when he realized that no one was going to catch Big Brown. If you are not going to win, why kill your horse trying? The PETA petition calls for an end to the use of the whip in horse racing, a practice I heartily endorse. They do not use whips in Europe.

As for suspending the trainer, well he was only following the orders of the owner so I'm not sure he is technically liable, except in his conscience and that is a matter for him to reconcile.

Other demands in the PETA petition include raising the age for horses to compete and replacing dirt tracks with synthetic surfaces. I think their reforms are actually fairly reasonable and I urge you to read them, even if you choose not to sign a petition endorsed by PETA.

Over at the Humane Society, Wayne Pacelle is urging a boycott of Triple Crown races by the viewing public. How ironic that in a year when we might actually have a Triple Crown winner (if his feet remain sound), racing has done more to turn people away than to encourage them to watch.

And yet, I'm not sure a boycott would have as much impact as a petition, similar to the one PETA has assembled, endorsed by HSUS. How's that for ultimate ironies?