Written by PETA
Today, it's good luck to be a black cat or the guardian of one. That's because PETA's "Spay and Neuter Immediately, Please" (SNIP) mobile clinic will be performing spay or neuter surgeries on black cats all day free of charge.
Approximately three dozen black cats will have the good fortune of never having to give birth to litters of kittens who could end up unwanted, homeless, neglected, abandoned on the streets, or euthanized at a shelter for lack of a good home. The sterilized cats themselves will be immune to uterine, ovarian, and testicular cancer and less likely to suffer from other cancers of the reproductive system, such as prostate and breast cancer (yes, cats and dogs get those too). Altered cats are also less likely to roam, mark their territory with urine, get into fights, or become infected with deadly contagious diseases such as feline leukemia and feline AIDS.
And just a reminder for you folks whose homes are graced with a cat, black or otherwise: You should never let your precious bundle of perfection outside alone, but this is doubly important at Halloween. As my mother found out as a child when her favorite cat, Midnight, was tortured to death on Halloween, cruel people do horrible things to cats—especially black ones—at this time of year (and the rest of the year too).
Visit the Living page for more Halloween safety tips.
Written by Alisa Mullins
Just in time for Puppy Mill Awareness Day, a puppy mill operator in Romulus, New York, has admitted to using a makeshift gas chamber to "depopulate" the kennel—in other words, to kill 93 dogs and puppies. David Yoder, who bred poodles, bichon frises, Maltese, and Boston terriers at his Black Diamond Acres kennel, told a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspector that he gassed the dogs after being told that he would have to test and treat them for brucellosis. He put groups of five or six at a time into a sealed "whelping box," which he had hooked up to a tractor engine. (Is anybody else noting the irony that these dogs were born and died in the same box?)
Yoder appears to have violated federal law, which prohibits kennel operators from performing euthanasia, as well as New York state law, which bans killing animals with exhaust fumes. Yoder has turned in his kennel license and is now under investigation by the USDA and the local sheriff's department. Should he be found guilty of violating the Animal Welfare Act, he faces fines of up to $10,000 for each such violation.
This case is just one more reminder—as if we needed one—why people should never buy dogs from pet stores (the retail end of the puppy mill business) or people who advertise puppies for sale in newspapers or online. If an ad mentions multiple breeds for sale, it might as well say "puppy mill" in neon lights.
Ron Artest has been sporting his heart of gold for quite some time thanks to his efforts to assist with PETA's lifesaving spay and neuter campaign. Now he's going to be sporting NBA gold on his finger after a spectacular win in last night's Finals game!
Owing to Ron's calm and cool demeanor (and, according to him, his psychiatrist!)—plus numerous steals and a crucial three-pointer late in the game—the LA Lakers clinched the NBA championship and proved that Ron is a force to be reckoned with on the court.
Congratulations, Ron!
Written by Karin Bennett
PETA's spay-or-neuter billboard was erected today, promising to reach not only Nadya Suleman's immediate community in La Habra but also a national one, thanks to a ton of media coverage. Because of our offer to "Octomom," we received a lot of calls, e-mails, and blog comments from people who thought that their yards would be great places to get the word out about spaying or neutering animals. So we're calling on caring animal defenders to reach out to their own communities with the lawn sign pictured below, which is available to the first 100 people who sign up.
We hope that you'll join this effort and send us pictures of the sign on your lawn. No matter where you live, you can be certain that some of your neighbors don't know that spaying and neutering helps save lives. They might have no idea that so many of the more than 6 million dogs and cats who end up in crowded animal shelters every year are only there because some people mistakenly think that "just one litter" doesn't hurt. It does. Maybe they've never read this alarming statistic: One cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in just seven years. And perhaps they don't realize that spaying and neutering is a simple, inexpensive (and in many cases, free) procedure that can also ensure better physical and mental health for their animal companion.
The effort to educate others about the importance of spaying and neutering companion animals begins at home. So come on—sign up to place our spay-or-neuter sign in your lawn or apartment window today!
Whether she's playing a maniacally mean cheerleading coach on Glee, a randy store manager in 40-Year-Old Virgin, or a freakishly fanatical poodle pimp in Best in Show, actor Jane Lynch is a comedic genius. But my new favorite is her recent performance in a new PETA public service announcement.
The Chicago native also penned a letter urging Mayor Richard M. Daley to pass a law requiring city residents to spay and neuter their dogs and cats. Why is Jane so gung ho to support PETA and help tackle the companion animal overpopulation crisis? She tells all in this exclusive interview:
Feeling inspired to help homeless dogs and cats in your own community and beyond? Fantastic! Remember to always adopt and never to buy—and make sure that your friends, neighbors, and coworkers know your reasons why.* Talk to everyone you know to explain how spaying and neutering can help save lives.
*Yes, that rhyme was intentional.
Yesterday, Sin City's angelic new law requiring residents to spay or neuter their animal companions went into effect!
Put forth by local animal defenders to help nip the companion animal overpopulation crisis in the bud, the new city ordinance mandates spaying or neutering—and microchipping—of all dogs and cats who are more than 4 months old. Those who violate the new ordinance will face a misdemeanor charge that carries a $225 fine for first-time offenders.
No doubt, the new ordinance means that many Vegas residents will no longer gamble on letting Fluffy have "just one litter," so there will be fewer puppies and kittens flooding area animal shelters or being dropped off on dusty roads to fend for themselves. And mandatory microchipping means that animal shelter employees and veterinarians will be better able to reunite people and their lost dogs and cats.
Surely I won't be the only one singing "Viva Las Vegas" today.
The reproduction debate's heating up as TLC prepares to air the fourth season of its Duggar Family hit, 19 Kids and Counting. This season, the Duggars have upped their clan-size from 18 to 19, and it has some arguing yay or nay about the "Duggar-style" approach to reproduction. We say, as long as Jim Bob and Michelle are able to keep a roof over their family's head and modern-modest clothes on their backs, there's a far more important reproductive issue at hand. So, we're offering to run this billboard in the Duggar's hometown of Tontitown, Arkansas, as well as in nearby Springdale and Fayetteville:
Talk about mind-blowing: One unspayed female cat and her offspring can create a whopping 420,000 cats in just seven years, and one unneutered male dog can father nearly limitless litters. Roughly half of the estimated 6 to 8 million cats and dogs who enter U.S. animal shelters every year are euthanized because there aren't enough good homes for them. Many more are abandoned on the street, left to fend for themselves, and many are subjected to acts of cruelty, starvation, disease, or injuries.
The solution is simple: Spay and neuter companion animals.
Donny Osmond may have taken home the disco-ball trophy last night on the Dancing With the Stars finale, but Joanna Krupa, the stunning Polish model and cha cha champ, just became this fan's favorite, thanks to this ad:
In a sneak peak of our ads with Joanna and Rugby, the two of them reveal how people can their earn wings on earth—by deciding to adopt, rather than buy, companion animals. Every time a dog or cat is purchased from a pet store or breeder, an animal in a shelter loses his or her chance for a forever home.
And to think, this is only the beginning—a racier version will be released after Thanksgiving. Check back with PETA.org for all the naughty details.
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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