Animal rights group founded on campus

A new animal welfare group is emerging on campus. The five members of Animal Allies has been recognized as an official organization consisting at Luther.

Leader Lindsey Johnson (‘13) explained that visiting Assistant Professor of Religion Scott Hurley encouraged her to start the group after she took his J-term class Religion, Ethics and Animal Welfare.

“I have an activist background, so he asked if I’d lead it,” Johnson said.

Although the group is still newly formed and trying to find its footing, it already has a long-term goal.

“There’s no animal shelter in Decorah right now. We’re going to try to fundraise money for it with [local group People for Animal Welfare],” Johnson said.

PAW fosters dogs through http://petfinder.com, a national organization, and is currently trying to raise money for an animal shelter in the area. While the organization already has the land and the schematics, they need to raise two-million dollars.

“We wouldn’t be able to do all that, but to contribute something would be phenomenal,” Johnson said.

Aside from fundraising, Johnson also hopes Animal Allies can host open discussions about controversial issues relating to animal rights.

“On thing Professor Hurley wants us to incorporate is that it’s not one-sided,” Johnson said.

Elissa Stevens (‘12) and Rachel Schott (‘12) joined Animal Allies because they both have a passion for animals and took Hurley’s J-term class last year.

“The class really opened up my eyes,” Stevens said. “I never knew about factory farming. It made me literally sick when I found out about it, and I had to do something.”

Stevens became a vegetarian after taking the class. Several other group members are vegetarian and consider the newly-formed campus group Meat Eaters At Luther to be in opposition with Animal Allies.

“We feel like they presented their opinion in a negative way,” Johnson said. “We got some harsh comments from MEAL.”

Animal Allies hopes to spread awareness about factory farming.

“It’s an issue that I think most people don’t want to think about,” Johnson said.

Schott has been a vegetarian for several years and thinks most people don’t know the facts about the food they are eating.

“Every time you eat meat, it’s a political decision,” Schott said.

By the end of the year, the group hopes to put a vegetarian fact sheet in the cafeteria.

Animal Allies strives to set themselves apart from animal rights groups like PETA, which have reputations for being pressuring.

“PETA gives animal activists a bad rap,” Johnson said. “Their tactics are hypocritical and they backfire. We want to create a safe environment for discussions and a good community without the pressure.”

Currently the group is fundraising for a dog fostered by a PAW member that needs hip surgery. Animal Allies will be working at a silent auction and face painting fundraiser at the fairgrounds May 1 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m.