Your Kids, PETA’s Pawns: How the Animal “Rights” Movement Targets Children

Your Kids, PETA’s Pawns: How the Animal “Rights” Movement Hurts Children 1 Introduction

Everything kids see—in school, on television, in matizing,” “beyond insensitive,” and “an abso- magazines, and on the Internet—helps shape lute atrocity.” But PETA shows no sign of slowing their development. But few parents realize how down, and the details of its radical messages are activists like People for the Ethical unknown to most parents and teachers. Treatment of Animals (PETA), the Humane Society of the , the Physicians Committee Meanwhile, PETA’s blatantly extreme actions Psychologists and for Responsible Medicine, and their allies use serve as “cover” for seemingly more mainstream these vehicles to reach kids through clever com- groups such as the Humane Society of the United munications campaigns. States (HSUS)—an animal rights group not affili- school officials have ated with any local humane societies or pet shel- PETA begins a graduated process of indoctrina- ters—and the Physicians Committee for tion with kindly animal “welfare” messages on a Responsible Medicine (PCRM). However, these denounced PETA’s website geared toward young children. By slip- groups are equally radical as PETA—they’re just ping in radical animal “rights” propaganda into more deceptive. the benign “help-animals” theme, PETA lays out the path to its next, more extreme age-specific PCRM advocated for national school lunch child-propaganda as website, “peta2,” its “youth outreach division.” “reform” in 2009. But by reform, PCRM means The blurring line between caring for animals and the complete elimination of meat, cheese, and “liberating” then begins to disappear as teen milk from school cafeterias. The largest single “despicable,” celebrity endorsements, schoolyard demonstra- source of PCRM’s funding is a wealthy animal- tions, and other activities help transition middle- rights activist in Florida who also gives millions to and high-school students from passive sympa- PETA. This helps demonstrate that PCRM’s anti- “traumatizing,” thizers to “PETA’s army of animal rights rebels.” dairy and anti-meat zealotry is motivated more by ideology than health. Most parents would be shocked if they knew the “beyond insensitive,” details of PETA’s marketing tactics aimed at chil- HSUS has its own kid-targeted programs, starting dren. In 2014 for example, PETA was forced to with its “KINDNews” magazine mailed out to publicly apologize after its volunteers surrepti- elementary school classrooms across the coun- tiously distributed comic books to elementary try. As kids grow older, HSUS seeks to keep them and “an absolute school students that contained “graphic photos in the loop by asking them to form a club or to of bulls being de-horned and an infected udder advocate for animal-rights issues. on a dairy cow,” according to the Los Angeles atrocity.” Daily News. PETA even ambushes kids playing an Like PETA and PCRM, however, HSUS is an ani- online Pokemon-themed children’s game with mal-rights group that believes meat and dairy graphic videos of dead animals as “prizes.” products are markers of a “cruel” diet. Unlike PETA, HSUS never drops the kindly animal “wel- Psychologists and school officials have denounced fare” façade, hoping instead to snooker PETA’s child-propaganda as “despicable,” “trau- into thinking that its agenda differs from PETA’s.

Your Kids, PETA’s Pawns: How the Animal “Rights” Movement Hurts Children 3 How PETA & the Animal Cult Movement Target Kids With $51.9 million in annual income (2014), eliminate animals from zoos, aquariums, cir- PETA is among the richest, most influential ani- cuses, and rodeos. Its activists campaign mal rights organizations in the world. It sees aggressively to ban , fur, leather, wool, children as a way to effectively maintain its pet ownership, and biology-class dissection in power by ensuring that its violent and destruc- schools. And PETA opposes all medical research tive messages will be promoted for generations on animals (including lab rats) — even to cure to come. Although many parents are familiar diseases like AIDS and cancer. with PETA’s attention-grabbing media stunts, few “We are after are aware of PETA’s coordinated campaign to PETA’s clever advertising campaigns are neces- bypass parental authority and indoctrinate chil- sary to achieve its goals because most people dren with its radical philosophy. are not naturally inclined to adopt this radical philosophy. As one animal cult leader candidly the kids who The Providence Journal (Rhode Island) reported in told Great Britain’s Observer newspaper in 2003: 2013 that PETA “plans to run ads in bus shelters “We are after the kids who are looking and showing a traditional Thanksgiving image to searching for something.” Through a sophisti- adults and a different, bloody, image to children.” cated campaign designed to convert the next are looking The ad incorporated lenticular technology so generation to its cause, children of all ages are while parents see a benign image, children short- snared by PETA’s predatory net and told that er than 4’3” (the average height of an 8-year old) their search is over. see “two children spattered with blood and horri- and searching fied as the mother cuts into a live bird.” PETA’s graduated process of indoctrination begins when children enter elementary school In the words of its founding president Ingrid and continues through adolescence. At each Newkirk, PETA’s goal is “total .” stage, PETA increases its expectations for “ani- for something.” In addition to spelling the end of meat and dairy mal liberation” recruits, going behind the backs foods, this extremist organization has vowed to of parents at every opportunity.

