Boycott Petland in East Liberty

Admittedly, I don’t often blog about things that matter. My posts are charmingly superficial, due to a lack of time or energy to write about anything that requires actual thought.

That said, animals are something that I’m very passionate about, even in my most apathetic times. It is incomprehensible to me that people consistently abandon their connection with animals and nature at the age of 12. In our culture, growing up means making those disconnections so that indulgence and profit can be made with a clear conscience. The examples are clear to anyone willing to see them- factory farms, sport hunting, and the “pet” industry. People tailor their ethics to align with their habits. It’s not at all uncommon for a person to value their cats and dogs above…well…themselves, but at the same time eat meat like it’s going out of style. I’ve heard every argument. Did you know that some people think certain animals can’t feel pain? Others say that our pets are smarter than the animals we eat, when in reality the differences between the cognitive abilities of cats, dogs, cows and pigs aren’t so great. In fact, pigs might be the smartest and most trainable of the bunch. My point is this: animals should not be commodities. We cannot choose to love some and abuse and torture others, based on…habit. When you put it that way, the commodification of animals doesn’t sound so different from…slavery.

The point in me writing this post at this particular time is that the East End of Pittsburgh recently became home to a Petland. Petland is known to buy their animals from brokers, who often deal with abusive breeders and puppy mills. To top it off, none of their animals are spayed or neutered, and they do not screen their customers. This is an invitation for animal abuse, abandonment, and overpopulation. Having worked with animal rescue and advocacy groups in the past, I can say first hand that there are thousands, if not tens of thousands of feral cats living in the streets, backyards, junkpiles, and hillsides of Pittsburgh. This is what happens when people do not spay and neuter their animal companions. Furthermore, there are plenty of adoptable animals in overburdened shelters, waiting for a good home. In fact, this Petland has situated itself offensively close to one of Pittsburgh’s best shelters, The Animal Rescue League. You can also check out local kitties being fostered by Voices for Animals of Western PA on Petfinder.com. My cats Simon & Basil both came from VFA’s effort to spay and neuter feral cats around Pittsburgh.

Basil