Benefit to Bring PETA’s Ingrid Newkirk to Scotts Valley

If you wind your way through the tangle of dirt roads on Ben Lomond Mountain, you get to a home that takes in “all creatures great and small”—the home of JP Novic, executive director of the Center for Animal Protection and Education (CAPE), a nonprofit that local shelters often turn to when they have animals too sick or too old to be easily adopted. 

“Seeing old dogs in the shelters makes my heart ache," Novic said. "They always have a despairing look, as if the wisdom of their years tells them that the competition is fierce."

On Monday, CAPE will showcase the plight of animals in today’s society in a benefit event Monday in Scotts Valley with Ingrid Newkirk, founder of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

Like PETA, CAPE educates people about the plight of animals. Volunteers take unwanted animals into their homes, where they get the type of loving and individual care the organization is known for and which the special adoptees need.

The group takes in dogs, of course, but also supports farm animals, such as a multi-pound white pig with pink ears named Rooty, who was saved as a piglet from an abusive owner in another county.

And then there is the pleasingly plump white turkey, Helen, who goes to school. As perhaps the first live turkey students have ever seen or touched, she is an ambassador for a vegetarian diet.

“Helen lets me pet her, like my dog does. She is so sweet,” said one high school student.

At a recent adoption event in Scotts Valley, Cathy Townsend, manager of Foster Care/Adoption, held a puppy named Ellie. Townsend described her work as providing “a safe loving home for dogs until their ‘forever home’ can be found." She also provides training, socialization, medical treatment (paid for by CAPE) and interviews potential adopters.

Perhaps the most heart-rendering service CAP offers is its hospice program, to which volunteer Tia Meyer devotes her time. She takes animals into her home that have life-threatening illnesses and short life expectancies, and she comforts each one until its last days.

PETA, the largest animal rights organization in the world, first gained public attention by throwing red paint on fur wearers and demonstrating in various stages of undress.

It launched its "I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign with the help of celebrities in 1991 to raise awareness about the millions of animals who are trapped, drowned, beaten and electrocuted for their fur.

“PETA must rely largely on free advertising through media coverage," the organization states. "We will do extraordinary things to get the word out about animal cruelty, because we have learned from experience that the media, sadly, do not consider the terrible facts about animal suffering alone interesting enough to cover.”

PETA’s animal advocacy issues include vegetarianism and animals used in experimentation and for clothing, and entertainment such as circuses.

"An Evening with Ingrid Newkirk," will be 7-9 p.m. Monday at the Hilton in Scotts Valley, 6001 La Madrona Dr. In addition, CAPE will be showing several of its adoptable dogs. Tickets can be purchased at capeanimals.org. Read a recent interview with Newkirk at forbes.com/sites/michaeltobias/2011/08/25/petas-ingrid-newkirk-a-conversation/.