i.ehow / CC

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

Most horses kept for breeding are kept in barren stalls like these.
vet.uga / CC

Full disclosure: I am a sucker for horses. Just watching them run makes me cry. Seriously, it does. That video clip that was shown in Amélie, in which an excited horse leaps over a pasture fence and joins passing Tour de France cyclists? I cry just thinking about it—shoot, I'm crying right now!

So you can imagine my reaction to the news that Thoroughbred breeder and owner Ernie Paragallo has been charged with cruelty to animals after 177 horses were allegedly found starving, suffering from skin infections and untreated injuries, and crawling with lice and worms on his New York state farm. The raid on the farm came shortly after news leaked out that four mares who formerly belonged to Paragallo had been rescued from a "kill pen," bound for the slaughterhouse. PETA called for his prosecution soon after this hit the news.

This isn't the first time that Paragallo has run into trouble. In 2007, three starving horses were rescued from his farm and spent a month recovering at an equine hospital. In 2005, his owner's license was revoked over his failure to pay a vet bill.

In my opinion, hangin's too good for Paragallo. This man has raked in more than $20 million in winnings over the years—and he can't spend even a fraction of that wealth on care for the horses who earned it for him?

Fortunately, the cruelty charges, coupled with the slaughterhouse boondoggle, seem to have been enough to convince the New York State Racing Commission to bar Paragallo from the state's tracks. This means that Paragallo will almost certainly be unable to enter a horse in the state's "big show"—the Belmont Stakes—in June.

Boo-hoo. (That's sarcasm—I'm not really crying this time.)

Written by Alisa Mullins

… to bring the world into focus. This award winning photo is one of those times:

Regardless of the economy, compassion shouldn't have boundaries.

If anyone goes "ew!" remember that humans drink cow's or goat's milk for no good reason. This woman is poor and yet has found a way to feed two needy babies.

Written by Shawna Flavell