Donna Brothers: PETA is a Bully

[clicknow]

Originally Posted by the little guy

It's hard to imagine that you could possibly believe that EVERYONE is educated about PETA, especially given the obvious information to the contrary.

Originally Posted by Lemon Drop Husker

That is your opinion. That doesn't give you the right to try and dominate the discussion. You aren't smarter than everybody else and need to educate us all.

I will concede this point to both of you though. Perhaps I take for granted too much. It seems like PETA has "been after us" for quite a while now, so I assumed too much.

But, I do probably know more about PETA than a lot of folks, having been in the dog rescue community for a number of years, and having had to "do battle" with them. I lost a very very close friend who went over to that side. She was a fabulous good hearted rescuer, but she fell for their poison. She became more impossible to deal with as time went on, sort of like a zombie!

I had a chicken sandwich ripped out of my hands, while I was eating it, in the ante-room of court once by a PETA member. He was very clear that he didn't want me to eat a chicken sandwich, since I was there to testify on behalf of a severely abused dog. I even offered him 1/2. So yeah, I know crazy when I see it.

So------NOT a PETA apologist, by any means.

Anyway, I do get emotional about racing dying a slow death. Sorry if I go overboard sometimes on the subject.

[GMB@BP]

Originally Posted by clicknow

I had a chicken sandwich ripped out of my hands, while I was eating it, in the ante-room of court once by a PETA member. He was very clear that he didn't want me to eat a chicken sandwich, since I was there to testify on behalf of a severely abused dog. I even offered him 1/2. So yeah, I know crazy when I see it.
.

I hope you beat his ass.

[classhandicapper]

Originally Posted by clicknow

Reading is unncessary when you've read the same thing 1,000,000 times for 20 years already. While watching a situation continue to descend into critical territory.

If racing thinks it's going to fix itself by having a PR battle, they are sorely mistaken. They've been trying that for decades already and it has not worked.

It's actions, not PR, that wins the day.

Thousands of "horse lovers" spamming facebook, twitter, instagram, and social media is not a solution. It a bandaid designed to effect *perceptual* change, but not actual change.

I guess for all those who think all the problems with the sport are purely perceptual, its acceptable.

I think what people want (but of course I actually speak for myself) is for the media, leading trainers, owners, riders, breeders, track managements, track maintenance crews, leading vets from inside and outside the industry, responsible animal welfare groups, and any other experts that can add to the conversation to sit down and talk. Then lay out the truth about how those involved in the sport generally feel about the horses, how they are typically loved and cared for, but while also pointing out the exceptions and what it is we can do better to ensure their safety, rider safety, and everyone's well being when they retire from racing.

What we don't want is agenda driven extremists that believe THEIR goals justify any means and the hell with truth or what anyone else thinks or wants. And we don't want the media seeking out people like that to drive the conversation and mislead the general public.

There's a lot we can do better. So let's just do it so the totalitarians and irresponsible journalists don't set the perception and agenda.

[Redboard]

Donna claims she is a vegetarian, Well one day, I met Donna at the Four Seasons Natural Foods Café in Saratoga Springs, which is a vegetarian restaurant. My wife and I eat there all the time. I thought it strange to see a racing industry employee there. Haven't seen any others.

Great article.

[thaskalos]

I didn't read the Donna Brothers article with great diligence...but it appears to me that the main point was that PETA doesn't really care about animals...and Brothers does. That's all well and good...but it doesn't address the main problem driving this issue. While PETA is an easy target for the Donna Brothers of the industry...PETA isn't the main foe here. The main foe is the public opinion, which usually gets the attention of our over-ambitious politicians...and that foe isn't that easy of a target, IMO.

[Robert Fischer]

Horse racing is doing better with media lately.

We need content like this, and the 'successful-surgery/good-spirits' story, to be produced and broadcast on a regular basis.

We need more 'human-interest stories'. Talk about some of that emotional partnership between horse and human.


It's going to take some effort and some cost, but it's necessary.

[clicknow]

Originally Posted by thaskalos

I didn't read the Donna Brothers article with great diligence...but it appears to me that the main point was that PETA doesn't really care about animals...and Brothers does. That's all well and good...but it doesn't address the main problem driving this issue. While PETA is an easy target for the Donna Brothers of the industry...PETA isn't the main foe here. The main foe is the public opinion, which usually gets the attention of our over-ambitious politicians...and that foe isn't that easy of a target, IMO.

Public opinion is shaped by events, not just PR talk. A horse or jockey death, or a horse with a name being found in a kill pen, is going to undo anything anyone *says*. Talk is cheap, esp. when you are in the position of having to go on the defensive and "explain away" an event that happened.

This is why I don't advocate a PR war as being particularly effective. Was not bashing the intent to do so.......every little bit helps.

Getting a big political bill like H.R. 1754 passed as Ubercapper suggested in the other topic, would make big news and do a lot to convince politicians and the public that efforts are being made. We need to put our greatest efforts there, IMHO.

[Tom]

Maybe a start woudl be fat-assed, big mouth know-nothings like Feinstein to actually visit Santa Anita and see for herself what is reality before the chest pounding threats.

[clocker7]

They pose as fans, but they are pure liars.

Their aim is to demoralize. Dead-site moderators allowed them to their own demise.

[clocker7]

The ones here are obvious and very aggressive.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by clocker7

The ones here are obvious and very aggressive.

Can you point them out for me please?

[clocker7]

You're PETA through and through.

[thaskalos]

Originally Posted by clocker7

You're PETA through and through.

ME? I don't even know what the acronym stands for.

[Andy Asaro]

Felix does a pretty good job hammering Kathy Guillermo of Peta. Donna Barton comes on after Kathy.

http://wsradio.com/11-17-19-track-ta...-horse-racing/

[PaceAdvantage]

Originally Posted by clocker7

You're PETA through and through.

And they say the reputation system here is worthless...