People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PeTA) has decided to target the National Institutes of Health (NIH)for using animals in medical tests. The group has resorted to their usual method of releasing photos and videos allegedly taken inside an NIH lab. Bethesda Magazine reports one video allegedly shows monkeys forcibly taken away from their mothers and then soon after made to listen to loud random noises in cages. Another video, PeTA states shows a baby crying as he watches his mother being sedated.

At one point members of Congress communicated to the Director of the NIH expressing their concerns based on PeTA’s propaganda. The NIH responded that the experiments were appropriate but certain measures were implemented to ensure animal welfare. Bethesda Magazine states the NIH staff used monkeys in the experiments to understand how certain genetic and environmental factors affects an animals ability to think and understand. Fortunately, NIH has doubled down on their experiments despite PeTA accusations.

“These studies cannot be carried out in humans and require the use of animal studies to carefully separate experience, genetic and environmental factors,” the NIH statement said. “Ultimately, these findings assist researchers in identifying humans most likely to suffer negative effects in at-risk situations and [to] develop behavioral or drug therapies to improve negative outcomes early in life.”

A review by NIH doctors found that while some experiments were stressful to the baby monkeys, they were necessary. Overall, though, the doctors described the environment in which the infants are raised as an “intense environmental enrichment program.”

“The purpose of this study is not to cause distress but to isolate the effects of the social environment on infant development,” wrote the doctors in the review. “Our program includes regularly rotated toys, handling sessions with human caretakers, and a regular rotation of various food items.”

The studies are used by researchers to model childhood parental neglect and other negative environmental factors that could affect the cognitive development of children.

The National Institute of Health’s resolve in this matter is a good thing. As their statement points out the studies done on the monkeys cannot be done on humans and it helps in the development of drugs for behavioral therapies. If PeTA had their way, there would not only be no animal tests but no new life saving medicines available that were the result of animal tests.

However, PeTA’s tactic of releasing videos and photos should not be taken seriously. Recently, the group attempted to have two Kentucky horse trainers thrown in jail alleging the they conducted acts of horse abuse. PeTA gave a video to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission as part of the complaint they filed against Steve Assmussen and his assistant Scott Blasi. The commission determined that the video was edited and dubbed. When the KHRC asked for and even issued warrants for the unedited version of the video and a 285 page report a PeTA staff member had written about the incidents, PeTA refused and members of their staff who filed the complaint evaded giving testimony. Fortunately, Asmussen and Blasi were cleared of any wrong doing, but PeTA used a fake video and attempted to evade giving more details of their allegations.

These self-described animal lovers do not love animals but, in reality, hate humans. The destruction of human life and civilization is PeTA and other animal rights activists ultimate goal. Since by ending medical testing on animals resulting from their false propaganda campaigns means fewer medicines and other life saving medical treatments would be available to extend and enhance human life. Animal rights activists are not visionaries seeking fairness but are nothing more than nihilists seeking to destroy for destruction’s sake. Only man has the ability of deliberation and choice and with that comes the means to deal with others of our species through rational persuasion. Animals are devoid of any such capabilities. Yet groups like PeTA really side with the savagery of the animal kingdom over the civilization of mankind.