I think your comment also suggests that I am only advocating for animal rights with my fingers typing on my keyboard. While this is one way in which I aim to help educate people about the state of animal suffering on our planet, I also physically work in dog rescue and as of today will be working with the HSUS to lobby on behalf of humane legislation in Arizona. I have been to the pound. I have pulled animals from shelters and the streets to give them a new chance at life. I know that many organizations see “killing” as the only acceptable means of dealing with the overpopulation of animals. To that I suggest you read “Redemption” by Nathan Winograd for an alternate perspective on the problem. Animals that have passed through our rescue’s hands have never been forced to live out their lives in cages despite our no-kill philosophy. That is not the only option. But I do agree that spay/neuter is the solution to the issue of more supply than demand.

From the years I have spent participating in animal rights, I know that organizations have different philosophies. There are many ways to achieve a better livelihood and respect for all sentient beings. In the end, while I don’t agree with all of PETA’s tactics, I thank you for your efforts. I know in the bigger picture we are all working towards the same goal.

It is also heart wrenching for our caring staffers who must provide suffering dogs and cats and those for whom no good homes can be found with a painless death. Many of the animals we receive are broken beings for whom euthanasia is, without a doubt, the most humane option—including the suffering dog shown in the documentary.

Even if we could provide veterinary treatment for each one of the thousands of unwanted animals we receive every year, PETA still faces the same dilemma as all open-door shelters: There simply aren’t enough good homes for every cat and dog. Forcing these animals to live in cages indefinitely is neither feasible nor humane. One need only to go down to their local shelter to get a dose of reality – no one wants to see the end of euthanasia of healthy animals more than the people who hold the syringe. Pointing the finger is much, much easier than doing the dirty work.

That’s why PETA works tirelessly to reach the day when there is a loving home for every animal through educational campaigns, by sterilizing animals in our mobile spay/neuter clinics—which do hundreds of free surgeries for the poor and are the only programs around that have door-to-door transportation services for animals who’d otherwise be allowed to bring more animals into a world bursting at the seams with homeless ones—and by subsidizing spay/neuter surgeries at private veterinarians’ offices. But until people spay and neuter and stop buying animals from breeders and pet stores, euthanasia will remain a tragic consequence of the cat and dog overpopulation crisis. Please, help us change that. To learn more, visit PETA.org and http://www.HelpingAnimals.com.