On Thursday, two activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) were arrested while attempting to dump a truckload of manure outside the Manhattan offices of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
However, the protest did not fully go as planned, as most of the manure remained frozen in the truck bed due to freezing temperatures.
Newsweek has reached out to PETA and the ASPCA on Friday night via email for additional comments.
Why It Matters
This protest represented the latest escalation in PETA’s ongoing campaign against the ASPCA. PETA has criticized the ASPCA for backing an animal welfare certification program managed by the Global Animal Partnership.
What To Know
Ashley Byrne, a spokesperson for PETA, told the Associated Press that the cold weather prevented all the manure from falling out of the truck. As a result, someone had to climb into the truck and start shoveling the manure manually, but this individual was apprehended by police before finishing the task.
A New York Police Department police spokesperson told the Associated Press that the two unidentified PETA activists were issued summonses for illegal dumping and are scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 11.
The police also seized the dump truck, along with its remaining manure, which had been sourced from an animal sanctuary in New Jersey, Byrne said.
PETA’s Issues With the ASCPA
PETA claims that Global Animal Partnership certification is a “sham” as it appears on products from factory farms and other places with documented cruelty histories. PETA has called on the ASPCA to leave the partnership’s board, staging several protests and publishing full-page ads accusing the group of “humane-washing.”
In defense, a spokesperson for the ASPCA highlighted the organization’s role in setting basic standards in the market, attributing the conflict with PETA to philosophical differences. According to the ASPCA, PETA focuses on eliminating all animal agriculture, while the ASPCA aims to create a more humane farming system and supports animal welfare certifications to serve that purpose.
In response to an earlier PETA protest, the Global Animal Partnership had defended its certification program, stating that it has strong oversight mechanisms. They claim that their certification helps minimize risks of objectionable practices, swiftly addresses any uncovered issues, and continually works to reduce missteps.
What People Are Saying
The ASPCA told Newsweek in a statement on Friday, “Factory farming is brutally cruel and must end, but unlike the ASPCA, PETA has no interest in building a more humane farming system. Instead, they seek to eliminate all animal agriculture, and our diverging views on the utility of animal welfare certifications stem from this fundamental difference. Given the magnitude of suffering on industrial farms and the reality that most Americans eat meat, eggs and dairy but don’t want to support animal cruelty, the ASPCA believes that welfare certifications play an important role in setting basic standards and distinguishing better products in the marketplace.”
What Happens Next
This incident underscores the ongoing strife between PETA and organizations like the ASPCA over methods and philosophies in animal welfare and certification standards. The public demonstration and subsequent arrests highlight the lengths to which activists are willing to go to voice their opposition and bring attention to their cause.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Update: 1/24/25, 7:50 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with a comment from the ASPCA.
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