Look, it wouldn’t be the first time that a decision Justin Bieber has made has riled someone up. This time, it happens to be PETA.
As reported by Billboard, Bieber has responded to PETA’s criticism of his decision to purchase two exotic breeds of cat that have cost the singer $35,000. For the organisation, the decision has added to the ‘animal overpopulation crisis’.
PETA’s Senior Vice President Lisa Lange was reported to have told People on Friday that Justin Bieber lacked the care or the knowledge about the animals he’s been adding to his household.
“Justin Bieber could inspire his fans around the world to save a life adopting a cat from a local shelter,” she said. “Rather than fuelling the dangerous demand for hybrid cats, contributing to the animal overpopulation crisis and proving that when it comes to helping animals, his stance so far is, “I don’t care”.”
The cats, Sushi and Tuna, are Savannah cats – part domestic, part African Serval. In some US states, ownership of this breed are banned, while you need specific licenses to own them in others.
Taking to Instagram, Bieber said that PETA could ‘suck it’.
“PETA can go focus on real problems.” he wrote.
“Like poaching and animal brutality. Ur tripping because I want a specific kind of cat? U weren’t tripping when I got my dog Oscar and he wasn’t a rescue…every pet we must get must be a rescue? I believe in adopting rescues but also think there are preferences and that’s what breeders are for.”
PETA’s since launched a return serve, inviting Bieber to spend time working in an animal shelter to understand more about rescue animals.
“When millions of animals are losing their lives every year because not enough people adopt – choosing instead to shop – the animal overpopulation crisis is a ‘real problem’. That’s what ‘sucks’. PETA urges you to spend just one hour in a municipal animal shelter with us – we think you’ll understand how hard it is to look into the animals’ eyes and know that because people pay breeders, many of them will pay with their lives.”
