Written by Michelle Kretzer
As the Discovery Channel wraps up its annual Shark Week, TOMS Shoes is making it Shark Year. The philanthropic footwear company created a pair of shark-silhouette–lined shoes, with proceeds going to protect these often misunderstood, abused animals.
If the vegan shoe fits, wear it. Former Miss World Rosanna Davison is trading her stilettos for running shoes, training for Ireland's Ironman Triathlon. She's also trading her vegetarian diet for a vegan one, and she tweeted, "I absolutely LOVE it & have never felt better! I recommend it to so many people."
Mischa Barton is raving about her vegan diet, too, noting that healthy food and regular exercise have given her the body she wants without having to count calories.
Another great way to get in shape while helping animals? Running with the PETA Pack. Jillian Michaels and Renee Olstead were among the animal-friendly celebs running to Twitter this week, with both gals encouraging everyone to start "packing":
To keep up with what the stars are doing for animals, follow @PETA on Twitter.
Written by Jeff Mackey
It's summertime—but for too many animals, the living ain't easy. That's why it's time once again to pack up and run!
Every year, PETA calls on animal advocates all around the world to join the PETA Pack and team-train to run a race and raise money for animals. Joining the team gets you three months of virtual coaching—plus a stylin' PETA Pack T-shirt to wear on race day, your own personal fundraising page, inspiration to get in the best shape of your life, chances to win cool prizes and awards, and the great feeling that comes from knowing that you're helping animals!
Last year, the pack included more than 600 runners, from coast to coast and all around the world. Together, the team raised more than $120,000. This year, the pack is looking to double those figures.
That's where you come in: Whether you get winded walking to the mailbox or are a seasoned marathoner, there's a place for you on the team. The training schedule is broken down into easy, intermediate, and advanced options so that you can pick the track that's right for you.
So—are you in? For a summer of fitness, activism, solidarity, fundraising, sport, teamwork, and friendship, join the PETA Pack today!
Don't miss a thing: Follow PETA on Tumblr.
Don't stop believin', cows! Sporting goods company PUMA says it plans to stop using leather in the future.
They can delay gratification, plan ahead, show empathy, share, and set goals and see them through. Who am I talking about? I'll give you a hint: It's not humans.
Contagious yawning isn't specific to people, either. New research shows that our canine family members catch our yawns, too.
You did it! Thanks for convincing the Bridge Foursquare Church to cancel its greased-pig scramble.
Here are other animals who need your help:
Calves could be saved from having their sensitive horn tissue chopped off, burned away, or gouged out if farms simply bred cows without horns. Urge cheesemaker Cabot Creamery to stop cruel dehorning and breed hornless cows instead.
It's bad enough that circuses imprison elephants and drag them across the country, forcing them to perform. But when the elephants are suffering from tuberculosis (TB), it's even worse. Urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ban TB-positive elephants from performing.
How far will goats go to persuade people to help stop the military's cruel trauma training exercises? How about spit in people's water, eat their mail, or enact some Facebook vengeance? These hilarious goat photos are must-see and must-share.
pmarkham|cc by 2.0
Summertime and the living is cheesy. Check out our list of the top five restaurants for vegan mac and cheese.
What do you run for? Your heart, your waistline, your stress level, your chocolate addiction? How about running for animals? You can when you join the 2012 PETA Pack.
Written by PETA
What has 1,200 legs, lives in several countries, and runs, swims, and bikes to stop animal abuse? It's the 2011 PETA Pack team, a group of committed individuals who were able to wildly surpass their fundraising goal and raise $120,000 for PETA's Investigations & Rescue Fund! On behalf of the PETA Pack, a special thank-you goes out to this year's team sponsor, Nasoya, as well as to all the donors who contributed.
PETA Pack members receive 14 weeks of valuable coaching tips from team leaders to help them meet their running goals, whether they are beginning runners or experienced triathletes. Each member ultimately participates in a race of his or her choice in early autumn. Top fundraisers receive great prizes, in addition to the satisfaction of getting into shape while helping animals.
To join the PETA Pack and make next year's team another resounding success, e-mail PETAPack@peta.org.
Congratulations to the 2011 PETA Pack team!
Written by Heather Faraid Drennan
How does three months of free fitness coaching just in time for swimsuit season sound? Good? How about throwing a few cool Benjis PETA's way without touching your wallet? Even better? Whether you're a couch potato or a die-hard runner, you can become a member of the 2011 PETA Pack team and do both.
Starting on July 1, under the guidance of vegan tri-athlete, author, and speaker Brendan Brazier, PETA Pack-ers across the country will begin running for animals with others in their area or training on their own with support from the group. Training lasts until October when everyone completes a half-marathon (13.1 mile) or a 5k (3.1 mile) race of their choosing, with the money that they raise going to PETA's Investigations & Rescue Fund.
Having your friends and family sponsor you keeps you motivated and supports PETA's lifesaving work for animals. Not only that, but the top fundraisers get some pretty awesome prizes. They haven't all been announced yet, but last year's top prize was a trip to an exclusive vegan resort in Costa Rica!
Visit our PETA Pack team site to get more information and sign up to run with the Pack.
Written by Michelle Sherrow
In high school, P.E. was my worst nightmare. Flickerball, pickle ball, capture the flag: I hated them all and tried my hardest to come up with excuses to sit on the bleachers. The worst periods by far were on fitness-test days—the dreaded mile run. Those were the days when I got really creative with my excuses. One year I faked a bee sting; another year I "got hives" when I tried to run.
Now, despite my phobia of physical exertion and my love of the couch, there are a few things that will get me to do just about anything involving lacing up sneakers and strapping on a pedometer. One of those motivators: animals. Driven by the incentive to save lives, I'm gearing up for an uncharacteristically active winter, undoing all those years of glorious unhealthy inertia by joining the second annual PETA Pack. A group of runners who train together and raise money for PETA, the Pack is the perfect synthesis of fitness and kindness. With the help of professional coach Darren Middlesworth, we'll train together for the Oakland Marathon/Half Marathon/5K on March 28, 2010.
But you don't have to live in the San Francisco Bay area to participate. Last year, 77 runners from across the U.S. and Canada trained remotely, and those who couldn't make it to Oakland for the big race found a race to run in their hometowns. Together they raised $57,000 for PETA's Investigations and Rescue Fund, and this year we expect to double that figure.
Training begins January 3—the perfect time to make a New Year's resolution a reality. Join today and check the PETA Pack blog for updates.
Written by Logan Scherer
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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