Written by PETA
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)—the same group that refuses to denounce the cruel force-feeding of ducks and geese for foie gras or the confinement of mother pigs to metal crates barely larger than their own bodies—have yet again proven that their hearts are as cold as their stethoscopes.
The AVMA plans to team up veterinarians and employees of Pike Place Fish Market for a dead fish sea kitten toss at its upcoming convention in Seattle. The event organizers promise that the event will be "outrageously fun."
Come again?
My gut tells me that the AVMA wouldn't dare try to organize a dead cat toss—so why not show the same consideration for sea kittens? The AVMA is turning a blind eye to the deaths of billions of sea kittens who suffocate on boat decks or are cut open while they are still conscious—all thanks to the cruel fishing industry. And those sea kittens feel pain, just like land kittens do.
Conventiongoers could get a uniquely Seattle experience by spending a few hours at the Experience Music Project and then visiting the Space Needle—a fun and cruelty-free afternoon.
Written by Karin Bennett
Just last week, Neal Wanless, a 23-year-old rancher from Todd County, South Dakota—the seventh poorest county in the country—claimed a whopping $232.1 million Powerball prize in one of the biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history.
Now that he's roped himself some serious coin, we're asking him to spare a little change (career change, that is). We wrote to Neal asking him to put his family's 320-acre ranch out to pasture and retire the remaining cattle, sheep, and horses to a sanctuary. We're really hoping that Neal's generosity is as big as his oversized check, cuz ranched animals get a seriously raw deal that can include neglect, mutilation, genetic manipulation, and drug regimens that cause chronic pain and crippling.
So Neal, here's our appeal: Kick up your heels, go for bust in Branson, do Dollywood, buy a closet full of those two-toned Garth Brooks shirts—whatever—enjoy life—you deserve it. Just don't forget about all those animals back at your ranch. They deserve to enjoy the rest of their lives too.
Written by Amy Elizabeth
Everyone is sexiest when sporting compassion, and Charlize Theron proves the point! Out for a stroll on a Malibu beach the other day, not only did Charlize take along her two lucky rescue dogs, she also brought out a message to help all dogs by sporting PETA's newest "Fight Breedism" T-shirt.
Want to mimic Charlize's style? You can buy one of our "Fight Breedism" tees here.
Written by Shawna Flavell
Listen up, ladies! You know how there's a never-ending list of female celebs willing to take it off to save animals, but sometimes men seem to be in short supply? Well, we're proposing that one more gentleman be added to the ranks of guys like Steve-O and David Cross, who have participated in our "Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign: rapper and producer T.I.
Before T.I. reported to prison last week to serve his sentence for federal weapons charges, he sought some advice from PETA friend Martha Stewart on how to pass the time while incarcerated.
Well, if we don't just have the best idea ever.
Just after Martha was released from jail a few years ago, she narrated a public service announcement explaining the truth about the fur industry. So we've sent a letter to T.I. asking him to join Martha in the fight against the fur industry by posing for one of PETA's iconic ads after his release.
In the letter, we let T.I. know that we understand how he'll "[experience] firsthand what it is like for the millions of minks, rabbits, and other animals who are confined to filthy sheds on fur farms. But unlike inmates who are freed when they finish their sentences, these animals are beaten, have their necks broken, are electrocuted, and are often skinned alive for their fur."
Hopefully, T.I. will give it some thought and decide to show us his birthday suit after losing his orange jumpsuit.
Written by Lianne Turner
When we heard that during a recent USDA inspection of Maximus Tons of Fun LLC—an elephant act performing with Shrine Circuses—inspectors found that Tina, Jewel, and Boo, three elephants traveling with Maximus Tons of Fun, have lost a combined 1,280 pounds over the last year, we were outraged.
While dropping some pounds to get your body beach ready may seem like a good idea for you, this amount of weight loss could indicate that these elephants are suffering from a potentially deadly illness or are not being provided with adequate food and proper nutrition. We've filed a complaint with the USDA and asked that it ensure that these elephants are taken off the road immediately.
This isn't the first time that Tina and Jewel have been in danger because of severe weight loss. In 2007, Tina and Jewel were traveling with Cole Bros. Circus when a whistleblower reported that the elephants were emaciated. After we filed a complaint with the USDA, the elephants were removed from the road to recover, but it wasn't long before they were forced to rejoin the circus.
We're hoping that the USDA will act swiftly to ensure that these animals are pulled off the road again—and this time, permanently.
Luckily, some people are getting the message that all elephants who are forced into the circus industry are plagued with chronic illness and lead lives full of misery. Garden City Circus and an entire city in Queensland, Australia, have completely removed animals from their circus performances.
Written by Liz Graffeo
While I'm told there was thunder booming throughout London early yesterday morning, the real storming was taking place around St. Paul's cathedral, where 100 PETA Europe demonstrators sprawled across the steps wearing nothing but blood-red paint and bear masks.
The naked demonstrators were there to protest the continued use of real bearskin for The Queen's Guards' ceremonial caps. Bears killed for the caps may suffer for days in traps or die of blood loss or infection after being shot. When mother bears are killed, their orphaned cubs are easy prey for predators—if they don't starve to death first.
We all know what a friend beloved TV host Bob Barker is to animals. From ending every episode of The Price Is Right with a plea to spay and neuter animal companions to keeping the showcases fur-free, he's never been afraid to speak up for animals.
Not to get all "the price is wrong" on you or anything, but in Cherokee, North Carolina, there are three "tourist attractions" that keep bears in grossly inhumane conditions. The neurotic, hungry bears are confined to desolate concrete pits in which they pace back and forth, walk in endless circles, cry and whimper, fight with one another, and beg tourists to toss them a morsel of food.
What do these tourist traps have to do with Bob Barker? As a compassionate person of Native American descent (he spent much of his youth at the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota), Bob has requested a meeting with the principal chief of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation to discuss an end to the town's displays of bears in pits and cages.
As he wrote to Principal Chief Hicks, "Cherokee has so much to offer, such as its beautiful mountains, museums, cultural and historical exhibits, Native American shops, friendly residents, and casino. The caged bears may have been a big attraction at one time but are now seen as an embarrassment to the community and should be permanently closed down."
To join Bob in asking that the cruel bear pits be closed down, please send a respectful letter to Principal Chief Hicks letting him know that bears should be respected, not left in a pit to languish.
Written by Amanda Schinke
Follow PETA on Twitter!
If you have a general question for PETA and would like a response, please e-mail Info@peta.org. If you need to report cruelty to an animal, please click here. If you are reporting an animal in imminent danger and know where to find the animal and if the abuse is taking place right now, please call your local police department. If the police are unresponsive, please call PETA immediately at 757-622-7382 and press 2.