PETA's new cause

Working in a research facility that involves animals, I've heard my share of horror stories about what animal rights groups have done to people. I came here a couple years after ALF "liberated" a bunch of mice that were infected with girardia.

I just heard that PETA has picked up a new cause to fight for - fishing.

Yup, there's going to be a demonstration downtown today with pictures showing dogs that have been hooked similar to fish with the saying "You wouldn't do this to a dog, why do it to a fish?"

I tried hard not to laugh. I grew up in Chicago. Fishing was a part of life. And frying up freshly caught fish were the best. Besides, fish has been a part of our diet for thousands of years, and consumed by most people in the world. Try yelling your cause in a hurricane - it might be heard better.

According to their website created for their cause, fish are as smart as other pets, and they feel pain. So using fishing hooks is cruel treatment.