A photo essay in the September issue of Harper's Bazaar features celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe—whose catch phrase is "I die"—being knocked off by various designers. We were struck by how easily the photo in which infamously furry Project Runway judge Michael Kors "bags" Zoe could be mistaken for a PETA ad:

I thought PETA had the market cornered on using corpses to highlight the fact that fur—and all animal skins—are dead, as in this spooky PETA ad featuring former Twin Peaks star Sheryl Lee:

Thanks, Michael, for helping make the case for us. Maybe this is the first step toward bagging fur and exotic skins.

Written by Alisa Mullins

Animals Asia Foundation recently released photos of bicycle-riding bears and boxing bears in Chinese circuses, and the pictures are poignant reminders of the misery that animals endure in circuses throughout China. Not that the atrocities done to animals who are touring (if you can call living in a smelly boxcar and then in a dungeonlike stadium basement "touring") with circuses in the U.S. have been stopped. After all, in the U.S., elephants are routinely beaten with rods, sticks, and bullhooks, whipped into submission, and chained so that they are barely able to move.

Of course, no one had to get out the bullhook to convince PETA Asia staffers to work hard on China's first-ever animal protection laws. Earlier this year, they met with Chinese government officials and discussed ways to help animals—including improving conditions for animals in circuses. These photos are further proof of how urgently animals need us. Get the "Hot and Sour Scoop" on PETA Asia's work by visiting the group's blog. And help animals here at home by boycotting the circus.

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

After North Korea fired an artillery barrage into the Yellow Sea yesterday, U.S. State Department Assistant Secretary Philip J. Crowley told reporters, "Well, I'm sure it resulted in a lot of dead fish. And we certainly hope that PETA will protest."

We're flattered that Mr. Crowley has faith in PETA's ability to defend fish sea kittens, and we would like to note that since we do indeed tackle "everything from fur-wearing Hollywood celebrities and circus elephant acts to the meat and dairy industry," we need folks like Mr. Crowley who are concerned about sea kittens to take action to help them. For starters, we can all help stop the military from bombarding ocean life between California and Hawaii with sonar blasts.

Written by Karin Bennett

Marina Avila / CC by 2.0

PETA filed a formal complaint today with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) calling for an immediate investigation into painful, deadly, and, we believe, illegal veterinary vaccine potency tests on hamsters at Colorado Serum Company (CSC) in Denver.

The persistent folks in PETA's Regulatory Testing Division have repeatedly written and called CSC to make sure its officials are aware that in 2006 the USDA approved a non-animal test in place of an obsolete and lethal method of using hamsters to test the Leptospira vaccine. The Animal Welfare Act states that the use of animals should only be approved when alternatives are not available, but CSC is killing hundreds of hamsters a year, without providing them with any pain relief—more than 1,850 of them in just the past four years.

And catch this: According to CSC's annual reports, the company "found no new information which would allow for a change in our approach to these issues," even though a simple Web search would have clued someone in. In fact, CSC has done nothing but copy the same information that it used in 2004 to justify its use of animals into every report through 2009!

We'll keep on top of this case. If you're sick of pointless cruelty to animals or want to know more about superior test methods, check this out.

Written by Jeff Mackey

When Michael McLeod pleaded guilty to shooting and killing his Norfolk, Virginia, neighbor's dog, Rex, because he was annoyed at the dog's barking, he may not have thought he'd get a long prison sentence for cruelty to animals. But he was facing Circuit Court Judge Karen J. Burrell, a self-described "judge who has compassion for animals." She handed down the maximum sentence: 11 years for felony cruelty to animals, discharging a firearm in a public place, and failing to appear in court (McLeod dodged his original sentencing hearing in 2003 and was on the lam for seven years). McLeod will serve five years behind bars, with six years suspended. If he violates the terms of his probation after being released, he could serve that extra time too.

"When judges hand down sentences like this, they deter people from being cruel to animals," PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch told a reporter. They also deter people from being cruel to people, as there is a known link between cruelty to animals and violent crimes against humans.

