Written by PETA
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) held its annual convention in Seattle this weekend and—despite public outcry—allowed attendees to participate in a dead-fish toss.
I don't know about y'all, but when I'm looking for an "outrageously fun" time, I go dancing. I don't throw around corpses. So to remind the AVMA that sea kittens feel pain just as dogs and cats do—and to provide a memorable image of the suffering that the AVMA willingly supports—we held a stunning demonstration in front of the conference for all attendees and Seattleites to see:
In the words of PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman, "The AVMA is a trade group that often sides with animal abusers, not with animals. People expect more from the very people who are charged with helping and protecting animals."
Hopefully the attention-grabbing demonstration armed people with some future lifesaving knowledge.
Written by Christine Doré
Re: Lynn. While we commend veterinarians for tirelessly working to help and save animals, this particular behavior is inexcusable. As the nation’s largest veterinary organization, it is especially callous for the AVMA to engage in a stunt that is so disrespectful to animals. It sends a terrible message to the public when veterinarians call it “fun” to toss around animals’ corpses. There is no moral difference between flinging fish bodies and tossing dead puppies or kittens, so the AVMA shouldn’t endorse one any more than the other. PETA’s goal is to point out that fish are living beings capable of feeling pain and distress—just as dogs and cats are—and that it is no more acceptable to hurt fish than it is to hurt any other animal. To learn more about these animals’ intelligence and capacity for suffering, please visit www.peta.org/.../hidden-lives-of-fish.aspx and www.peta.org/.../fish-feel-pain.aspx.
I am quite disturbed. I am an entering vet student, and as politely as I possibly can I urge ya'll to be responsible and get the real story. Do not base the actions of some unethical vets on the industry itself. You are practically demoralizing what so many of us commit our lives to, helping and saving animals.
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