Written by PETA
With 2010 fast approaching, the holiday shopping season is at its peak, and the business of year-end listmaking is well underway. We couldn't resist the urge to take inventory of '09, so we're counting down our five favorite animal-friendly ads of the year—from CGI hamsters to Claymation squirrels. The companies on our list offer further proof that promoting compassion toward animals is as easy as saying "yes" to educating people about our furry friends and saying "no" to the abuse of animals in the entertainment industry—animals who are denied food as a means of forcing them to perform on cue and who are often beaten when they don't do as commanded. Here are 2009's finest GOODY-winning marketing masterpieces:
Written by Logan Scherer
You'll have to wait until the big unveiling tomorrow to find out which celebrity took it all off in our latest "Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" ad, but here's a clue: She can out-sass, out-bake, and now out-strip any of her real co-stars, and frankly, the only thing we have to say to her is "Bravo."
Post your guesses in the comments section, and keep your eyes peeled for this reveal.
It was a long, traumatic tumble down into darkness for four ducklings who recently fell into a 12-foot storm drain at a Florida apartment complex. Hungry and helpless, the ducklings were stranded at the bottom of the drain for at least six hours and faced certain death by drowning.
A compassionate passerby discovered these trapped ducklings and immediately called PETA. We contacted two heroic members of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida (ARFF), and they, along with the local fire department, acted quickly to rescue the ducklings and reunite them with their worried mother, who hovered nearby.
PETA is currently trying to work with the property manager to retrofit these storm drains so that no more animals face this terrible fate.
If you spot an injured, orphaned, or trapped wild animal, please call your local wildlife rehabilitation center and animal control immediately. If that doesn't work, call the fire department. And if necessary, get local media outlets involved! Remember, never to attempt to take care of rescued wildlife yourself—always seek help from a trained professional. And if you ever become aware of a situation that poses obvious danger to wildlife—like an open storm drain in a pond where ducks reside—speak up and ensure that safeguards are implemented. The best way to protect wildlife from life-threatening emergencies is to prevent them from happening in the first place.
Earlier this week, PETA called on caring people to urge the University of Utah to retire Robert, a sweet tabby purchased by the school for $15 from the Davis County animal shelter and used in a cruel experiment in which his skull was cut open and electrodes were implanted.
PETA has just received confirmation from university officials that Robert will be retired from the laboratory and adopted into a new home. Hip, hip, hooray!
While we pause to celebrate Robert's release, we cannot forget that other homeless cats and dogs purchased from animal shelters are still languishing in the University of Utah's laboratories.
Please speak out in their behalf by contacting the school again. Demand an end to its cruel betrayal of dogs and cats in shelters by telling the school to stop purchasing homeless animals for painful—and often lethal—experiments. Let's work to protect other vulnerable animals like Robert from this awful fate, shall we?
Written by Karin Bennett
The only time I ever thought that I'd get the chance to say, "Holy cow," and mean it literally is when I talk about PETA's pope cow. Turns out I was wrong.
Moses the calf was born with the pattern of a cross on his forehead, inspiring the awe-struck owners of the Connecticut dairy farm where he lives to spare his life. Male calves born on dairy farms are usually destined to be sent off to veal farms and spend their short lives chained in veal crates that don't allow them space to take a single step in any direction. Moses' birthmark has spared him that fate, and he is being sent to a place where he can live happily and freely.
While Moses' owners are willing to spare his life—a miracle if we've ever heard one—this divine intervention has us crossing our fingers in the hopes that these farmers will save every one of their cows.
Curious, clever, and loving, every cow is a beautiful marvel. Like dogs who form packs, cows prefer to spend their time together, forging complex relationships. Mother cows are unendingly maternal and can be heard crying out for their calves days after they are ripped apart from one another on factory farms. Spare the life of an animal every time you eat by going vegan—you'll save more than 100 lives every year. Now that's a lot of miracles!
Well, sort of. I'll explain.
About 170 audience members at Pagel's Dinner Circus—OK, wait, I must point out how ridiculous that is. I'm all for Dinner and a Movie, but "Dinner and a Circus"? But I digress. During one of the circus's performances this week, 170 horrified audience members witnessed tiger "trainer" Christian Walliser get mauled by three Bengal tigers.
Circus owner Stefan Pagels stated that, because "the show must go on" and because "the tigers did nothing wrong," the animals will not be killed as so many others are when they fight back or run amok. While his claim that the tigers were "playing" with the fallen trainer is ridiculous (hello?), we do agree that the tigers, who are and will always be wild animals, did no wrong. They're huge, strong, powerful animals, and whether in a jungle where they belong or abused in a circus, tigers retain their instincts to hunt, flee, or defend themselves if threatened.
Whether they're being held captive in a barren pit, forced to labor for lazy humans, put on display, or used in photo ops with the public, the only certainty with wild animals who are exploited by humans is that one day, they will fight back.
Vegetarian George Lopez star Constance Marie and too-cute-for-words Luna sure know how to break out the bibbly:
Marie and her daughter (and my quarter-life crisis) have got me thinking—bibs and onesies for everyone! Seriously, don't we all get a little messy when we eat?
Victory Update: Following a national PETA campaign against Brookstone's sale of Frog-O-Spheres —tiny plastic boxes containing two African dwarf frogs—the retailer has discontinued the sale of these little frog prisons in its stores. Learn more about this victory for frogs.
Since we announced the disturbing findings of our recent undercover investigation inside Wild Creations—the supplier of frogs for Brookstone's Frog-O-Spheres—we've seen Wild Creations shut down its Facebook page in less than a day (that's got to be some kind of record!), and thousands of people have taken action to get Brookstone to stop selling Frog-O-Spheres forever.
Here are five simple, sure-to-be-successful things you can do to help fight Brookstone:
If all our readers take action on the digital, viral, and cellular fronts, we can win this battle. Do your part, and I’ll save you a seat at the victory celebration!
When Brangelina graced the Up in the Air premiere party with their perennially provocative presence, word has it that Jolie was totally down to Earth. The benevolent U.N.-representing beauty reportedly chatted up actor Vera Farmiga about the evils of fur as she munched on tomatoes.
Snacking on veggies. Educating people about the horrors of fur. Turns out celebrities really are just like us.
Just think—if wasn't for Louise Brooks, Audrey Hepburn, and Brooke Shields, Americans might never have discovered the glories of the bob, the LBD, and bushy eyebrows (which, BTW, I hear are making a comeback). And if it wasn't for today's celebrities* like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, who "accessorize" their red carpet looks with Chihuahuas, animal shelters wouldn't be deluged with pint-sized cast-asides. Oakland Animal Services reports the facility sometimes receives 10 Chihuahuas a day. That's mind-boggling, don't you think?
Sure, it takes only a minute to fall in love with the perfectly trained pooches on starlets' arms or featured in films like Beverly Hills Chihuahua, but in real life, dogs chew, bark, make messes, and require a lifetime of love and commitment. They may be small, but like all dogs, Chihuahuas need daily training and walks, expensive veterinary care, and a ton of love and attention.
New York Post columnist Cindy Adams recently wrote, "Paris Hilton with her kennel-to-kennel Chihuahuas? She hasn't even been in bed with as many TWO-legged dogs." While PETA pleads with Hilton to curtail her consumption of Chihuahuas (and other animals), please remind everyone you know that dogs are not "fads." They're a lifetime commitment. Forward our beautiful new ad featuring Joanna Krupa to everyone in your e-mail address book—and learn more at HelpingAnimals.com.
*I use that term very loosely.
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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