Sure, human dads will slip you a couple of bucks and give you lots of advice—but can they give birth? Male sea horses can. PETA hopes while you're praising your family's patriarch this Father's Day, you'll also remember that some of the best dads in the world can be found in the animal kingdom:

• Sea Horses: The "Mr. Moms" of the marine world, male sea horses carry up to 2,000 fertilized eggs in pouches in their stomachs until they hatch. Even after the babies are born, they stay inside the pouch until they are ready to venture out on their own.

Tim Sheerman-Chase|cc by 2.0

• Microhylid Frogs: These frogs from New Guinea take family road trips to a new extreme. Once babies hatch, up to 24 froglets climb onto their father's back as he hops 50 feet every night, dropping the froglets off along the way to begin a new life of their own.

Frank Vassen|cc by 2.0

 

• Darwin's Rheas: Thought your dad could be overprotective at times? Darwin's rheas, also known as South American ostriches, are so protective of their children that they routinely rush cowboys on horseback and have even been known to attack small airplanes on the ground if they get too close to their brood.

Just chaos|cc by 2.0

• Marmosets: These little monkeys do everything but attend Lamaze class. Fathers assist during labor by biting off the umbilical cord and cleaning up the afterbirth. They also let mom get some R & R by taking care of the kids when she's not nursing them.

grendelkhan|cc by 2.0

• Sandgrouse: These pigeon-like birds sponge off their fathers—literally. Living in areas where water is sparse, fathers fly as many as 50 miles to get water for their offspring. After they soak up the water in their breast feathers, they fly home and let their chicks suckle the moisture from their bodies.

Alan Manson|cc by 2.0

• Emperor Penguins: Protecting their eggs is just the tip of the iceberg. While the female leaves the colony for the winter, the male incubates the egg by putting it on his feet and covering it with a skin fold to keep it warm. The males can't go out and feed, so they fast for four months until the chicks hatch.

eliduke|cc by 2.0

• Red Jungle Fowl: Red jungle fowl are the progenitors of the domestic chicken, and dominating males go to great lengths to care for their flock. Fathers not only protect both hens and chicks from predators but also introduce chicks to the pecking order when they are just a week old and teach them the ways of the world in the first seven weeks after they are born.

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All dads deserve to be honored—whether they have fins, feathers, fur, or a cardigan. This Father's Day, honor animal dads, too, by practicing kindness and compassion toward all animals.   

In honor of Father's Day, here are some fathers who are friends to the furry, feathered, and finned. We had way too many great dads like Kevin Nealon, Bryan Adams, Woody Harrelson, Iggy Pop, and Chad Ochocinco to choose from, so here are just a few of the fellas who make us glad for awesome dads:

 

• Ron Artest loves being a dad to his family, but he knows that dogs and cats are happier without their own brood of offspring and should always be spayed and neutered.
• Vegan dad Casey Affleck is starting his young sons out on a compassionate note, setting a great example by speaking out about the cruelty of the meat industry and lethal steel-jaw traps.
• Alec Baldwin is a proud pop who would never hop on a horse-drawn carriage.
• Tony Gonzalez and his wife could win an award for most beautiful parents, and this fur-free dad has a beautiful heart too.
• Happy first Father's Day to Carey Hart. He and his wife, Pink, seem like they'll be fun parents for their new baby girl, but they'll be pretty serious when teaching her about cruelty to animals.
• With a dad like Tommy Lee and a mom like Pamela Anderson, the Lee boys may grow up to work at PETA! We love any dad kind enough to give a homeless man $100 with the request, "Just don't buy KFC."
• Sir Paul McCartney obviously instilled animal-friendly values in his children, who are all vegetarian, including daughter Stella, who is also a cruelty-free fashion designer.
• Power dad Russell Simmons has been running with PETA for a long time, and he shows his children that being successful and being kind to animals go hand in hand.
• We're not the only ones celebrating fur-free father Amar'e Stoudemire. The Knicks captain is receiving a Father of the Year Award in New York City today.
• There's not a woodland creature who wouldn't love Forest Whitaker, and we're sure his kids think he's pretty darn great too.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

Dad's big day is almost here. Dads deserve nothing but the best, of course, and that includes animal dads who don't want to be tested on, eaten, or turned into shoes and belts. So we've rounded up the preeminent picks to please Pops and let animals celebrate Father's Day too.

For a dad who's more Hilfiger than Home Depot, opt for elegant silk-free ties by Jaan J; leather-free belts, wallets, and shoes from MooShoes; or an always-in-fashion PETA tee. To get his day off to a smooth start, give him a Wally Cruelty-Free Razor and shaving products from Herban Cowboy.

Does Dad like a good book? Jonathan Safran Foer's Eating Animals is about how becoming a dad led the author to reexamine his diet. And Rip Esselstyn's The Engine 2 Diet is the quintessential manly man's healthy-eating guide. You can also give Dad a ceramic PETA mug to sip java from while he's kicked back in his recliner with his Kindle.

If your dad's a weekend warrior, he might be happier with cards or autographed photos of animal-friendly athletes such as Chase Utley, Ron Artest, and Ricky Williams. Get him ready for Little League season with a PETA “Free for All” SIGG water bottle and tasty snacks like Tofurky Jurky, Lucy's Cookies, and popcorn and dark chocolate from Trader Joe's to tote to the game.  

And what Father's Day is complete without a cookout? Grill out with a selection of Gardein faux meats like BBQ Skewers or Chick'n Filets. You can find Gardein products across the country at grocers such as Ralphs, Vons/Safeway, Kroger, and Harris Teeter. Most beers are vegan, so to wash it all down, raise a glass to Dad.

Happy Father's Day from PETA!

 
Written by Michelle Sherrow

This Sunday is Father's Day, which means that dads who don't know any better may be taking their kids fishing. Anglers run the risk of eating someone's father (or mother) every time they rip a sea kitten out of the water, and that doesn't sound like a very good way to celebrate fatherhood to me.

To help spread the truth about fishing, we sent a former fisher and his giant finned friend to Fort Myers Beach in Florida. Check out the pics, and don't forget to wish your dad a happy Father's Day!

 

Repentant former angler Bryan Wilson and Sammy the Sea Kitten hit the pier to let people know that fish feel pain and fear just like dogs and cats do.

Sammy made some new friends …

… and issued a warning to his aquatic brethren.

This little animal lover could never eat a sea kitten!

 

Written by Lianne Turner

Salon/Creative Commons

Jim Webb has been getting a lot of mileage out of a Father's Day fishing trip he took over the weekend with his son Jimmy—who's on leave following a tour of duty in Iraq—but it really does seem a bit odd to celebrate someone's return from a war zone by taking them out to do some killing. As PETA President Ingrid Newkirk points out,

You can read the letter that Ingrid wrote to Senator Webb this morning here. I'll let you know if we get a response.

I’m not entirely sure what to say about this video, but it is interesting to say the least . . .

Warning: Parental advisory, explicit lyrics, and all that.