Written by Michelle Kretzer
Tyrese is already a Grammy-nominated R&B singer-songwriter and a rapper, an actor, a bestselling author, a television producer, and a model, and now he's adding "animal advocate" to his résumé. He posted this breathtaking picture of an orca in his or her ocean home on Instagram, with the caption "Shows me [that] certain animals shouldn't be in captivity …."
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The image was seen by Tyrese's half-million followers and became one of the day's most popular photos. Something tells me Tyrese will be checking out Blackfish, the highly anticipated documentary about the plight of captive orcas, including Tilikum, the imprisoned orca at SeaWorld who was kidnapped from his ocean home at the age of 2 and has since spent his life relegated to a small concrete tank.
In other Hollywood news:
And Randall and other shining stars filled the Twitterverse with sweet tweets for animals this week:
To keep up with what all your favorite stars are doing for animals, follow @PETA on Twitter.
Written by Jeff Mackey
Actor and PETA pal Jenna Dewan-Tatum has added her name to those of the tens of thousands of compassionate people calling on Riverside County, California, District Attorney Paul Zellerbach to file felony cruelty charges against those responsible for the horrific neglect of animals at Global Captive Breeders, LLC (GCB).
Following PETA's undercover investigation of Lake Elsinore, California–based GCB, which revealed the systemic, daily neglect and shocking abuse of thousands of rats and reptiles, more than 30,000 of you have signed on to PETA's petition urging Zellerbach to take action.
On December 12, based on PETA's evidence, law-enforcement officials mounted the largest-ever seizure of animals in California at GCB. The facility reeked of death, decay, and ammonia from accumulated urine and feces. Snakes and other reptiles at GCB were so neglected that, in many cases, even their deaths went unnoticed by management—for days, leaving enclosures and rotting carcasses teeming with maggots.
Rats were routinely grabbed by the tail and slammed against hard surfaces when workers decided to kill them. Then they were thrown into trash bins or into a reptile's cage while still alive and convulsing. Tubs used for housing flooded frequently, drowning countless rats and leaving hundreds of others—exhausted, shivering, and terrified—to struggle to keep their heads above the water as it rose. As Jenna explains in her letter to Zellerbach:
As an expectant mother, I was particularly heartbroken to see photos of ailing mother rats with open wounds on their bodies who stood guard protectively over their dead or dying babies in the filthy plastic tubs that they were confined to without access to adequate food, water, or even moderately fresh air to breathe… Justice must be served for the unspeakable suffering endured by countless animals at GCB.
Please join PETA and Jenna Dewan-Tatum in politely urging Zellerbach to file criminal charges against all appropriate parties without further delay.
Happy New Year! Yes, already—at least in places where the Lunar New Year is observed, including China. To join our Chinese friends in celebrating the start of the Year of the Snake, we're featuring one of PETA's most memorable snake-themed ads, in which lovely actor, dancer, and producer Jenna Dewan-Tatum exposes the distinctly not-so-lovely side of the exotic-skins trade.
Jenna—who is preparing to deliver her very first bundle of joy with husband Channing Tatum—recently appeared in American Horror Story: Asylum. But what happens to animals killed for their skins is every bit as gruesome as anything perpetrated by that show's mad scientist or serial killers. Snakes have their bodies cut open from one end to the other and their skin ripped off before being tossed aside to struggle and thrash in pain for hours or even days until they die. Most alligators used for accessories are raised in filthy tanks until they are stabbed or beaten to death.
What You Can Do
Millions of snakes, lizards, alligators, crocodiles, and other reptiles are violently killed every year so that their skins can be torn from their bodies to make wallets, belts, boots, and handbags. Don't buy into this cruel rip-off—instead, choose accessories made from chic, cruelty-free materials such as fake snake, mock croc, and pleather. You'll look (and feel) better knowing that you got the glam—without stealing someone else's skin.
Thanks to the new PETA mobile emblazoned with Waka Flocka Flame's anti-fur ad, the people in our D.C. office won't need to waka anywhere. Instead, they can flocka together in the car and spread an animal-friendly message wherever they drive.
The other side of the car shows actor Jenna Dewan Tatum's exotic-skins ad.
