No more horsing around! Animal rights group PETA is ridiculed for calling for children's merry-go-rounds to stop using animal themes because it 'unintentionally celebrates the exploitation' of animals
By Shannon Mcguigan,
2024-02-08
People have slammed PETA for calling on the largest amusement ride manufacturer in Kansas to stop producing and selling animal-themed carousels.
The animal rights organization released an open letter to Chance Rides on February 6, urging them to cease manufacturing animal designs as it 'unintentionally celebrates' exploitation.
In the open letter, PETA president Ingrid Newkirk argued Chance Rides CEO Aaron Landrum could instead create figures of bulldozers, cars and spaceships, engaging the imagination of youngsters through 'human talent'.
However the animal rights group have received backlash online for their most recent move, with people pointing out there are currently bigger issues faced by animals throughout the globe.
'Instead of worrying about the monkeys being smuggled across the border, torturous animal testing in pointless lab experiments, etc... @PETA is taking aim at... CAROUSELS lmao,' one fumed.
'PETA have asked Chance rides to stop making animal themed carousels mean come on now. This is a stretch surely,' another wrote.
The activist group have called for animal-themed amusement rides to be scrapped because they believe it would be a huge hit against industries that continue to use animals for entertainment such as dolphin shows and camel rides.
PETA President Ingrid Newkirk justified her position, suggesting the move would teach children to have 'respect and compassion' for living creatures could help create a more 'merciful world.'
Ms Newkirk argued that animal-themed carousels showcase animals as 'entertainment' rather than living beings with feelings and consciousness.
She wrote: 'PETA urges Chance Rides and all other carousel manufacturers to hit the brakes on old-fashioned animal-themed rides and embrace designs that engage children's imagination and showcase human talent.'
X was flooded with ridicule against the animal rights group, with many baffled as to why PETA were targeting children's fun.
Another seethed: 'What activist groups are softer than PETA? Getting upset over CAROUSELS?!?!'
'PETA is targeting children's make believe, somehow equating this to real life animal abuse,' an individual argued.
One begrudged person queried: 'What's next Peta? Ban stuffed animals for small children???'
'PETA is as they say has gone off the rails. Its core mission is not redesigning carousels,' quipped another.
'Peta You people actually hurt your cause when you call for wooden horses not be used in carousels. You trivialize the meaning of your cause,' one noted.
'Some activists do more harm than good to their cause by coming up with ridiculous designs,' another agreed.
'PETA is after our local carousel manufacturer... like they don't have enough real animals to worry about, now they are going after fake ones,' a local jabbed.
'Too bad @peta didn't care this much about the marine life washing up on the shores of the upper east coast, thanks to the windmills,' one user quipped.
Others bashed PETA online stating the group was 'running out of things to do', while some suggested deporting the organization 'to the moon'.
Reacting to the letter, another penned: 'I've seen enough. Where in the hell is that asteroid?'
A PETA spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Horses don’t deserve to be treated as beasts of burden, and they shouldn’t be represented that way, especially to impressionable children.
'PETA’s appeal may seem like a blip in the animal rights movement, but we urge people to look deeper and recognize that societal depictions count the way words matter.
'Argument and discussion are signs of change percolating, and updating archaic carousel designs would be a significant step toward getting the bits out of live horses’ mouths and the humans off their backs—and achieving a more respectful world for all.'
proven fact PETA euthanize more animals than any other place. yet they slam so many other rescues for doing the same exact thing. I as a small child used to ride the carousels and it made me want to learn more about the zebra I rode or the hippo or even the horses which I still have at 57 almost 58 years after riding my first one on a carousel as a 5 yo little girl...
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