SeeCalifornia.com

In Huntington Beach a bride & groom recently were called on the carpet for riding an elephant at their wedding ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort. The city previously passed an ordinance that doesn’t allow this as it’s considered a form of cruelty. In Indian culture the elephant is a symbol of good luck and is a popular part of weddings. Throughout California you’ll see pony rides for kids, people owning and riding horses, rodeos throughout the state, and over a dozen zoos. At the Living Desert Zoo in Palm Desert camel rides are offered for around $10.  If the animal rights organization, PETA, had its way, most of California’s animal events and attractions would be eliminated. The organization publicizes its official stance on treatment of animals and while published records show that the non-profit is doing a slightly better job of adopting animals in their shelter than past years (93%, or 2,366 animals were killed in 2009 and only 2,175 or 82.4% were killed at the PETA shelter in 2013,) they are quite effective in changing laws and influencing public and business policies.

PETA’S POSITION ON A VARIETY OF ANIMALS / TOPICS (as published on their website):

• There should be no rides on any animals for pleasure, except your horse if the horse doesn’t seem to mind.
• Do not kill spiders, ants or any bugs. Use products that will discourage them from invading your space.
• Do not kill any animals for food.
• Pets should be given a vegetarian diet like their human owners.
• Zoos should not exist.
• Horse drawn carriage rides should not be allowed.
• Sled dog races should not be allowed.
• Westminster Dog Show should be disbanded.