Email to P.E.T.A UK

An email sent from Artemis Jones to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, UK division:

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Hi there,

My name's Art, and I have some questions I thought you guys might be able to answer. I also have a project which I think you would like to support; I would really appreciate it if you could read about my ideas and get back to me with some information at some point?

I really respect the work PETA does; it's just brilliant; I was wondering how I might be able to get involved?

Basically, I know that stray animals in the UK can be a massive problem, so for the past few months I have taken it upon myself to tackle this issue. Me and a group of my friends have created a whole campaign (website pending) aimed at lowering the stray cat and dog population in the UK. I hope you don't mind, we've been using the PETA logo on our posters and flyers, gaining support from members of our local community. The project, called "Strayliminators" focuses on the humane decimation of the stray animal population in Stoke.

We use a combination of .22 air rifles and slingshots (with 9.5mm and 6mm steel ball-bearings) to quickly and painlessly put down any stray animals we encounter. Just last week we received a phone call from a kebab shop owner who was complaining about a group of stray dogs raiding his bins almost every night. They create mess (both in terms of the rubbish they scatter around and the faeces they leave behind) and they are a health hazard in general. I and two other Strayliminator waited in the alley behind the restaurant and put down no fewer than six stray dogs in just under an hour. Rodrigo was unable to pay us for our efforts, but the whole Strayliminators group is now entitled to free kebabs whenever we are in the area, which is a good result. I'm sure you will agree that this is an extremely efficient system and a cause which should be supported and celebrated wherever possible. The carcasses are bagged up and put out with regular household rubbish, but we hope to have our own incinerator within the next 12 months. All of our volunteers have passed a specialised air-rifle safety course before being allowed to use these weapons, which means they are all very accurate and humane. Even in instances when it takes more than one shot to kill a stray animal (larger dogs, for example) we can guarantee that from the time the first pellet has been fired, not more than four minutes will pass before the animal in question is completely dead.

In addition to stray dogs, we destroy a large number of cats. Residents who complain of tom cats spraying their property/cars/belonging and of cats of both genders defecating in their flowerbeds have been calling us and we arrive on the scene to cull the animals in question. We are performing a valuable public service and feel that more people should know about our good work.

Basically, we need some funding to help with raising the awareness of our campaign, recruiting new volunteers and arming our group. Ideally, we would like to extend this project to make it a nationwide campaign; volunteers are always willing to join us on our expeditions (or "hunts" as we call them) and we feel that we could, with the right funding, publicity and public relations work, recruit a huge number of new professionals to help tackle the stray animal issue.

PETA is already involved (in a way) by the fact that the organisation appears on our marketing materials (and the PETA website address too). We were hoping for a more vocal and official commitment to our cause whenever you have the opportunity.

Please get back to me when you have a minute, I feel that an ongoing dialogue could be mutually beneficial to both parties.

Thank you for your time,

Best wishes,

Art Jones.