Written by PETA
Desperate to help a cat who'd been stuck in a tree for a week through the summer's worst thunderstorms, Tanya Lippke of Lewiston, Maine, turned to PETA—who she knew would never turn away from an animal in need. According to the local newspaper,
Tanya had been trying to find a hero all week. She tried the Fire Department. She tried police and an animal control officer. She even called some tree companies directly to implore them for help. "Nobody would do it. They said the cat would come down eventually," Tanya said. "But you know what? It wasn't coming down." Drastic times, as they say, call for drastic measures. Tanya went up as high in the command as she could go. She called the people of PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It was a last resort, a Hail Mary. And it worked.
Tanya had been trying to find a hero all week. She tried the Fire Department. She tried police and an animal control officer. She even called some tree companies directly to implore them for help. "Nobody would do it. They said the cat would come down eventually," Tanya said. "But you know what? It wasn't coming down."
Drastic times, as they say, call for drastic measures.
Tanya went up as high in the command as she could go. She called the people of PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It was a last resort, a Hail Mary.
And it worked.
Within hours the kitty was safely down.
You hear about PETA's lettuce ladies storming Capitol Hill and our undercover investigations that shake up entire animal-abusing industries. You don't always hear about PETA saving cats from trees—but, yup, we do that too.
Aren't you proud to be a PETA member?
Written by Joel Bartlett
P.S. Just a reminder: Please keep cats indoors where they are safe.
At least, it's true for firefighters in Portland, Maine. After learning that the Portland Fire Department (PFD) was looking for help in equipping all fire stations with oxygen masks for animals, PETA has donated six masks, in various sizes, to assist with the effort. All too often, first responders have had to treat animals suffering from smoke inhalation with poorly fitting oxygen masks designed for humans—so cheers to the good folks of the PFD for making sure that they're ready to help everyone who is endangered by fires.
They say, "As Maine goes, so goes the nation," so let's hope that more fire departments will soon follow in Portland's compassionate footsteps—maybe you could even make the suggestion at your local fire station. And let's also hope that more of us who share our homes with animal companions will take this as a cue to include them in our emergency plans by posting a notice on the doors of our homes about how many animals are inside in case of fire.
Written by Jeff Mackey
The last sardine cannery in the U.S. (located in Prospect Harbor, Maine) is about to close its doors, which is great news for the tiniest fish sea kittens. But another company that cuts up and packages lobsters and other sea animals wants to buy the cannery. As we all know, marine animals suffer when they are snagged on hooks, crushed in massive nets, pulled up from their ocean homes, and even boiled alive. Talk about news that'll make your Monday blue.
PETA is urging Maine Gov. John Baldacci to "can the cruelty" and turn the plant into a blueberry cannery instead. Maine produces a quarter of the country's blueberries, so switching to that business would support the local economy and let the cannery workers keep their jobs—not to mention save the lives of countless lobsters and other sea animals. Let's hope Gov. Baldacci says, "Can we do it? Yes we can (blueberries)!"
Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post
Maine might be known for its harsh winters, but you'll never catch first lady Karen Baldacci wearing a real fur coat, no matter how far the mercury drops. PETA recently sent surveys to first ladies across the country asking whether they've joined Michelle Obama and France's Carla Bruni-Sarkozy in shunning fur, and Baldacci was the first to respond, stating, "I am an animal lover. Absolutely no fur. I do own faux [fur] but don't wear it often." She added, "[PETA] is a wonderful organization."
For her refusal to support an industry that profits off the anal and vaginal electrocution of dogs, cats, foxes, minks, and rabbits, we're sending Baldacci a box of vegan chocolates donated by Maine's own Harbor Candy Shop.
Written by Logan Scherer
If you dig 60s pop art as much as I do, you're really going think this is boss. Forty-five years after being on display for just one day during the New York World's Fair in 1964, artist Robert Indiana's iconic EAT sign is blinking back into action. Part of a larger exhibition of Indiana's work, the oversized objet d'art will be up and illuminated all month at the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine.
While the sculpture is pretty groovy as it is, we think that adding the word "VEGETARIAN" to it would make it full-on far out. That's why we wrote to Mr. Indiana and asked him to add our favorite "V" word to the piece for just one day. Imagine, if you will:
Andy Warhol's portrait of a can of Campbell's Tomato Soup (which is vegan, by the way), might be "mmm, mmm, good," but this PETA-ized pop art is a mmm, mmm, masterpiece! What could be a better way to shine the light on a diet that's better for the Earth and all its inhabitants?
After all, it's time for the dawning of the age of asparagus.
Written by Amy Elizabeth
Halifax native Sarah McLachlan, who is in Ottawa today to perform a concert in celebration of Canada Day, has wasted no time in letting her native land know how upset she is about the government's refusal to stop the annual seal slaughter. In an interview today with Canada's CTV News—during which she wore PETA's "Hug Me, Don't Club Me" tee—Sarah said, "The commercial sealing industry in Canada is perverse and sick. … They club these seals as early as 12 days old, and half the time they hook them and they drag them across the ice. … It's archaic, and it's horrible, and I want it to stop."
Check out all the other great things that she had to say:
Written by Shawna Flavell
Canada is celebrating its birthday today, and people around the globe just don't think it's fair. The country that kills hundreds of thousands of seals each year, most of whom haven't even seen their first birthday, gets to throw a big shindig? No way, hoser.
To let Canada know that the rest of the world will not be celebrating in honor of anything Canadian until the seal slaughter ends, people gathered today at Canadian consulates and embassies for demonstrations. They even protested at parades. Check it out:
If Canada is your "home and native land," take a minute and sign our Facebook petition, tweet at Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and send an e-mail to the Vancouver Olympic Organizing Committee. Let your fellow Canadians know that the seal slaughter must end.
They say, "As Maine goes, so goes the nation.".
With that in mind, have you heard the news out of Maine? It's the sixth state to pass legislation significantly changing rights for state residents.
No, not that. I'm talking about this recent legislation, which bans the use of veal and gestation crates statewide.
That's right. As of January 1, 2011, calves will no longer be immobilized in tiny stalls for the production of veal, nor will mother pigs be trapped in gestation crates, on factory farms in Maine. Woo hoo!
And, of course, this follows news that U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine co-sponsored a resolution urging Canada to end the seal slaughter.
Maine's state motto is "Dirigo," which means, "I lead." When it comes to protecting animals, that certainly seems to be true!
Without letting even the tiniest opportunity to help nonhuman animals swim by, my inventive comrades have devised a delightful new stratagem to help free some of our sea-dwelling sisters and brothers.
The Pitch: To open the world's fist-ever Lobster Empathy Center in the lobster-execution capital of the world (Creative, yes?) The Setting: A prison (Bloody genius!)
The proposed attraction would include wrapping visitors' hands in giant rubber bands for the duration of their stay, serving faux-lobster treats, and giving kiddies free stuffed toy lobsters labeled "Lobsters Are Friends, Not Food."
Can't wait to go, right? I know, me neither! Sadly, our dreams will have to be put on hold for a bit, as the prison was just sold to the highest bidder. But do keep us in mind if you hear of any sweet oceanfront prison property up for grabs!
Now if all this talk has given you a hankering for some vegan lobster tail, here's a recipe to satisfy your urgings.
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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