PETA Kills Animals: Official Virginia State Records Show Group Has Killed Over 10,000 Dogs and Cats Since 1998 Shocking News of Puppies, Kittens and 'Adoptable' Animals Killed and Put in Dumpsters Prompts Center for Consumer Freedom to Call for Full Criminal Investigation Into PETA's Animal Euthanasia Program NORFOLK, Va., June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- As two People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) employees are arraigned on 31 felony animal- cruelty charges for allegedly dumping seven dead puppies and 11 other animals in a dumpster and driving a PETA-owned van containing another 13 animal bodies, the Center for Consumer Freedom highlights alarming official records from the state of Virginia showing that PETA has put over 10,000 dogs and cats to death since 1998. The documents, available at http://www.petakillsanimals.com/, reveal that in 2003 PETA euthanized over 85 percent of the animals it took in, finding adoptive homes for just 14 percent. By comparison, the Norfolk SPCA found adoptive homes for 73 percent of its animals and the Virginia Beach SPCA adopted out 66 percent. PETA's required report documenting its 2004 record is currently four weeks late. While PETA has claimed that most of the animals it kills are "broken beings," the dead animals discovered by North Carolina police included a female cat and -- according to a local veterinarian -- her two "very adoptable" kittens. "These were just kittens we were trying to find homes for," he told PETA's hometown Virginian-Pilot. "PETA said they would do that, but these cats never made it out of the county." Last night WAVY-TV's coverage in Norfolk included heartbreaking details of a property manager whose dumpster became an impromptu pet cemetery. "They just slung the doors (open) and started throwing dogs ... beautiful cats. I saw a (dead) beagle last week that was pregnant ... last week it was 23 or 24 dogs ... it's happened to us nine times ... they disposed of the dogs in 30 seconds." Authorities told WNCT-TV in Greenville, NC that they've discovered more than 70 dead animals in the last month that may be connected to PETA. WKTR-TV reported today that Cook and Hinkle are out on bond, "thanks to the President of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals." And in a story that eerily resembles the current charges facing PETA's employees, the Associated Press reported on April 8 that an additional 150 euthanized dogs were found in rural Virginia, apparently dumped in trash bags near a riverbank. The Scott County, Virginia Sheriff is investigating. "If the criminal evidence from the last 24 hours is in any way representative of PETA's large-scale is euthanasia program, countless adoptable animals may have been unnecessarily killed and inhumanely dumped," said Center for Consumer Freedom Research Director David Martosko. "PETA's animal program should be shut down immediately while a full criminal investigation can take place. Americans should think twice before supporting PETA's unethical programs." The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit coalition supported by restaurants, food companies, and consumers, working together to promote personal responsibility and protect consumer choices. DATASOURCE: The Center for Consumer Freedom CONTACT: Andrew Porter of The Center for Consumer Freedom, +1-202-463-7112, or Cell: +1-202-306-0091 Web site: http://www.consumerfreedom.com/ http://www.petakillsanimals.com/

Copyright