Brrr! A cold spell has gripped us here in Los Angeles, with night temperatures dipping down into the 50s—much too cold for Angelenos … and for goldfish. When the guardians of one rescued goldfish, Sadie, turned on her tank's water heater this week, she immediately swam over to bask in the warmth, just like a kitten seeking a sunny patch or a dog seeking a place by the fire.

A sympathetic PetSmart employee rescued Sadie when she was deemed "valueless" because of a genetic defect. She was born with one eye—likely caused by overbreeding, a practice that is rampant in the hideous "pet" trade. The employee, an aquatic animals expert who cautions that caring for fish requires expensive equipment and frequent tank cleanings, subsequently left PetSmart in protest over the way the retailer treats animals as if they were commodities rather than recognizing that they are feeling individuals.

Please, never support companies such as PetSmart that put profit first—at the animals' expense. Reputable local rescue groups and shelters often have fish who need new homes. If you or someone you know has aquatic animals, please also constantly check to be sure that the water temperature is in the proper range for the animal during winter months. After all, they can't dust off their spare blankets or snuggle up with a friend for the night.

Written by Heather Faraid Drennan

Update: Jack the cat has passed away because of injuries that he suffered while lost inside JFK airport. After spending two months in the American Airlines baggage-claim area, Jack was finally found when he fell through the ceiling. Airline employees took him to a veterinarian, but the severe wounds covering half his body, a raging infection, and starvation were too much for Jack to surmount. His Facebook page, flooded with condolences, will, we hope, prevent similar tragedies from occurring by serving as a reminder that animals should travel in the cabin with their guardians.

Originally posted September 2, 2011

© Linqong | Dreamstime.com

With thousands of us hitting the road for the long Labor Day weekend, it bears repeating that animals should never be transported in the cargo hold of an airplane. In another hideous example of what can happen when airlines treat animals like luggage, a cat named Jack is currently lost inside JFK Airport  after he escaped from his carrier before he could be loaded into the plane's cargo hold. Jack has been lost in JFK's baggage claim area for a week, and attempts to catch the terrified cat have all failed.

When vacationing, it's safest to leave animals at home with a trusted adult friend or relative or a bonded, recommended professional sitter. Don't cut corners or be casual—too much rides on your careful selection. If you must bring your animals, drive to your destination, or if you fly, the animals must ride in the cabin of the plane with you, under the seat. See PETA's "Traveling With Companion Animals" factsheet for more information.

And if you're traveling by car this weekend, remember to keep an eye out for animals in distress. If you see an animal near the road, stop to help, and please, if you pass an animal who looks dead, don't assume that he or she actually is.

Safely pull over and make sure that the animal is dead by gently touching the outer corner of the eye and pinching one of the animal's toes. If the eye blinks or the animal pulls back, the animal is still alive, and you will need to take him or her to the nearest veterinary clinic and/or call the local humane society or the police (call 911 if you have to—do not give up). And be sure to stay with the animal until help arrives. For more information on braking for animals, see our list of tips.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

UPDATE: PETCO CEO Jim Myers announced that the company will not reopen the Johnson City store where approximately 100 animals died in flooding last month. The company is reportedly looking for another location in the village, but outraged residents don't want a PETCO store anywhere nearby. The district attorney's criminal investigation of PETCO employees' actions and the animals' deaths continues.

The following was originally posted on September 19, 2011:

PETA joined dozens of animal advocates who participated in a protest calling for PETCO to leave Johnson City, New York, after the multibillion-dollar company opted to abandon hundreds of animals—about 100 of whom drowned during massive flooding from Tropical Storm Lee.

Despite highly publicized flood warnings and mandatory evacuation orders, the company had the gall to call the flooding "completely unpredictable" and intentionally left the animals behind, which Johnson City Mayor Dennis Hannon called "absolutely disgusting." Nearly 100 animals, including birds, guinea pigs, ferrets, hamsters, mice, and reptiles, suffered and died as a result. Cars that passed the 70 demonstrators honked and waved in support, showing that Johnson City residents are ready for PETCO to start packing.