— “PETA Kids” coordinator Marci Hansen

PETA planned a bus stop advertisement that used lenticular technology to hide its true message from parents.

Your Kids, PETA’s Pawns: How the Animal “Rights” Movement Hurts Children 5 Games with sexually-suggestive images indoc- trinate kids with animal-rights messages. An Online Minefield For Chil­dren In 2002 PETA president insisted on Peta2 links to PETA’s other online material, poten- CNN’s “Crossfire” that “everything [PETA does] is tially exposing web-surfing minors to its graphic based at adults.” But at the time Newkirk made and often sexually-oriented messages for adults, that statement, PETA was already operating such as porn star Jenna Jameson’s invitation to several children’s websites, each designed to “pleather yourself” in faux-leather lingerie to “add appeal to a different age group. some flare in the bedroom.” Another page gives instructions on how to “Veganize Your Sex Life” PETA begins marketing itself online to elementary- and stay “cruelty-free between the sheets” with aged children with the “PETA Kids” website. links to vegan condoms and lubricants. Another Internet site, "peta2" targets middle- and high-schoolers and “seeks to inject the concept of animal rights directly into the bloodstream of PETA distributes trading cards like today’s youth culture.” It targets adolescents with these to countless elementary-school kids across America. Using social media posts like this one on its “question authority” theme, featuring games, Instagram, PETA encourages adolescents to violent imagery, and street lingo for maximum rebel against their parents and teachers. appeal. And international youth-oriented PETA websites target young minds in other countries, But even if they manage to avoid straying from Superstars” program, it offers what every kid including specific pitches to kids in India, Germany, PETA’s child-centered websites, kids see invitation craves—validation—in the form of online “celeb- and the United Kingdom. In its 2014 annual after invitation to join “PETA’s army of animal rights rity” status to everyday children who act out in review, PETA boasts that peta2 “reached out to rebels.” Over and over, animal-rights messages are the name of animal rights 241,000 young people." hammered home, including these: PETA gives teens detailed instructions on refus- PETA tries to overrule parents by telling kids “what ing to participate in biology-class dissection to eat,” demanding that they adopt a meat-free, projects that violate their “strongly held religious dairy-free, and egg-free diet. One game on the PETA and moral beliefs.” PETA tells kids to “call the Kids page describes graphic chicken slaughtering Animal Legal Defense Fund,” which will “put you methods, such as “baby chickens have their beaks in touch with an attorney in your area.” seared off with a hot knife and their wings and legs broken” before showing four bloody chicks sliding A cartoon infographic tells children on PETAKids. into a pot of boiling water (it also depicts the com that eating meat is “Mass, Mechanized game’s heroes taking “shots” of chocolate milk at Murder” that destroys the planet. It also attempts “Everything we do a pirate bar). to convince children that that “Eating meat means eating poop” and “Drinking milk also PETA capitalizes on teen celebrity endorsements means drinking pus.” (including pop superstars and television idols) to is based at adults.” glamorize its message. And with its “PETA Kids

