You may have read how the Animal Liberation Front (ALF) recently caused $20-30,000 damage to the house of a scientist, because the scientist’s work includes animal testing. Actually, the scientist was lucky: the ALF really wanted to burn the house down but settled instead for merely flooding the place. Nice.

This is the same ALF that PETA co-founder and President Ingrid Newkirk wrote about approvingly in her book Free the Animals! The Untold Story of the U.S. Animal Liberation Front and Its Founder, ‘Valerie’. According toAmazon.com, Newkirk "is one of the few people with firsthand knowledge of the ALF and is personally acquainted with the organization's founder." Furthermore, Newkirk:

…gives interviews to ALF’s publications, supports the legal defense efforts of ALF criminals (with PETA’s money), has been subpoenaed in regard to her ALF connections, and has even been accused in court documents of participation in the ALF arson of a Michigan State University research lab.

I think it’s safe to say that Newkirk would have approved of this recent terrorist attack on a scientist’s home. Newkirk is so strongly opposed to animal research that she has said:

even if animal research resulted in a cure for AIDS, "we'd be against it"

So she’s uncompromisingly opposed to animal testing. Well, as it turns out, not so much. Not when she needs modern medicine, at any rate. You see, recently she broke her wrist:

Just as I was setting out to launch my new book, Let’s Have a Dog Party!, I met a wet floor and went splat, neatly snapping the bones in my wrist. Ooh, the pain! Thank goodness for IV drips.

Thank goodness for IV drips. IV drips. That would be those same intravenous anaesthetics that were tested on rats, rabbits, dogs, cats and monkeys. Apparently she’s not opposed to that animal testing. So unopposed that she thanks "goodness" for it.

Now, you may say, Newkirk didn’t have a choice in this matter, or that Newkirk believes animal testing was unnecessary to develop these medications and procedures. Well, if you think that, I’ll just refer you to PETA’s Animal Testing page, that unambiguously states:

Send back items that you have from companies that test on animals...

From the comments to the PETA blog, I think we can assume that Newkirk is now aware that her painkillers were, in fact, tested on animals. So can we assume that she will now refuse (“send back”) any more painkillers? Or will she, like PETA Vice President and insulin (tested on dogs, rabbits and mice) dependent diabetic Mary Beth Sweetland, continue to enjoy the benefits of animal testing while supporting terrorist acts on the scientists who provide them?

I think we should be told.

Where would this world be without PETA? that organization rocks. The work they do to uncover animal abuse and to support animal rights is so amazing.

I just don't know how people can live with themselves,when they do these awful things to animals!

Seems there is no end to people exploiting animals for profit.

That this was reported doesn't surprise me at all, sadly. This stuff goes on all the time. I have yet to find a place that sells purpose bred animals that cares more about the animal than the $$. Is PETA good someone commented? It is all relative isn't it. Do they sometimes do things people consider outlandish, yes. Do they serve a purpose, do they uncover things that help animals, yes there also. IMHO each of us must use care and caution whenever we shop. Is that hamburger from a downer cow? Did a rabbit have bleach dropped into it's eyes in the name of research? Our $$ is our power, each time you put some of it down, think carefully who and what you are supporting.

I realize that the bottom line is money and profit, but things should be looked at better.

i am very uncertain about what we should do about this situation.

Not quite sure what we should do about this.

Make a buck is the bottom line, or save it.

what is wrong with these people??? or lack of a better term to refer to them as

Makes you almost ashamed to be part of the human race. What is the matter with these people?? Just laziness??? Non caring??? Unreal!

I will not support our local Petsmart. Do away with these puppy mill suppliers and those that support them.

so gross...such a big establishment to have these problems. glad they answered the allegations quickly.

I would hope that petsmart responded very quickly and swiftly to this vendor. I also know that Petsmart has gone above and beyond in the support of our local shelter in allowing them to do adoptions from their store and even helping them with a van. They do everything they can to help and take every complaint serious. If you work with enough people eventually you will run into someone who does not take appropriate care of the animals and you have to cut your ties to them and move on. Peta tends to be very radical and I do not believe everything they say so while something happened, consequences should occur but then move on.

