The best show in Vegas last week wasn't in a casino—it was on the sidewalk on Las Vegas Boulevard. Luck was a lady leopard (and a cow and a snake) when PETA's "showgirls" stripped down on The Strip to reveal their animalistic bodypaint.

Crowds flocked to the ladies like they were the hottest blackjack table, posing for pictures and scooping up information about how animals raised or trapped for their skin suffer.

With the flurry of flashbulbs now over and loads of leaflets distributed, it's a safe bet that any animal skins the passersby will be flaunting from now on will be as fake as an Elvis impersonator.

You and animals both win when you choose animal prints, not animal skins.

Kris1123 | cc by 3.0

When we heard that MGM wanted to demolish the Harmon Tower—its brand-new but structurally unsound hotel and casino in Las Vegas―we had a dynamite idea: Turn the unusable building into a billboard.

We can't think of a better use for a doomed casino than an ad urging people not to gamble with their health, but instead to improve their odds of beating heart disease, diabetes, and other illnesses by going vegan.

What's a lot easier than getting a 21 in blackjack? Getting a healthy body in 21 days with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine’s 21-Day Vegan Kickstart program, beginning September 5.  

Written by Michelle Sherrow

What happens in Vegas … sometimes needs PETA's intervention. A sweet cat, likely spooked by barking dogs, ran up a utility pole and was stuck there for four days. A worried Las Vegas resident called local officials for help, but they didn't have the necessary equipment to reach the cat. The frustrated resident called PETA's emergency pager, and the on-duty staffer immediately swung into action. She was able to persuade the local utility company to go to the scene, turn the power on the block off, and retrieve the cat from her precarious perch. The relieved caller took the cat to an animal shelter, where her climbing will be restricted to cat towers while she waits for her forever home.
 

 
Another terrified cat was recently marooned atop a utility pole for two days in Wallaceburg, Ontario, where concerned residents were unable to get help from local officials. PETA's Emergency Response Team was contacted, and we got in touch with the local utility company, to no avail. But that didn't stop us. We found and hired a wonderful local tree service, which agreed to attempt a rescue, and we arranged for a local SPCA representative to be on site to secure the cat after the rescue. When the tiny gray cat was finally safe in hand, she was whisked to the local animal shelter to await adoption by a family who will keep her indoors. Best of all, the tree service agreed to donate its time and services to PETA, and the callers were so grateful that they wrote to their local newspaper praising our swift action.
 

 
Cat guardians, please don't let your cats outside, even if you are with them. It only takes an instant for them to fall (or climb) into a dangerous situation. To learn more about how to enrich their lives indoors with you, check out 250 Things You Can Do to Make Your Cat Adore You by Ingrid E. Newkirk.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

PETA members gathered outside Mike Tyson's home in Las Vegas yesterday to protest the former heavyweight boxing champ's new TV series on Animal Planet, Taking On Tyson, which showcases Tyson's interest in pigeon racing.

Tyson, who once claimed that his former "pet" tigers "liked" being punched in the testicles and face, has now added pigeon abuse to his résumé. Racing pigeons are forced to fly hundreds of miles in all weather extremes as they attempt to get home. The pigeons are vulnerable to both natural predators such as hawks and cruel humans who view them as "pests." In a recent ESPN interview, Tyson said, "I try not to get too attached. That's why I keep breeder pigeons—if a bird gets sick or dies, I can produce another one."

Pigeons raised in rooftop coops have few real-world survival skills. PETA caseworkers have fielded frantic calls from people who have found exhausted, injured, or starving birds. A pigeon-racing industry veterinarian admitted that most lost birds starve to death.

Wagers are often placed on the outcome of races, which not only violates many state gambling laws but also means a grim fate for "losers." Owners have little use for pigeons who can't or don't win, and they unapologetically kill slower birds by wringing their necks, gassing or drowning them, or selling the birds to live poultry markets.

Please let Animal Planet know that you won't be tuning in to Taking On Tyson.

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

My husband's been plotting our vacation to Positano, Italy, but I'm proposing a road trip to Sin City, instead—and I know he'll be on board.

In fact, I have to think that just about every Veganist would be up for a scenic drive to Las Vegas and a chance to stop and sample the scrumptious vegan grub coming this summer to rest stops galore thanks to LYFE Kitchens—a new restaurant chain founded by two former McDonald's execs, with help from Chef Tal Ronnen. Our final destination: the Las Vegas Strip, specifically Steve Wynn's many casinos and resorts, all of which will reportedly become even more vegan-friendly, again thanks to Chef Tal.

snowpeak/cc by 2.0

Not only will we get our kicks on Route 66, we'll nosh at LYFE Kitchens along the way and "Wynn" big in Vegas with savory animal-free cuisine. My husband won't regret saying, "Ciao for now, Positano," when we chow down during our cross-country drive.

Any chance we'll see you along the way?

