PETA focuses on factory farms, laboratories, the fur trade, and the entertainment industry. On the Coast, the Humane Society focuses on promoting spaying and neutering programs and helps people adopt abandoned animals. Even if you're the kind of person who would never smack a puppy, such perceived cruelty to animals might be something you participate in every day. And you might be OK with that. But get ready to defend your lack of concern.
Scientists now believe that pets and wild animals have feelings.
On the Coast, the seafood industry might come under attack by those so highly sensitive to the rights of animals that they feel fishing is cruel. PETA brought its anti-seafood message to Biloxi this summer and received a common reaction. A lot of people have never considered the notion that fish feel pain. To lead the protest, PETA employed Gill the Fish, a costumed character that tells people that fishing hurts fish. Carr says it works.