I hope Petsmartr did a thorough investigation and I hope that erson and other like him were fired on the spot. One bad apple is one too many when it comes to mistreatment of animals.

This animal supplier should have been investigated and inspected by a Petsmart official monthly.

I wonder how much of this is not hiring enough experienced and knowledgable people? Maybe just hiring cheap labor?

This is just another reason why pet stores should not be selling live animals. Let shelters have animals there and the pet stores can sell supplies. WIN WIN

How wide spread is this? Anyone have seen this?

PETA can be extreme, however, I do appreciate their research that brings situations like this to light. We certainly cannot trust our government to monitor effectively, they cannot even protect our food supply adequately, and I am sure animals used for the pet trade are waaaay farther down on their list of priorities.

I agree Sandy. PETA can be extreme.

I don't doubt that the abuse took place, but PETA can be a little radical--they break the law themselves by breaking into facilities and releasing animals--so I take what they say with a grain of salt. I am not going to boycott Petsmart because of one bad apple they dealt with. I feel for the animals, but I don't think Petsamart needs to be punished too.

Should not sell live animals.

Another reason to end sales of live animals at PetSmart. Let them keep donating space for shelter and rescue adoptions and only sell supplies.

There is a very simple answer here--and I do believe PETA's undercover report--and that is PetSmart and other like establishments end of sale of live animals period! We all must look at and investigate the relationship between the mass production of living creatures for profit and the suffering and disease that are the consequences of such practices. PetSmart does a fine job in facilitating animal adoptions both online and at store events, but the company could certainly help more animals by focusing exclusively on helping animal find homes and selling quality pet care products.

Should we protest Petsmart? Anyone with personal experience?

Personally, I find PETA to be among the most distasteful 'animal rights organizations' out there. They have a decent goal (to help animals) but their methods and views are in need of reexamination. While I'm sure the allegations that the vendor has some truth behind it... I do not trust the source it comes from. While I do hope that Petsmart investigates it on principle, the worst that can happen is that they will discontinue business with that vendor and will seek another.

I hope they find maybe this is just one store and not the whole chain. I would like updates on this one.

The Petsmarts I've been to have been nice. They also hold pet adoptions. This is a terrible story for the stores involved. In a newer report, there have been changes at those stores.

hopefully Petsmart will start treating their animals better

I sincerely hope that petsmart will get to the bottom of this concerning this vendor. If this vendor is going to insensitive to the animals in their care then Petsmart may have to end their relationship with them if they cannot get them to change their methods. Petsmart isn't in a position to force another company to do something but they can try to reason wit h them & end their association with them if all else fails.

hope this can be stoped it is heart braeking makes me mad

I'm not a big supporter of eithe PETA or Petsmart. They both have their drawbacks. That video was very disturbing.

How did this go on so long??? No one reported it?

I wish the punishments could just fit the crimes in the US. Lets say we neuter the fella that did this bunnie so wrong, want to bet there'd be less animal cruelty, same goes for child abusers. I have no use for people like this, don't they have a conscience?

Hate to read these types of stories but we need to know. Shut these people down. Put them in jail and throw away the keys.

Pet stores should not be allowed to sell animals unless the are from a shelter or rescue.

I will not go in this store or any of them!

I heard about this in the rabbit community and couldn't bring myself to read this story until. PetSmart need sto be held accountable for the sorry vendors it chooses to use. This is horrendous. I fell like vomiting. If I biycott PS, they will definitely be told why.

glad they are uncovering this

Shut this one imparticular facility down...

This makes me sick. Petsmart needs to stop selling small animals, period.

Petsmart needs to follow in Petco's steps and switch to animal adoptions!!!

Petsmart just needs to quit selling animals - no place should sell animals. We just cannot patronize any of the stores that do it. We need to support places that help the humane societies find good homes by showing their animals and working with the humane societies.

Petsmart needs to wise up and stop selling these animals.

my god , it's everywhere

Very cruel incident ~ but was it isolated? That would be quite a coincidence, that the cruelty happened in front of a camera, but that usually humane practices are followed. I doubt it.

that is just cruel.

This is awful. I do hope this is an isolated incident. And I do hope a COMPLETE investigation is done.

look at the evidence then shut it down