PETA Activists Arrested for Trying to Dump Frozen Manure Outside Rival’s Office

Protest Escalates Conflict Over Animal Welfare Certification Program

A pair of activists with the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals were arrested on Thursday while attempting to dump a truck’s worth of manure outside the Manhattan offices of a rival animal welfare group.

Frozen Manure Foils Protest Plans

But the protest may have raised less of a stink than intended, as organizers acknowledged that much of the animal dung remained frozen solid to the truck bed.

“Because of the freezing temperatures, it didn’t all fall out,” explained Ashley Byrne, a PETA spokesperson. “Someone had to go up in the truck and start shoveling it out, and he was apprehended by the police before he finished.”

Escalation of Ongoing Campaign

The stunt was the latest escalation in the group’s ongoing campaign against the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), over their backing of an animal welfare certification program.

PETA has alleged that the “sham” certificate — handed down by the Global Animal Partnership — appears on products that come from factory farms and other locations with a documented history of cruelty. They have called on the ASPCA to leave the partnership’s board in a series of protests and full-page ads that accuse the group of “humane-washing.”

Rival Group Defends Certification Program

A spokesperson for the ASPCA, meanwhile, defended the board for “setting basic standards” in the marketplace, adding the conflict boiled down to a philosophical difference with PETA.

“Unlike the ASPCA, PETA has no interest in building a more humane farming system,” the spokesperson said. “Instead, they seek to eliminate all animal agriculture, and our diverging views on the utility of animal welfare certifications stem from this fundamental difference.”

Police Intervene

The two PETA activists, who were not identified, were issued summonses for illegal dumping, according to a police spokesperson. They are due back in court on February 11. Police also confiscated the dump truck, along with its remaining contents which had been sourced from an animal sanctuary in New Jersey, Byrne said.

“There was quite a bit of manure left in the truck when it was taken into police custody,” she added.

Conclusion

The dispute between PETA and the ASPCA highlights the ongoing debate over the role of animal welfare certifications in the meat industry. While PETA views these certifications as a way for companies to mislead consumers, the ASPCA sees them as a way to improve animal welfare standards.

Regardless of the outcome, the confrontation between the two groups serves as a reminder of the passionate advocacy that surrounds animal welfare issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What was the purpose of the PETA protest?
A: The protest was an attempt by PETA to dump a truck’s worth of manure outside the ASPCA’s office in Manhattan.

Q: Why was the manure frozen?
A: The freezing temperatures prevented much of the manure from falling out of the truck.

Q: What were the PETA activists charged with?
A: They were charged with illegal dumping.

Q: What is the dispute between PETA and the ASPCA?
A: PETA is objecting to the ASPCA’s support of an animal welfare certification program that appears on products from factory farms and other locations with a documented history of cruelty.