Written by PETA
A poll in Sports Illustrated named Chase Utley one of the "meanest" players in baseball, but we don't buy it. That's because Chase doesn't buy animals—he always adopts, and he asks his fans to do the same.
The MLB all-star might be a fierce competitor, but off the field, he's a fierce defender of animals—in addition to posing for a PETA ad, he has also volunteered with the Pennsylvania SPCA, and even started his own charity, Utley All-Star Animals.
We have a feeling that Chase's tough-guy rep would quickly turn to mush if his fellow ballplayers were to stop by his next Utley All-Star Animals fundraiser. Regardless, we're betting it's his rescued buddy, Jack's opinion that matters most.
Written by Michelle Sherrow
No dog guardian wants his or her best canine friend to come down with a debilitating, terminal illness. But when they buy a purebred dog, that’s what many dog guardians can expect.
Researchers at the University of Georgia looked at the causes of death for tens of thousands of dogs over two decades and discovered that certain diseases are more likely to afflict certain breeds. For example, they found that Bernese mountain dogs, bouviers des Flandres, boxers, golden retrievers, and Scottish terriers have extremely high mortality rates caused by cancer, while Chihuahuas, Doberman pinschers, fox terriers, Maltese, and Newfoundlands are plagued with deadly cardiovascular disease. This is in addition to the defects that were already known to afflict specific breeds, such as hip dysplasia in German shepherds, spinal disc disease in dachshunds, and epilepsy in beagles.
So, when people pay breeders and pet stores to churn out purebred puppies, who are often the product of inbreeding, they could be sentencing additional dogs to a lifetime of chronic illness and an early death.
That's not to say that mutts don't get sick, but their more diverse genetic makeup lowers the chances that they will suffer from the inherited ailments that often befall purebred dogs. When you adopt a homeless mutt, you not only save a life but also help lessen the demand for more purebred puppies, who may suffer from chronic, painful, and ultimately lethal illnesses.
After taking her own ever-present canine companion, Finn, for some R&R at doggie daycare, Amanda Seyfried stuck up for shelter pups by running errands in L.A. while wearing PETA's "Adopt, Don't Buy" T-shirt.
I wonder if Amanda borrowed the oversized tee from her boyfriend, Ryan Phillippe, who recently adopted a shelter dog. But Amanda's awfully fond of Finn, whom she calls "my son and my light source and kind of a savior …."
Get Amanda's look with PETA's "Adopt, Don't Buy" tee and our low-rise sweat pants.
If you start to hear reports about increasing numbers of fender-benders on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, it's probably because so many teen girls will be slamming on their brakes to check out Justin Bieber's new billboard for PETA.
The cutie-patootie singer added to fans' Bieber fever with his new ad campaign encouraging people to help end animal homelessness by always adopting animals from shelters instead of supporting breeders.
The Biebs has a heart as big as the stadiums that he sells out. His documentary, Never Say Never, hits theaters this Friday.
After reading the last few posts about animal homelessness, euthanasia, and hoarding, some people might be wondering what they can do to help. Perhaps a few of you have even considered starting your own animal rescue group. If so, thank you for caring so deeply, but please—help us focus attention on stemming the flow.
Think of it this way: The animal overpopulation crisis is like water flooding into a sinking ship. We don't need more people bailing; we need to fix the gaping hole in the bottom of the boat! When it comes to ending animal homelessness, the most humane and sustainable solution is to pour our time, money, and effort into having animals spayed and neutered. Preventing more animals from being born stops the problem at its source. Here are some creative ways that we can work toward a no-birth nation:
Another crucial component of ending animal homelessness is educating the public about why it's so important to adopt animals instead of buying them from pet shops or breeders. If you are considering adding a cat or dog to your family, your decision will literally mean life or death for an animal waiting in an animal shelter. If you choose to buy from a breeder or a pet store, an animal at the local shelter must be euthanized. Please, always choose to save a life by adopting your animal companions from animal shelters or reputable adoption groups.
PETA has teamed up with dozens of celebrities—including Justin Bieber, Yvonne Strahovski, Lance Bass, Kellan Lutz, Joanna Krupa, Audrina Patridge, Patricia Arquette, and others—for pro-adoption public service announcements (PSAs). You can help encourage people to adopt animals, never buy, by sponsoring or obtaining free placement for one of these PSAs in a newspaper or magazine.
Thank you for caring. Animals like these are counting on compassionate people like you:
Like so many other rabbits, Bobbi was acquired on a whim and surrendered after her owners discovered how much time and effort are required to care for a rabbit. PETA found Bobbi a loving home, and she now enjoys playing with three other rabbits and sleeping in a bed with her new family.
