2007 News
No credibility for Chrissie Hynde or PETA in attacking Australian woolgrowers
31 January 2007
The Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce has learnt this morning that radical animal rights group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is re-launching its tired campaign against Australian woolgrowers in Sydney today, using rock star Chrissie Hynde as its celebrity puppet.
“What credibility does Chrissie Hynde have in relation to this issue? We question her hypocrisy in supporting PETA, an organisation which endorses the unnecessary killing of animals, while attacking farmers for mulesing, a necessary, life saving procedure,” said Mr Targ, of the Australian Wool and Sheep Industry Taskforce.
“Only two weeks ago pop star Pink exposed the unethical tactics of PETA, who misled her into supporting its anti-mulesing campaign. The pop star said she was misled and absolutely used by PETA and retracted her support for the campaign,” said Mr Targ.
“PETA has suffered an enormous backlash from Australians who know how tough our farmers have been doing it with the drought and bushfires and how well those farmers really care for their sheep.
“The general public needs to be aware that PETA is ideologically opposed to livestock industries and simply wants to shut them down,” Mr Targ said. “It has consistently sought to mislead and deceive the public during the campaign.”
The Australian wool industry decided in 2004 to phase out mulesing by 2010 and has invested millions of dollars into finding a suitable alternative. Research into alternatives is progressing very well. However until an alternative is available on the market, the only option woolgrowers have to ensure the welfare of their sheep is to mules them, once only, which helps defend them for life against flystrike in the breach.
“PETA is not truly committed to the welfare of animals,” continued Mr Targ.
PETA ‘operatives’ in the US are currently on trial, charged with 21 counts of animal cruelty for killing adoptable pets and disposing of them in a shopping centre dumpster. The trial has exposed that PETA kills domestic animals on a scale unimaginable. Its own official records indicate that PETA has killed around 14,400 animals over a seven year period. (Refer to www.petakillsanimals.com for more details).
“This highlights the true hypocrisy of the organisation that claims to fight for animal rights. By contrast, Australian woolgrowers are justifiably proud of their animal welfare standards.”