Written by Karin Bennett

Yesterday, Sin City's angelic new law requiring residents to spay or neuter their animal companions went into effect!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mickeymox/ / CC BY 2.0

Put forth by local animal defenders to help nip the companion animal overpopulation crisis in the bud, the new city ordinance mandates spaying or neutering—and microchipping—of all dogs and cats who are more than 4 months old. Those who violate the new ordinance will face a misdemeanor charge that carries a $225 fine for first-time offenders.

No doubt, the new ordinance means that many Vegas residents will no longer gamble on letting Fluffy have "just one litter," so there will be fewer puppies and kittens flooding area animal shelters or being dropped off on dusty roads to fend for themselves. And mandatory microchipping means that animal shelter employees and veterinarians will be better able to reunite people and their lost dogs and cats.

Surely I won't be the only one singing "Viva Las Vegas" today.

Written by Karin Bennett

If you find yourself in fabulous Las Vegas this weekend and want to win big, be sure to roll by table number 459 at the Sands Expo Center.

There you'll find PETA Prime at the "Vegas@50+" conference, organized by American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Our booth features the many reasons to be "Veg@50+," including the following:

• We'll have three $50 Whole Foods gift certificates that we'll give away to eligible participants in our "Pledge to Be Veg" contest.
• We'll be snapping photos of visitors with our gorgeous Lettuce Ladies and Chris P. Carrot to post on PETA Prime.
• Free goodies! We'll have Primal Vegan Jerky, PETA pens, and comic books for kids.
• Oh, and PETA Prime blogger Lisa Towell, the picture of vegan vitality, will be there to discuss how her cruelty-free lifestyle keeps her fit, healthy, and happy.

Whether you're a baby boomer or part of Generation Y, the odds for healthier living are in your favor when you go vegan. It's a winning gamble!

Written by Karin Bennett

Desert temperatures rose even higher as PETA's hot "cops" patrolled the Las Vegas strip, where they educated tourists about how animals suffer when they are killed and skinned to become boots, belts, and bags.

Honeymooners, bachelor partygoers, and even some casino employees lined up to talk to and pose for photos with our "fashion police," who were armed with information about alternatives to fur, leather, and exotic skins.

Watch out, fashion felons. PETA's peace officers are on patrol.

After one construction worker promised the "cops" he would give pleather boots a try, they let him go with a warning—to stay away from animal skins in the future.

"Holy pleather, Batman!"

Next stop—KOMP's Rock & Roll Morning Show to give listeners the straight story on synthetics.

Written by Karin Bennett

Best Cat in the Universe: Ziggy

Just think—the next Best Cat in the Universe could be waiting for you at your local animal shelter. Kinda gives you goose bumps, doesn't it? If you have the energy, resources, and, most importantly, lap time to devote to a feline companion, you can't go wrong by adopting a cat from an animal shelter. But just in case you need some convincing, here are the top 10 reasons why shelter kitties rule:

10. You'll get the best selection in town—animal shelters are usually full to overflowing (unfortunately) with cats of all shapes, sizes, ages, energy levels, and temperaments.
9. Shelter cats are often already spayed or neutered (or else the cost of the surgery is included in the adoption fee). What a deal! Animal shelters also often throw in lots of swag, such as cat food, toys, and treats.
8. On a related note, shelter cats are almost always already housebroken, and many have been trained to use a scratching post too.
7. Many shelter cats are adults whose personalities are already developed, so you know what who you're getting.
6. Lots of shelter cats are mixed breeds who are less likely to inherit the congenital defects that plague (inbred) purebreds, including heart and eye defects and cleft palates.
5. If you have kids, having a cat can actually help prevent them from developing allergies.
4. No need for an electric blanket (or a masseuse)—cats make excellent bed-warmers.
3. No need for a big-screen TV, either. Cats provide all the entertainment you need.
2. You will finally learn the answer to the question "What do you do with an empty paper bag?"
1. And the number one reason for adopting a shelter cat is, of course, that you're saving a cat's life. Which is really the only reason that matters, isn't it?

Written by Alisa Mullins

P.S. After you've given a kitty a forever home, you should check out this book: 250 Things You Can Do to Make Your Cat Adore You.

azcarpetandtilecleaning / CC

Kudos to caring California residents, including the folks at Social Compassion in Legislation, for helping to get SB 250, known as the Pet Responsibility Act, passed by the California Senate.

Introduced by state Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, SB 250 would require that nearly all dogs and free-roaming cats be spayed or neutered. (Breeders would be required to obtain permits to keep unaltered animals.) California spends $250 million every year to shelter homeless animals, many of whom are eventually euthanized.

If it passes the State Assembly, SB 250 will save lives. After Santa Cruz County enacted similar legislation, the number of euthanized animals dropped by 60 percent, so it's crucial that this legislation becomes law.

Concerned Californians—please don't wait to write a letter (calls and e-mails won't be effective at this time) to your state assemblymember in support of SB 250. Put this quick, simple task on today's "To Do" list and it can lead to a huge victory for animals on tomorrow's "Ta-da!" list.

Written by Karin Bennett