User talk:Steele~enwiki/letterstopeta

Letters to PETA
This section contains letters from PETA. Please do not distribute or republish this information without my approval. Some of these are private conversations that have taken place between two individuals and should probably be given consideration in that context. For example, a staffer in conversations with an activist might not need to explain the groups position on an issue in detail like they would have to if the letter was addressed to the general public. Please be aware of that and other potential misunderstandings if it is a private letter.

My Question
To: info

Subject: Question about an article

Dear PETA staffers,

I am an active member of PETA and I have an inquiry

about your organizations Alert Item that I have a

question about. Can I speak with the person

responsible for the posting of these two articles?

http://www.helpinganimals.com/automation2/AlertItem.asp?id=1003

http://www.helpinganimals.com/automation2/AlertItem.asp?id=1388

PETA responce
Good morning, Thanks for your e-mail and your support! I wrote and had posted these alerts a while back. How can I be of assistance to you? Best, Dan Paden, Researcher

My responce
Thank you Dan, First of all, I appreciate your work to stop and prevent cruelty to non human animals. With my experience in rescue, I have personally come face to face with what can only be described as a small taste of the bigger picture of cruelty to companion animals. That's why I am sure it is no surprise that I would applaud the effort and intentions of those articles. However, I noticed recently that in these action alerts that their seemed to be an inaccurate statement. In both announcements you say that, “inform him that repeat crimes are the rule rather than the exception among animal abusers and that this is especially true among so-called “zoophiles.”” You cite the webpage: http://www.psyeta.org/sa/abst10-1.shtml

>“Family Characteristics, Victimization Histories, and Perpetration Offenses of Juvenile Offenders Who Admit to Bestiality”

>“This would seem to indicate that sex with animals may be an important indicator of potential or co-occurring sex offenses against humans and may be a sign of severe family dysfunction and abuse that should be addressed in the arenas of psychological intervention, juvenile justice programs, and public policy.”

But contrary to how PSYETA wrote the abstract, the full article actually says this: Full Article: http://www.psyeta.org/sa/sa10.1/fleming.shtml

>"It is difficult to assess 'normality' in a study where all 381 participants were adjudicated juvenile offenders living in state facilities ... It is possible that among other populations ... sex acts with animals might be performed out of love, the need for consolation, or other motivations. In these and other populations, there might not be any link whatsoever to offenses against humans."

This statement seems to be saying that even researchers into animal abuse are not decided whether all bestiality is abuse or linked to human abuse. They are saying that non offender populations exist where it might not have any link to human abuse. But we are saying that 96% are, even in non-offender populations, where they say they have no evidence of that.

I want PETA to make the best case it can for animal rights and I am concerned that it might hurt our cause to use what will look like slanted research and selective citation. I guess I should have contacted PSYETA too, but I wanted to write to you and warn you first.

PS Sorry for the delay in my reply. I had no idea you worked for the animals on the weekends much less Sunday mornings too!

PETAs responce
(nothing yet -Steele)