Julie was once trapped at the end of a chain—one of the worst punishments possible for a dog, especially a collie—but PETA's fieldworkers convinced her owners to surrender her and helped place her in a wonderful home with a family who adores her.
Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post
I don't mean to offend all the other dog parents out there, but I'm fairly certain that I have the coolest dog in the world. I don't mean to brag (well, OK, maybe I do mean to brag), but my German shepherd-something-something-something-mix, Hannah, is pretty much awesome. And, of course, she's a rescue. I love it when people ask me about Hannah because then I can tell them how many terrific animals are just hanging out at animal shelters waiting for their forever families to come along. But when you don't have an adorable rescued dog like Hannah at your side, you can still get people to ask you about animal shelters if you're wearing PETA's 'Adopt, Don't Buy' T-shirt.
Don't have one? Well, that's easy to fix—we'll give you a chance to win one just for telling us about your awesome rescued animal in the comment section below. The person who does the best job of convincing us that his or her dog or cat is the coolest in the world (the coolest dog or cat besides Hannah, of course) will win a tee that can be used to tell others to always adopt and never buy.
The contest ends on February 16, 2011, and the winner will be chosen on February 18, 2011.
Please read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.
Good luck!
Knowing that millions of cats and dogs of all ages, sizes, and lineages are currently homeless, Oscar- and Grammy Award–winning songwriter and musician Melissa Etheridge knew that she'd adopt—not purchase—and she found two amazing pooches, Cooper and Scout. These lucky pups now live with Melissa and her four children—and love their long walks with Melissa and her son. She's a nice person, indeed. Melissa tells Peoplepets.com that a bumper sticker reading, "Rescue Is the New Breed," caught her eye recently—and she applauds that sentiment. This pro-rescue slogan honors my household's resident lap-lover, Tom. What's your favorite slogan that advocates animal adoptions over purchases?
Written by Karin Bennett
Nigel Lythgoe, the executive producer of Fox's popular dance-off show So You Think You Can Dance, was contemplating—gasp—purchasing two puppies from a breeder until a friend pointed out the obvious: "I don't know why you want to go through a breeder anyway," said the friend. "There are too many dogs in the world that haven't got homes that are already alive."
Lythgoe went to an animal adoption event in Los Angeles and promptly fell in love with Bonnie and Clyde, an odd couple (she's a Dalmatian, he's a pit bull) who had formerly been cared for by a homeless man. Thanks to Lythgoe's good nature, the inseparable duo have, in his words, "moved from downtown homeless to Bel-Air."
Know someone who's thinking about getting a dog? Urge him or her to follow Nigel's example and dance, not walk, to the nearest animal shelter.
Via PeoplePets.com
Written by Alisa Mullins
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) just responded to PETA's letter to Janet Napolitano urging the DHS to adopt dogs from animal shelters for its canine program instead of turning to breeders, and there is good news.
The DHS will now not only accept dogs from animal shelters for its program (provided they meet the criteria), it is encouraging animal rescue facilities to submit proposals for their eligible dogs. Candidates must be:
PETA president Ingrid E. Newkirk has helped place many dogs from animal shelters in mutually beneficial service positions that allow the dogs to live at home with their handlers when they aren't working, that teach dogs using positive reinforcement and respect, that provide excellent veterinary care, and that "retire" dogs to live with their handlers when they become old or unable to work—all criteria that the DHS has assured PETA that it meets.
One of these dogs was Kirk (named after Ingrid), the partner of Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police officer Thomas Delahanty. Kirk was with Officer Delahanty when Delahanty was shot during John Hinckley Jr.'s attempted assassination of President Ronald Reagan in 1981. There was a fabulous retirement party for Officer Delahanty and Kirk, attended by many beloved K-9 dogs and their human partners, complete with dog-paddling in a backyard swimming pool.
"Working" dogs who are treated well can live fulfilling, interesting lives, and PETA encourages animal shelters and breed-rescue groups to submit proposals to the DHS for their eligible dogs to:
Att: Unsolicited Proposal OfficerTraining and Development DivisionProgram DirectorateOffice of ProcurementCustoms and Border Protection Agency1310 PA Ave, NWWashington DC
Posted by Lindsay Pollard-Post
This morning’s Today show featured a story about the latest fad dog breed in China—and the astronomical prices people are willing to pay for the dogs—up to $600,000 in some cases. As he was introducing the story, Today host Matt Lauer asked co-host Meredith Vieira how much she would be willing to pay for a dog. “I like to get them from the pound, actually,” she replied.That’s right! You can’t put a price tag on unconditional love—or on the great feeling you get from saving a life.Written by Alisa Mullins
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