HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! I just can't understand the reasoning behind someone (organizations) caring more about what happens to food (PETA) than they do about people's rights. Sure, the argument is that they can't defend themselves...they're food that's why!!
People have been eating what we call "pets" (a domesticated wild animal) for thousands of years.
Chihuahua's were originally bred for food. Lewis and Clark had 40 dogs included in their food provisions - you didn't learn that in elementary school did you? Many orientals (as well as other humans around the world) still eat cats and dogs as well as rats, snakes, large spiders, grubs, ants, etc., in additional to beef, chicken and pork. (Horse polo was invented by the Mongols who originated the game where the "ball" was actually the heads of the people they conquered. (Just another "gross" fact if you can stomache the truth.) Korean's still know which weeds are good to eat that they find along the roads. Do you have these survival skills? Unfortunately, I doubt it.
Face it. We are finally on top of the food chain since we (collectively) no longer live in the forests and jungles where we would have to fight off the lions, tigers and bears (OH, MY!!) and placed these creatures in jail (zoo's).
Placed back into the "wild" we would have to compete for food and water, including all the big and little creatures.
What's the big deal? Put into a famine situation (which may or may not happen in your lifetime) would you eat a pet or let your child die from malnutrition? I'm fairly certain what your answer would be.
And remember, the real benefit about eating a dog for Thanksgiving is that there are 4 legs (instead of 2) to go around.
As far as the label is concerned...it's funny! Have we oversensitized ourselves so much that one CARTOON character kicking another CARTOON character in the butt causes CONGRESS to get involved? Grow up America!!
I will concede that if the picture was of a REAL person committing the same act against a REAL cat then the humor would not be there and it would probably be offensive to many people.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!!