Although usually quick to recommend animal experiments for everything from asbestos to butter flavoring, a National Toxicology Program (NTP) expert panel nixed a call for animal testing of diethyl phthalate, an already thoroughly tested chemical compound widely used as a plasticizer in consumer products, including plastic packaging, cosmetics formulations, and toiletries. The NTP opted instead for a comprehensive study of data of humans.

Echoing PETA's comments, the NTP expert panel, in what is to be hoped is a sign of a shift in attitude toward animal testing, questioned the relevance to humans of previously conducted animal experiments on DEP's effects.

Had the unnecessary experiments been given the green light, 3,000 to 4,000 rats would have been fed or injected with DEP, then examined for changes in sexual behavior and development. At the end of the experiment, all the animals would have been killed and their reproductive organs removed for examination.

In late 2001, PETA contacted the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to request that it switch from leather basketballs in its annual "March Madness" men's and women's tournaments to cruelty-free synthetics. The NCAA requested more information, and PETA sent a report detailing how the leather industry tortures and kills millions of cows and calves, destroys the environment, and endangers human health through the use of toxic chemicals.

In the spring of 2002, the NCAA wrote PETA to inform us that it had decided to require the use of synthetic basketballs in both the men's and women's tournaments, beginning in 2003.

Read more about the leather industry.

Animal control in Evart, Michigan, refused to take action in a horse-neglect case until PETA put pressure on local authorities. Cruelty-to-animals charges were filed, and the horses were finally seized.

Click here to read about the link between animal and human abuse.

PETA was contacted by several Lincoln County, North Carolina, residents about five Great Danes, acquired for the purpose of breeding, who were living in squalor in their guardian's backyard. Reportedly, the dogs' living area contained several inches of feces, their only food source was a few cups of food scattered on top of the feces, and they were provided with only a tarp suspended from a tree to protect them from the elements. The dogs, who were aggressive and frightened, were underweight and covered with bite wounds.

At the time, Chris Omes, the guardian, had been charged with five counts of cruelty to animals, but the animals had not been seized from his property. Shortly after PETA contacted the director of the county's animal control agency to ask why the dogs had not been given a safe home, the dogs were placed with a local veterinarian for treatment and temporary boarding.

Unfortunately, pending his hearing, Omes was allowed to regain custody of the dogs and took them to be boarded at a kennel several hours away. But Omes apparently abandoned them, and we arranged for a Great Dane rescue organization to care for them until permanent homes could be found.

We wrote to the assistant district attorney prosecuting Omes' case asking that he be prohibited from owning or breeding animals and forced to pay restitution to the veterinarian. He was sentenced to both of these penalties after being convicted on all five counts of cruelty to animals.

When PETA learned that the New Hampshire Motor Speedway was planning to feature live elephants at a pre-race event, we immediately contacted the executive vice president of the track and informed him about the abusive tactics inherent in training elephants to perform. We pointed out that forcing these highly intelligent animals to perform at the speedway--with large crowds and unpredictable noises--would be cruel, unnecessary, and dangerous to the public. The New Hampshire Motor Speedway canceled the elephant act just days before the race, sparing the elephants from the frightening experience of performing in front of a crowd of thousands amid the roar of a racetrack.