There is a possible explanation for Ingrid Newkirk's belief system and that is that Newkirk started her career working in a pound. In order to work in a pound, one must kill a lot of helpless animals. Unless one actually likes killing helpless animals (and few do although pounds do attract these people), one has to justify the killing or quit. Some stay hoping to make change and then quit when they realize that a successful business is not going to change the way it does anything, but many stay for the paycheque. Here are the justifications the ones who stay use to themselves, their friends and family, and to the media:

"PETA believes euthanasia is the kindest gift to a dog or cat unwanted and unloved."

Similiar statements are, "It's a tough job but someone has to do it, and our employees are to be commended for doing what many people would not be able to do." "We hate to have to do this but it is all the irresponsible people who don't spay or neuter their pets that are responsible." "We never turn any animal away" (even though they are going to kill many). "We kill more humanely than the other pounds do."

The BC SPCA has used those statements in the media many times, for decades. No animal welfarists would say those things. No animal welfarist would need to.

But pound contractors who also claim to be animal welfarists use everyone of these justifications.

The PETA disaster has helped to clarify in people's minds the dishonesty of claiming it is "kind to kill".