— PETA president Ingrid Newkirk denies targeting children on CNN

Your Kids, PETA’s Pawns: How the Animal “Rights” Movement Hurts Children 7 Teenage Rebel­ lion,­ PETA-Style PETA invests heavily into reaching impressionable lifestyle. But peta2’s “question authority” message children and youth – and claims to have “the larg- is tinged with violent, edgy graphics, and some- est youth membership of any social justice organi- times contains suggestions to commit illegal acts. zation,” including the more than 600,000 kids it says have signed up for its email list. But the ani- As kids grow up and basic animal-rights propagan- mal liberation movement needs more than cheer- da sinks in, PETA gives young adolescents a road ing children: It needs foot soldiers. Enter “peta2,” map for getting “active” in the “movement.” It’s the group’s website for tweens and teens and called the “peta2 Street Team,” and it’s one part “youth outreach division.” On the website, celebri- scavenger hunt, one part Marlboro Catalog. PETA ties deliver the overall messages, telling kids “what brags that more than 100,000 children have to wear,” “what to eat,” and how to adopt a “vegan” already signed up for its “Youth Action Team.”

A combination of celebrity and sexual peta2 ran a contest instructing kids to content drives many PETA messages. print an image of a tampon and tape it “on the cartons of eggs in your fridge at home” because “If you wouldn’t Through the peta2 Street Team, PETA essentially pays is Canadian pop star Justin Bieber, who has infa- squeeze out your girlfriend’s tampon to children to adopt its tactics. Street Team members mously made headlines for spitting on fans, smok- make an omelet, it doesn’t make sense perform specific animal-rights “actions” in exchange ing marijuana, drinking underage, and vandalism. to cook a chicken’s period for for points, which can be redeemed for PETA merchan- breakfast." dise and other prizes like smartphone cases, a book It also brings the rebellion offline and into your that equates human rights with animal rights, and home: peta2 ran a contest instructing kids to print stencils (which implicitly encourages graffiti as a an image of a tampon and tape it “on the cartons “great activist tool”). of eggs in your fridge at home” because “If you wouldn’t squeeze out your girlfriend’s tampon to Peta2 employs endorsements from actors, athletes, make an omelet, it doesn’t make sense to cook a “Parents,­ do you know singers, and bands who it dubs vegan “heroes.” A chicken’s period for breakfast.” favorite tactic of these PETA-endorsing celebrities on what your chil­dren are learn­ing, and does it peta2 is taking off their clothes. A professional PETA’s even extends its animal rights propaganda skateboarder “strips down,” an actor skinny-dipping to homework. Children sweating over an upcoming square with your val­ues? I think we in a kiddie pool is barely blurred out, and a page class assignment are told: “peta2 Does Your thankfully marked “Not Safe For School” shows a Homework for You!” PETA offers “a mini-archive of nude singer barely covering herself. peta2 also resources” on various topics for use in book have some ac­tiv­ists among us enlists the help of bands with violent lyrics like, “One reports, PowerPoint presentations, or research finger, one trigger, one scope, one eye. Kiss your papers. The mini-archives simply link to issues who are push­ing an agen­da we loved ones goodbye.” Perhaps the most famous pages containing graphic videos and very few aca- celebrity who has participated in peta2 promotions demic citations. know little about or dismiss­ as incon­ se­ quen­ tial.”­

— Chicago Sun-Times letter to the editor from a concerned parent

Your Kids, PETA’s Pawns: How the Animal “Rights” Movement Hurts Children 9 “Humane” Education: Legitimizing Lunacy, Coddling Criminals

