January 11, 2006, - 1:34 pm

PETA-Proud: Penguins Get Cataract Operations

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PUTA (our name for PETA; People for the Unethical Treatment of Animals and humans) must be proud. Here’s the latest in the continuing crisis of animal rights absurdity:
While old people everywhere are in need of cataract operations–and many can’t afford them, the tax-subsidized Detroit Zoo is providing cataract removal operations for its penguins. Although the article, in The Detroit Spews, says that a veterinary hospital will provide the cataract surgery (normally costing $1,500 per eye) free of charge, this is still a dangerous development.
Apparently, cat and dog owners everywhere regularly pay the $1,500 per eye cost for their pets, and penguins generally don’t live past 35. Nest time, the surgery may not be free, and we taxpayers will subsidize it. PUTA is applauding the operation, but in the past, the surgery did not improve a penguin’s vision.


Latest Indigent Recipients of Free Cataract Surgery

Other recipients of cataract surgery have included four or five other Detroit Zoo penguins, a goose, and a polar bear.
Again, there are many humans in need of cataract surgery, who can’t afford it. Given that, it’s absurd that the operation is being provided for animals. Remember, the synonym for such actions is “humanitarian,” NOT animalitarian.




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5 Responses

It is precisely this type of penguinist rhetoric that allows the repression of these noble creatures to continue.

Buckley F. Williams on January 11, 2006 at 3:17 pm

I think penguins are cute. That’s it. And tasty too.

KOAJaps on January 11, 2006 at 4:39 pm

This sounds stupid just based on the probable results. Accuracy of acuity post cataract for humans has improved based on millions of operations. I would expect the IOLs for penguins would be wildly unpredictable. At best, they would have a blurry vision with severe light sensitivity. A lot of money for questionable return.
People spend thousands on cancer treatments for dogs that have to suffer the treatment’s side effects. Was it worth it? Wouldn’t put the dog to sleep have been a better option?

John Sobieski on January 12, 2006 at 1:30 am

I doubt they’re putting IOLs in at all, since I don’t think IOLs made for humans would be the correct size for a penguin. However, in humans, it is possible, with ultrasound, to figure out the proper IOL power while the patient is anesthetized in the operating room. And, if you remove a bad cataract without putting in an IOL, it’s very possible to get a significant improvement in vision anyway, depending on a bunch of factors.

Eye Doc on January 12, 2006 at 1:54 pm

Let me play devil’s advocate here and say that the penguins make the kids happy and they make the city a lot of money, unlike people who can’t afford the surgery because they’re too lazy to work.
ACTUALLY, THE DETROIT ZOO–INCLUDING THE PENGUINS–IS A MONEY LOSER, BLEEDING MONEY, ALWAYS IN DEBT, AND ALSO RELIES ON A GOOD DEAL OF CITY OF DETROIT TAX MONEY. THEY TRIED TO RAISE AN “ARTS TAX” A FEW YEARS AGO TO SUPPORT IT. THANKFULLY, THE TAX LOST.
DEBBIE SCHLUSSEL

KnightoftheImpaler on January 13, 2006 at 3:16 am

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