If you know any people who leave their dogs or cats outside unattended, please share Rex's story with them. It only takes a few minutes for animals to become victims of people with short fuses and long rifle barrels.

Written by Alisa Mullins

Jennifer Dickert / CC by 2.0

On Friday, Valley Meat Co. of Modesto, California, recalled approximately 1 million pounds of ground beef because of possible E. coli contamination. Frightening? Yes. Shocking? Not if you take a look at the numbers.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a typical steer will yield about 450 pounds of edible meat. Let's do a little math:

Also according to the USDA, cattle are usually slaughtered when they are around 2 years old. According to a New York Times article from 2008, a cow who is raised for beef can produce about 14.6 tons of manure each year.

Take a minute and process that—64,882 tons of waste! All of it carrying E. coli, a fecal bacteria. It seems inevitable that some of this nastiness would end up in the food supply at some point, doesn't it? Factory farming and the microorganisms it breeds are deadly to humans and animals, so how about reducing the waste by going vegan?

Written by Shawna Flavell

Last Monday, popular vlogger Dan Brown (not to be confused with the Da Vinci Code guy) started a new online show, Dan 3.0, which allows viewers to submit ideas and vote to determine what Dan should do over the course of the next year. One person has wisely suggested that Dan give up meat for a month, which could be a great opportunity for his more than a quarter million fans to get a taste of what it's like to go vegetarian.

To vote for Dan to give meat-free living a go, you'll have to register with the site (I did, and it's quick and easy), and then jump over here and click "Yeah, do it Dan!" And if that puts you in the mood to help other folks go veg, we can hook you up.

Written by Jeff Mackey

Meat is murder, and disturbing new facts released last week about the case of convicted British Columbia pig farmer turned serial killer Robert Pickton show just how dead-on the saying is.

The Province reports, "In Pickton's freezer were eight packages of meat both chunked and ground, some wrapped in plastic, some in butcher's paper. These were the last remains of Inga Hall and Cindy Dawn Feliks." The provincial health officer also warned in 2004 that the remains of some of Pickton's victims may have been mixed in with pig flesh sold from his farm.

It should go without saying that no one—whether they have two legs or four—deserves to be tortured, killed, cut up, and eaten, and that's why PETA ran this billboard in Edmonton after the murders:

Girl © Jupiterimages
Pig © The Funny Farm/Getty Images

So … who are you having for dinner? I think I'll stick to food that didn't have a face.

Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post

Jax

Stanley

Meet Jax and Stanley, two furry refuges from the Gulf Coast who are already putting the bad memories of being relinquished to a shelter behind them. After loads of belly rubs and TLC, both dogs are settling in comfortably in their new foster home. Jax is a snuggler who loves laps and naps, while independent Stanley staked out his comfy new bed.

Bruce

And here’s Bruce: 100-lbs. of sassy in a 10-lb. body. People who meet this tiny dynamo drop to their knees to properly greet him—they can’t help themselves!

We all know that the oil disaster impacted wildlife, but the spill also led to countless area residents surrendering their dogs to shelters when money grew too tight or when they relocated and left their dog behind. Animal angel Pamela Anderson led the way to a mass rescue and nearly 50 dogs—including Jax, Stanley and Bruce—made their way back to our Virginia headquarters where eager families were ready to take them home permanently or to foster them while they recuperate.

You, too, can save a life! If you are ready to open your heart and home to a companion, never buy from a breeder or a pet store, please adopt.

Written by Jennifer O’Connor

This morning’s Today show featured a story about the latest fad dog breed in China—and the astronomical prices people are willing to pay for the dogs—up to $600,000 in some cases. As he was introducing the story, Today host Matt Lauer asked co-host Meredith Vieira how much she would be willing to pay for a dog. “I like to get them from the pound, actually,” she replied.

That’s right! You can’t put a price tag on unconditional love—or on the great feeling you get from saving a life.

Written by Alisa Mullins