Incredibly, PETA also deputizes public school parallels between civil rights and animal rights Three Little Pigs and Cinderella. Teachers are told Christ. According to Yourofsky: “What we must do teachers to promote their message. Through movements” and “between how people are or to serve vegetarian meals to their classes and “dis- is start viewing every cow, pig, chicken, monkey, the warm-and-fuzzy veneer of its “Teachkind” were discriminated against and the way that ani- cuss the nutritional problems with bacon and other rabbit, mouse, and pigeon as our family members.” program, PETA encourages educators at every mals are treated today.” pig-derived foods.” And in a factually challenged In a 2007 lecture at the University of Indiana, grade level to incorporate animal cult propa- attempt to equate pet ownership with human slav- Yourofsky declared, “I hope that fathers acciden- ganda into their classrooms. In its 2014 annual The overall curriculum of Teachkind is designed to ery, teachers are directed to explain “that President tally shoot their sons on excursions, while report, PETA boasts that its “education division lead children to accept PETA’s radical animal Lincoln was an advocate of animal rights.” carnivores suffer heart attacks that kill them slow- gave numerous presentations at elementary rights doctrine; in some instances, it subtly ly. Every woman ensconced in fur should endure a schools” and “provided teachers around the encourages kids to break the law. One “research PETA’s website for teachers also offers to provide rape so vicious that it scars them forever.” country with curriculum guidance.” In 2013, the and discussion topic” designed for high school speakers who can appear in person or give a organization claimed to have “reached more students asks: “Is it ever acceptable to break a classroom presentation via Skype on animal And he’s clear on how to enforce these “family” val- than 75,000 educators at conferences, through law (such as breaking into an animal laboratory rights issues. PETA’s chosen emissaries have ues, telling the Toledo Blade in 2001 that activists mailings and through teachkind.org.” and freeing animals)?” The students on the included a convicted felon named . should “not be afraid to condone arsons.” PETA also receiving end of this lecture aren’t likely to know The group hired Yourofsky in 2002 endorses the twisted activism PETA provides lesson plans, books, videos, litera- that PETA endorses this sort of burglary, arson as a “humane education lecturer,” of convicted ALF arsonist ture, stickers, and posters—all aimed at incorpo- and worse. with the explicit goal of putting him PETA “humane Rodney Coronado, who spent rating the group’s message into existing class in front of college, high-school, and education lecturer” 57 months in prison for the work. One frequent theme involves drawing con- The Teachkind curriculum for first- and second- even middle-school audiences. 1992 arson of a nections between African-American slaves and graders uses storybook discussions, citing exam- Gary Yourofsky State University research lab. animals. Students are asked to “draw ples of animal “exploitation” in fairy tales like The Yourofsky sports an Animal says young In 2007, Coronado was sen- Liberation Front (ALF) tattoo on his tenced to another year in pris- forearm. The ALF, a criminal organi- activists should on for publicly demonstrating zation responsible for arsons, “not be afraid to how to make a firebomb. death threats, and physical condone arsons.” assaults, has been called a In April 2004, PETA youth out- “domestic terror” group by high- reach coordinator Karin Rodney Coronado, who ranking directors within the FBI. In Robertson told MSU’s State received over $70,000 in PETA grants during the January 2005, the ALF officially made the News: “If can speak and encourage 1990s, showed a crowd Department of Homeland Security’s list of terror- people, that’s really a good thing. His message is of college students how ist threats. supportive of animal liberties and animal rights. to build a “crude We don’t condemn anybody’s activities.” PETA incendiary device” using a plastic container at Yourofsky has been arrested over a dozen times president Ingrid Newkirk went on network television American University for animal-rights crimes, and was sentenced in to call Coronado a “fine young man.” Her organiza- in 2003. 1999 to six months in a Canadian maximum secu- tion contributed over $70,000 to his legal defense rity prison for the felony burglary of a farm. In his after his arrest for the MSU arson. When he was standard speech, Yourofsky compares himself to sentenced, the U.S. attorney implicated Newkirk in Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, and even Jesus the crime as well.