Written by PETA
If we get a say in who's the most eligible of the Most Eligible Dallas cast, we choose Tara Harper. Besides being a vegetarian, she started an animal rescue organization and has rescued dogs of her own.
Flip the dial to ABC Family to watch Jennie Garth as an adoptive mom on her new show, Village People. She won't need to do anything to get into her heart-of-gold character—the compassionate actor already stands up for animals abused by the circus or killed for their fur. "Animals deserve the same love and respect that babies do, humans do," she says.
It's twins for Katherine Heigl and Josh Kelley! The couple just adopted two German shepherd–mix puppies from a southern California rescue group.
Jimmy Fallon went to bat for the fish who are suffocated and thrown into toilet bowls in a cruel game played by residents of Terra Ceia, Florida, called the "mullet toss." Fallon made fun of the event on his show, calling it "the first step in the redneck mating call."
Pamela Anderson is dead serious about getting horse-drawn carriages off New York City's streets. After a horse named Charlie collapsed and died, followed by the collapse of two more horses within two weeks, she posted to her Facebook page, "Horses do not belong in a congested, urban setting where they are constantly breathing exhaust and sharing the streets with cars, buses and taxis."
Many other celebrities voiced their disgust of horse-drawn carriages and other issues on Twitter:
Written by Michelle Sherrow
Tonight on NBC, the cocktails will flow and the bunny tails will wiggle as the network debuts The Playboy Club, a period drama about the "living, breathing fantasy world" which stars vegan PETA celebrity supporters Jenna Dewan-Tatum and Leah Renee. But bunnies (Playboy and otherwise) aren't the only ones with rampant sex drives—for unaltered dogs and cats living in the "playboy club" of the streets, life is anything but a fantasy. That's why we've asked NBC to air our frisky "Sex and the Kitty" public service announcement during the show—to give viewers a good laugh while showing them that spaying and neutering saves lives.
One unaltered female cat and her offspring can produce a whopping 420,000 cats in just seven years. The result is more animals added to the millions that are already homeless. Animals left to fend for themselves on the streets often suffer from lingering and painful diseases, starvation, exposure, or neglect or are hit by cars, attacked by other animals or cruel people, stolen by laboratory dealers, or used as bait by dogfighters.
Ending the animal homelessness crisis is everyone's responsibility. The solution is easy and practical: spay and neuter all companion animals.
The hottest PETA celebrity ads of 2010 will warm you up faster than sitting by the fire with a big mug of vegan hot chocolate. Ready to defrost that winter chill? The top 10 ads are …
Jenna Dewan-Tatum gets body-painted as a sexy snake to ask others to leave wildlife out of their wardrobes.Elephants never forget … and who can forget when Olivia Munn spoke out for elephants in captivity?
A naked Dave Navarro showcases his tattoos (and more) to proclaim, "Ink, Not Mink."Sasha Grey is calling for safe sex—for dogs and cats.Kellan Lutz takes a bite out of the animal overpopulation crisis by posing with his rescued mutt Kola.The stars of If I Can Dream prove that you don't need fur to keep warm. Talk about dreamy!Stephanie Pratt bares her buns to save bunnies from painful cosmetics testing.This steamy Married to Rock couple hits all the right notes in their rockin' ad.Chad Ochocinco scores a touchdown for animals by baring his skin to help animals keep theirs.Va-va-voom! Pamela Anderson reveals her body parts to help animals who are used for food.Which one gets your vote for hottest of 2010?
Written by Lauren Gordon
Let us be the first to announce that Steve-O's still under the influence—of concern and compassion for animals. And, of course, we couldn't be more thrilled.
The vegan Jackass star was interviewed about his involvement with PETA for the American Music Awards' pre-show, Give Back Hollywood, which airs tonight on ABC. Here's a sneak peek at a portion of his interview.
Also, Jenna Dewan Tatum made US Magazine's 2010 list of Hot Hollywood Stars Who Care for her smoldering ad supporting PETA's campaign against the exotic-skins industry—and she was honored at a party last night in Los Angeles.
When it comes to influencing others to be kind to animals, PETA's lifesaving campaigns and victories depend on support from our shining supporters—like you.
Written by Karin Bennett
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.
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