Cattleman denounces PETA boss's remark - Canada: Calgary Herald 4/9/0

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Copyright 2001 Southam Inc.

Calgary Herald

 

April 9, 2001 Monday Early

EDITION

 

SECTION: CITY, Pg. B3

 

LENGTH: 448 words

 

HEADLINE: Cattleman denounces PETA boss's remark

 

BYLINE: Mark Reid

 

SOURCE: Calgary Herald

 

BODY:

The Canadian Cattlemen's Association says it's "utterly irresponsible" for an

animal-rights group to hope foot-and-mouth disease ravages North America's

livestock

industry.

 

Cattlemen's association president Dennis Laycraft said Sunday "it's almost

incomprehensible" the group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals would

wish for

an outbreak of the disease here.

 

"That's one of the most incredible statements I've heard," the Calgary-based

Laycraft said. "A retraction or apology would be appropriate."

 

However, Michael Alvarez-Toye, spokesman for PETA in Calgary, said the group

won't be apologizing any time soon.

 

"An apology? Oh, I don't think so," Alvarez-Toye said. "I think that's wishful

thinking on his part."

 

Laycraft's outrage stems from comments made last week by PETA's president

Ingrid

Newkirk.

 

Newkirk said she wants the disease to infect livestock here because killing

sick

livestock would be more humane than forcing healthy animals to live in pens or

feedlots, only to be slaughtered for food and clothing.

 

"If that hideousness came here, it wouldn't be any more hideous for the animals

-- they're all bound for a ghastly death anyway," Newkirk said. "I openly hope

it

comes here. It will bring economic harm only to those who profit from . . .

giving animals a concentration-camp like existence."

 

Gordon Luchia, spokesman for Canada Customs, said security will be tightened at

airports to prevent bio-terrorists from sneaking the disease into Canada.

 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has also asked Canada's spy agency to help

with the security effort.

 

Foot-and-mouth disease isn't harmful to humans, but they can be carriers.

 

The disease causes lameness, drooling, and lesions in animals with cloven

hooves

and can be fatal.

 

Outbreaks of the disease continue to rage in Britain and continental Europe,

forcing the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of animals.

 

Health officials now require air travellers to Canada to walk through

disinfecting footbaths at airports, and Luchia said travellers will soon face

even tougher scrutiny.

 

Laycraft said cattle producers want to "see every precaution taken" to keep the

disease out of Canada.

 

As for Newkirk's comments, Alvarez-Toye said PETA's president was simply trying

to remind the public that thousands of animals are slaughtered each day for

food and clothing and the methods of slaughter are often inhumane.

 

He said PETA exists to protect animals and would never try to infect livestock

with a potentially fatal disease.

 

"We're in it to save animals," he said. "To suggest (PETA) . . . wants to

introduce the mass slaughter of domestic animals -- that's ludicrous."

 

TYPE: News

 

LOAD-DATE: April 9, 2001