PETA Refuses to Close Pet Shelter of Horrors, Kills 89.4 Percent of Adoptable Dogs and Cats in its Care During 2012

Hypocritical Animal Rights Group Brings Death Toll to 29,398

Washington, D.C. – Today the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) released its yearly report on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals’ (PETA) shameful animal care record at its so-called pet shelter in its Norfolk, VA headquarters. New records show PETA killed a staggering 89.4 percent of the adoptable pets in its care during 2012. Despite years of public outrage over its euthanasia program, the notorious animal rights group has continued killing adoptable dogs and cats at an average of over 30 pets per week.

According to records from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, PETA killed 1,647 cats and dogs last year while placing just 19 in adoptive homes. Since 1998, a total of 29,398 pets have died at the hands of PETA workers.

“For the 14th year in a row, PETA leaders have shown yet again they don’t care about the unlucky dogs and cats that come to its shelter for help,” said J. Justin Wilson, CCF Senior Research Analyst. “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.”

Despite its $36 million budget, PETA employees make little effort to find homes for the thousands of animals they kill every year. PETA President Ingrid Newkirk previously indicated to The Virginian-Pilot that the animal rights group could stop killing pets, but it would mean cutting down on press stunts and celebrity photo shoots: “We could become a no-kill shelter immediately. It means we wouldn't do as much work."

“It seems PETA is more dedicated to publicity stunts than to keeping the animals in its own care alive,” Wilson continued. “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.”

At www.PETAKillsAnimals.com, CCF has made public PETA’s “Animal Record” filings with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for every year since 1998.

Pets Killed by PETA

Year Received† Trans-
ferred		 Adopted Killed
2012 1,843 130 19 1.03% 1,647 89.4%
2011 1,992 34 24 1.21% 1,911 95.9%
2010 2,345 63 44 1.86% 2,200 93.8%
2009 2,366 31 8 0.34% 2,301 97.3%
2008 2,216 34 7 0.32% 2,124 95.8%
2007 1,997 35 17 0.85% 1,815 90.9%
2006 3,061 46 12 0.39% 2,981 97.4%
2005 2,165 69 146 6.74% 1,946 89.9%
2004 2,655 1 361 13.60% 2,278 85.8%
2003 2,224 1 312 14.03% 1,911 85.9%
2002 2,680 2 382 14.25% 2,298 85.7%
2001 2,685 14 703 26.18% 1,944 72.4%
2000 2,681 28 624 23.27% 2,029 75.7%
1999 1,805 91 386 21.39% 1,328 73.6%
1998* 943 125 133 14.10% 685 72.6%
Total 33,658 704 3,178 9.92% 29,398 87.34%
* figures represent the second half of 1998 only
† Other than spay/neuter animals
» Skeptical? Click here to see the proof.

What is Peta Kills Animals?

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has a problem. Despite its mission to advocate for "total animal liberation," government documents obtained through public records requests indicate that each year PETA kills thousands of animals at its headquarters.

According to records from the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, PETA has killed more than 29,000 animals (mostly dogs and cats) at its headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia.

Join Us on Facebook