Denver — During a January 4 appearance on Denver radio station KRFX, Colorado Governor Bill Owens was openly critical of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), calling the group “a bunch of losers” and “frauds.”
In the course of a live telephone interview earlier that morning, PETA spokeswoman Reannon Peterson refused to help two KRFX disc jockeys collect and distribute money to feed and rescue an estimated 340,000 head of cattle stranded by Colorado’s latest blizzard.
When asked if PETA would help the Colorado National Guard, which is already airlifting bales of hay to the snowbound animals, Peterson responded: “You’re going to save them, and then in six months they’re going to be killed and end up on someone’s plate. So I don’t know that it’s really the most noble cause.”
Today the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) applauded Governor Owens for taking a bold and decisive stand against what he termed “a strange group of people.” CCF is also encouraging Coloradans to follow Owens’ on-air advice: “Don’t send money to PETA. That’s the message.”
CCF Director of Research David Martosko agreed: “It’s outrageous that PETA, with its $25 million in annual income, wouldn’t rent a few helicopters and join the race to help Colorado’s ranchers. If PETA won’t lift a finger to help, Americans should send their donations elsewhere.”
Martosko added: “This is the same PETA whose president publicly wished for a foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in 2001. And now the group is spouting anti-meat sermons while thousands of animals freeze to death. When ranchers lose their livelihood, PETA dances a jig. That’s sick.”
Attention broadcast producers: Sound bites from KRFX-FM’s interviews with Governor Owens and PETA’s Reannon Peterson are available for download at www.ConsumerFreedom.com/GovernorOwens.
For information about two PETA employees who will face Cruelty To Animals felony trials this month in North Carolina, visit www.PetaKillsAnimals.com.