Your Kids, PETA’s Pawns: How the Animal “Rights” Movement Hurts Children 11 PETA exploits children for publicity Just When You Thought Schools Were Safe .. In January 2004, PETA sent a costumed activist into “I am offended that PETA would pass out propa- As the organization targets it’s lewd and offensive with keeping animals outside. The associate primary schools in England and Ireland to promote ganda to my 7-year-old without my knowledge or campaigns to children, it’s no surprise the PETA director of a local child advocacy group decried to children. Newspapers reported that consent. I am insulted that they would turn their also exploits them to score activist points and PETA’s billboard as “an attempt to capitalize on PETA’s representative distributed “graphic leaflets public-relations bid into a circus sideshow. My child media attention. the victimization of a child.” detailing animal killings” to young children, along with is not a means to their end.” claims that “drinking milk is unnatural.” PETA has An anti-fishing campaign launched in at least Not content with exploiting the abuse of children been similarly invading schools in the United States The school’s superintendent told the newspaper that three states shows PETA has no qualms sexualiz- in shocking advertisements, PETA also uses kids for more than two decades. the tactic of wearing cartoonish animal costumes ing young children, telling parents “Don’t Let Your as protest props – often in chains or cages. while hugging and posing for pictures with elementary Kids Become Hookers.” It warned parents who Unfortunately, responsible parents who monitor their students without parental consent “is desensitizing enjoy the sport that taking their children fishing In North Carolina, parents were upset after PETA kids’ reading material, supervise their Internet activity, children to come up to a stranger.” “sends a dangerous message that it’s entertaining employees dressed a 12-year old girl in prison and keep tabs on their school lessons are not necessar- to torment and abuse animals.” PETA even took stripes, placed her inside an animal cage, and put ily out of the woods. In today’s violent culture, most U.S. Parents and educators in South Africa were similarly their disgusting campaign international and pro- her on public display as the centerpiece of an anti- school districts forbid unap- outraged when anti-chicken PETA tested with the same message outside of the circus protest. proved visitors from entering activists targeted an elementary 2013 Toronto Sportsmen’s Show. A local commen- school grounds. Undeterred, [A] spokesman for that school without permission. As a tator called it a “kid-focused smear campaign” with PETA pulled a similar stunt in 2014 but this time PETA activists now congregate spokesman for the nation’s the goal of “get them young, get them forever.” with a 6-year old boy. The Salt Lake City Weekly nation's Education just outside school property, Education Department told news- reported the group planned to chain up the child Department told lying in wait for children as they papers: “It is unacceptable to After a highly-publicized 2013 arrest of a Camden, dressed in an elephant costume. The report noted come and go. newspapers “It is terrorize children like this. PETA New Jersey mother for keeping her 10-year old PETA has “a history of using children as protest- should be strongly condemned.” son chained to a radiator in her bedroom for two ing props." A local PETA employee did not dispute unacceptable to PETA has camped outside The school’s principal agreed, “I weeks, PETA announced it would erect a billboard this characterization, telling the paper that schools in at least 15 states, terrorize children like don’t think that all of the children featuring a baby with metal collar chained to a “Numerous children have joined PETA demonstra- passing out anti-fish, anti-milk, will be able to distinguish that it stake outdoors, equating the reported child abuse tions over the last several years.” this. PETA should be and anti-chicken trading cards strongly condemned.” concerns a campaign. They might to children as they walked take every word for true.” home. The cards show car- toon images of children suffering various illnesses While some of PETA’s attempts to draw children into and embarrassing conditions, supposedly as a result vegetarianism are irresponsibly misleading – such as of not being a vegetarian. The characters include its claims that non-vegetarians are more susceptible “Pimply Patty,” “Diabetic Diane,” and “Ear Infection to illness – other campaigns inappropriately use Enrique.” One registered dietitian told reporters that graphic images to scare children out of consuming the PETA campaign was “based on sensationalism” meat, fish, and dairy products. In 2002, PETA activists and “a real tragedy. It targets teenagers who really (including one dressed like a pig) set up outside mid- are calcium deficient and need to drink their milk.” dle schools in New Hampshire and Massachusetts with a graphic video display of pigs being slaughtered. Dieticians aren’t the only ones who have spoken out One protester carried a sign that read “Pigs are against PETA’s aggressive tactics. After one incident friends, not food.” After PETA showed up in Portsmouth, in 2010 where PETA employees confronted children New Hampshire, Mayor Evelyn Sirrell told reporters: on their way home from school, a parent responded “It’s an absolute atrocity to use children this way … PETA’s anti-fishing effort was called a “kid-focused with a letter in the Columbus Dispatch: a lot of kids were traumatized by what they saw.” smear campaign” by a local commentator.

