Justin Bieberis responding to PETA after the animal rights organizationslammed the singer over his decisionto buy two part-exotic kittens that cost a total of $35,000.
In a statement to PEOPLE on Thursday, PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange spoke out against Bieber’s recent decision to purchase the expensive Savannah kittens, whom he named Sushi and Tuna, claiming that the singer does not “care” about helping animals.
Posting a screenshot ofthe PEOPLE storyto his Instagram Story later on Thursday night, Bieber wrote, “PETA can suck it.”
“PETA go focus on real problems,” he continued in a second Instagram Story post. “Like poaching, and animal brutality. Ur tripping because I want a specific kind of cat? U weren’t tripping when Igot my dog Oscarand he wasn’t a rescue.”
Justin Bieber Instagram
Bieber, 25, added, “Every pet we get must be a rescue? I believe in adopting rescues but also think there are preferences and that’s what breeders are for.”
“PETA go help with all of the plastic in the ocean, and leave my beautiful cats alone,” the singer said in a third Instagram Story.
PETA President Ingrid Newkirk responded to Bieber’s Instagram Stories in a statement on Friday, saying, “Sorry, Justin, but you must think more deeply about this issue: When millions of animals are losing their lives every year because not enough people adopt — choosing instead to shop — the animal overpopulation crisisisa ‘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,” Newkirk continued. “You have the power to be a great role model on this issue — your behavior guides that of tons of your fans — so please put that to good use.”
justin Bieber/Instagram. Inset: anthony Harvey/Getty Images
Shortly after PETA’s criticism, the star posted a screenshot of theInstagram account he created for Sushi and Tunaand asked his fans to follow their account. (He previouslypromised the kittens’ millionth followerfree merch from his fashion line Drew House.)
Bieber bought the small beige and black kittens ahead of hissecond weddingto Hailey Baldwin.
The felines are part-domestic cat and part-African Serval and were purchased for $20,000 and $15,000, respectively, from the Illinois-based breeder Select Exotics, according toThe Hollywood Reporter.
Because Savannahs are considered “living room leopards,” they are legally restricted or banned in Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Texas, and Vermont, according to theSavannah Cat Association.
Other states, including Arizona, California, Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, and Virginia, allow all Savannah cats.
The singerfirst announcedhe would begetting a new kitten at the end of August.
“I’m getting a cat tomorrow and The name will be sushi 🍣 !!!,” he excitedly wrote alongside a cartoon image of a cat. “I can call her sooosh Magooosh and I’m very happy about it.”
Weeks later, Bieber and Baldwin, 22, revealed that they hadwelcomed another kitty, who they named Tuna.
Along with Sushi and Tuna, the couple also welcomeda puppy named Oscar into their family in December.
source: people.com
