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You heard about the request for Pet Shop Boys to change their name to the Rescue Shelter Boys, right? Well the Boys aren't the only group we think could use an animal-friendly makeover. The following groups could too:

• Meat Puppets: Maybe as the Tofu Puppets, they can make a grungy comeback.
• Meat Loaf: Meatloaf, do us and your colon a favor and change your name to Lentil Loaf.
• Cattle Decapitation: As a band full of vegetarians, we think this death metal band would go for a change to Cattle Appreciation.
• Deerhunter: Wouldn't you say it's about time for this acclaimed indie band to change their name to Deerhugger?
• Leathermouth: I like what I've heard from peta2's Sexiest Vegetarian winner Frank Iero's band, Leathermouth. But I'd love Pleathermouth.
• The Stray Cats: The Stray Cats are known for helping pioneer the rockabilly scene, but they would be known for helping spread a positive message with a new name, The Spayed Cats.
• Skinny Puppy: Given their vocal stance on animal rights, such as with their anti-vivisection song "Testure," Well-Fed Puppy is an obvious choice.
• Reel Big Fish: Fish? What fish? I have no idea what you're talking about. If you're talking about the adorable creatures of the sea with whiskers, you must be talking about Real Big Sea Kittens.
• Pig Destroyer: Because pigs are such amazing animals, Pig Defender just makes more sense.

Musicradar.com, keen to help PETA with our campaigns, has its own list suggestions too—some of which even overlap with ours! Hmm, which is better: "Real Big Sea Kittens" or "Reel Big Fish In A Suitably Large Tank With Adequate Room To Swim"? Decisions, decisions.

So which bands do you want to see change their names?

Written by Amanda Schinke

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If you're like me, your iPod is full of 80s pop music. I enjoy the music so much that it's tough for me when it turns out that an 80s icon isn't so animal-friendly. (Madonna and Michael, I'm talking about you.) So my heart leapt just a little when I heard about the Pet Shop Boys' reaction to the letter that they received from our friends at PETA Europe.

Recently, PETA's European affiliate wrote to the Pet Shop Boys to suggest that they change their name to the "Rescue Shelter Boys." It's got a nice ring to it, right? PETA Europe let the duo know that dogs and cats sold in pet shops come from breeders who often keep animals in cramped, filthy conditions and that many animals sold in pet shops suffer from inbreeding, genetic weaknesses, physical deformities, or behavioral disorders. By changing their name, the would-be-Rescue Shelter Boys could raise awareness about the cruelty of the pet trade at every tour stop.

Unfortunately, the Boys turned down the name-change proposal, but they decided to alert their fans to this important issue in another way—by posting the letter on the front page of their Web site! They even say, "The organisation PETA Europe, dedicated to establishing and protecting the rights of all animals, has written to Pet Shop Boys with a request they are unable to agree to but nonetheless think raises an issue worth thinking about."

As if you needed another reason to love the Pet Shop Boys besides "West End Girls."

Written by Shawna Flavell