Your Kids, PETA’s Pawns: How the Animal “Rights” Movement Hurts Children 13 No Safe Haven for Kids PETA’s “Mainstream” Allies

PETA doesn’t limit itself to harassing and propagan- PETA’s most controversial child-oriented campaign to PCRM PCRM’s dietary “advice” is fueled more by ideology dizing kids in and around schools. Circuses are date kicked off in late 2003. In more than 15 states, than . (It’s worth noting that PCRM gets apparently fair game, as are theaters, restaurants, the group handed out a comic titled “Your Mommy Don’t be fooled by the Physicians Committee for much of its money from a single wealthy animal- and even school field trips. In 2004 PETA started Kills Animals” to children of fur-wearing women, out- Responsible Medicine. Only a small fraction of rights activist in Florida who owns a vegetarian res- handing out “Buckets of Blood” to children outside side holiday performances of The Nutcracker and this phony-baloney “physicians committee” actu- taurant.) of KFC restaurants, middle-schools, and high-schools. other theatrical shows. The comic’s front page shows ally graduated from medical school. While this The red-and-white striped buckets are meant to a ’50s-era cartoon mom with a sadistic look on her group tries to appear as a respectable organiza- Barnard used to be president of The PETA Foundation resemble KFC’s signature fried-chicken container. face, stabbing a bloody rabbit to death with a giant tion of doctors, in reality it’s nothing more than (now called the Foundation to Support Animal But according to the Associated Press, “instead of knife. It urges children: “Ask your mommy how many PETA in a lab coat. Protection) which has funneled money from PETA to fried chicken, each is filled with items including a bag animals she killed to make her fur coat.” The back PCRM. Barnard also has co-signed letters, on PCRM of fake blood and bones, a bloodied plastic chicken cover describes women who wear fur as “terrible PCRM both reaches out to parents and advocates letterhead, with the leader of Stop Huntingdon and a cardboard caricature of a blood-spattered people,” and tells kids: “One of those terrible people for policy changes that will affect what kids eat and Animal Cruelty, which the Department of Justice Colonel Sanders holding a butcher knife toward a is your mommy. ! I bet you drink. And it’s exactly the same as PETA’s diet: No deemed a “domestic terrorist threat.” The American terrified-looking chicken.” didn’t know that.” meat, milk, cheese, or other animal products. Medical Association has slammed PCRM, calling it a “fringe organization” that uses “unethical tactics” PETA launched a similar campaign in 2000, distribut- Denver’s Rocky Mountain News classified PETA’s PCRM’s “healthy school lunches” campaign is a ploy and is “interested in perverting medical science.” ing “Unhappy Meals” to children outside of attempt “to manipulate adults by traumatizing their to inject an animal-rights-approved diet into the McDonald’s restaurants (focusing on the franchises children” as “despicable.” The Omaha World Herald lunch line, coded in euphemisms such as “- The “Humane Society” of the United States with playgrounds) in states from California to South declared that “it’s the vulnerable children who will based.” And on its website PCRM propagandizes to Carolina. The giveaway included a bloodied toy pig, a likely suffer for the anxiety-inducing insensitivity of the parents, scaring them away from milk and other Perhaps the most deceptive animal-rights group of stuffed Ronald McDonald doll holding a butcher’s attack on what should be a happy, family-oriented out- nutrient-rich animal products in favor of “kid-friendly” all is the Humane Society of the United States knife, and a game that asked children to lead a fic- ing.” Dr. Jeffrey Dolgan, chief of psychology at Denver’s vegan diets. PCRM’s subsidiary “The Cancer Project” (HSUS). Key HSUS personnel, including its corporate tional cow through a maze. PETA’s written instruc- Children’s Hospital, told the Denver Post that PETA’s also offers a guide tailored towards parents (and activism director, cut their teeth at PETA. But HSUS’s tions read: “If she takes the wrong path, her throat “Your Mommy Kills Animals” campaign is “beyond featuring kid-friendly art) that scaremongers about campaigns to indoctrinate kids are far more cynical will be slit with a butcher’s knife.” Parents were not insensitive.” He warned: “The implication is that meat, fish, and dairy products. than PETA’s. amused, telling an Albany, New York television sta- mother is a murderer and a killer … Some vulnerable tion in 2009, “I don’t want my son to be around kids will not do well with this. It is potentially very PCRM makes plenty of pseudo-scientific claims HSUS targets elementary school classrooms with something like this. This is not fair for a child,” and anxiety-arousing. Someone has made a mistake.” that favorite kid lunches containing hot dogs or KINDNews, a magazine distributed nine times a “I think it’s unhappy that they target children.” Sadly, given PETA’s lengthy track record of targeting bologna can cause cancer. PCRM president Neal year. The cover story of a recent edition of KINDNews children for activism, the implication that “mother is a Barnard, who has served a medical advisor to featured a child with a gasmask next to an article murderer” was clearly not an innocent mistake. PETA (and as president of the PETA Foundation), attacking animal agriculture. The kicker? HSUS wildly claims that cheese is “dairy crack” and urged its young readers to write their Congressmen, “morphine on a cracker,” and further hysterically the USDA, and the EPA. writes that “to give a child animal products is a form of child abuse.” Appearing on TV recently, In other words, HSUS is trying to recruit a child army Barnard claimed that milk is “hurting our kids.” of lobbyists that it can command, preferably for the rest of their lives. Lobbyists, you ask? That’s right— In fact, vegan diets can put kids at risk for nutri- HSUS’s spending on lobbying is greater than its tional deficiencies. Animal products are rich in spending on grants to pet shelters. nutrients, including vitamin B12, which isn’t found naturally in “plant-based” foods, vitamins A and D, Most Americans are under the mistaken notion and calcium. Moreover, omega-3s found in fish are that HSUS is somehow related to their local In 2004, PETA gave these “Buckets of Blood” to children exiting fast-food chicken linked to higher IQs in children. humane society’s pet shelter. It isn’t. In fact, restaurants in at least 10 U.S. states.

Your Kids, PETA’s Pawns: How the Animal “Rights” Movement Hurts Children 15 What Others Are HSUS contributes only one percent of its $130-mil- ly refreshments” and helpfully lists several vegan lion-plus annual budget to local pet shelters. recipes hosted on HSUS’s website. And HSUS Saying About PETA assures college students that “you can help make Like PCRM and PETA, HSUS wants to force mealtimes a little easier for yourself and others into schools. HSUS tells kids they can “help ani- who want meat-free foods.” mals” by “add[ing] meatless meals to school lunch- November 7, 2013 es.” HSUS also suggests that kids can “try to show Says HSUS CEO : “I think getting to [their] friends that vegetarian is a better choice.” young people … is so important. Getting our message out to young people can really send them in our direc- November 7, 2013 And as kids grow out of KINDNews, HSUS has tion and cause them to really act on our beliefs.” PETA plans to chain up 6-year-old advice on how to start and run a club. In its how-to PETA plans ads with one boy dressed in an elephant costume guide, HSUS tells students to “offer animal-friend- image for adults, another bloody one for children

PETA's Thanksgiving AdNovember Asks 9, 2012 Kids Would You Eat Your Dog? October 13, 2010 Bloody PETA Circus Protest At Elementary School Questioned

April 6, 2011 FOX NEWS PETA protests August 11, 2009 outside Richmond

The interior of the PETA death-van (Inset: A elementary school handy copy of HSUS's "Kind News") PETA's Bloody 'Unhappy Meals' Making Parents Angry CBSNEWS Parents outragedFebruary after 5, 2014 kids given PETA "comic" showing mutilated cows The Darker Side “To give a child animal of PETA products is a form of Activist Leaders In Their Own Words child abuse.” — Neal Barnard, PETA medical advisor and “Our nonviolent tactics are not as effective. We ask former president of the PETA Foundation nicely for years and get nothing. Someone makes a threat, and it works.” — PETA president Ingrid Newkirk “We feel that animals have the same rights as a retarded human child because they are equal “We’re at war, and we’ll do what mentally in terms of dependence on others.” we need to win.” — , PETA Co-founder — PETA vice president Dan Matthews

“Go throw a brick through their window. “Even if animal tests produced a cure I don’t care—whatever it is that you for AIDS, we’d be against it.” need to do to get them out of their — PETA president Ingrid Newkirk business, go do it.” — PETA organizer and convicted federal felon Andy Stepanian “I think it would be great if all of the fast-food outlets, , these laboratories, and the banks that fund them exploded tomorrow. I think it’s “I find it small wonder that the laboratories perfectly appropriate for people to take bricks and aren’t all burning to the ground. If I had more toss them through the windows.” — , PETA's Vice President for guts, I’d light a match.” International Grassroots Campaign — PETA president Ingrid Newkirk

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