PETA and Mayor Hannon called for a criminal investigation last week, and now that investigation is under way. Please join us in thanking Broome County District Attorney Gerald Mollen for taking the case seriously. E-mail him at gmollen@co.broome.ny.us or call his office at 607-778-2423. Please be polite in your correspondence with Mr. Mollen and his office.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

After buying a dog over the Internet sight unseen for a staggering $7,500, a Long Island man added insult to injury by sending the dog on a terrifying 3,000-mile journey back to the breeder in Washington state less than a week later. The dog, who was likely confused and disoriented after the initial cross-country flight, had failed to adjust immediately to her strange new environment, so the man essentially returned her like a sweater he'd ordered from L.L.Bean, despite the fact that the breeder refused to take the dog back and reportedly said that he would not pick her up at the airport. (The breeder did eventually claim the dog but only after she'd been forced to spend the night at an airport boarding facility.)

The dog buyer could have saved himself a lot of trouble—and the dog a lot of trauma—if he had just taken his family to the local animal shelter, where they could have chosen from among a plethora of great dogs. But considering that he was dumb enough to hand over an exorbitant amount of money to a breeding operation that exacerbates the animal homelessness crisis, allowed the dog only six days to settle into her new home, and was inconsiderate enough to ship her off to an unknown fate in an airplane's dangerous cargo hold after tiring of her, any responsible shelter worker would now lock the doors to this man.

But for those of us who don't view animals as disposable accessories, animal shelters are the perfect place to make a permanent love connection.

Written by Michelle Sherrow 

For those of us who are proud to share our homes with rescued mixed-breed dogs, referring to them as "mutts" seems a bit, well, undignified (although we adore the rescue-friendly comic strip by the same name). When asked the inevitable question "What kind of dog is that?" the obvious answer is "a shelter dog," but some of us have come up with other creative responses like "sock retriever," "love hound," "bed burrower," "spayed sweetie" or "melting pot mixture." Now we'd like to make it official and come up with a one-word name that celebrates all one-of-a-kind dogs' diversity and uniqueness.

So, please, get with your friends and family and toss some thoughts around as you think of all the shelter dogs you've ever met. The name we pick will be made into a bumper sticker reading, "I ♥ my ______," and will be available at PETA's CaféPress store. 

The person who comes up with the winning name will receive a free sticker and an awesome doggy gift basket, which includes two bags of vegetarian dog food generously donated from V-dog, a beautiful set of doggy dishes and a complementary treat jar from Daisy Dog Studio, PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk's book Let's Have a Dog Party, and other toys and treats to keep mutts and their humans happy.

To enter the contest, simply post a comment below telling us what name you think makes a great alternative to "mutt," and the commenter with the most creative name will be chosen as the winner.* We'll announce the winner soon and give you a chance to advertise the joys of rescuing (never buying) a proud pedigree-free canine family member.

*The deadline for this contest has been extended from the original date when the contest was launched on August 31, 2011. The new deadline is as follows. Comment submissions for the contest end November 1, 2011; a poll will post on November 29, 2011 on the blog, asking people to vote for their favorite submission. The poll will close December 12th, and the winner will be notified by December 15; and we'll announce the winner and showcase the new bumper sticker by December 30, 2011. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. No purchase necessary. Prize subject to change. Void where prohibited by law. Think hard, because if we don’t receive any entries we believe are creative enough to use on a PETA bumper sticker, we’ll come up with one ourselves and declare the PETA bunny the winner.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

© Kaitlin Bledsoe

The hotel Fairmont Pittsburgh has one very popular employee—a sweet mixed-breed dog named Edie. Edie is the hotel's "canine ambassador," greeting guests and providing comfort for those missing their own animal companions, and she does a wonderful job—people make appointments to get time with the lovable, jolly dog. 

Her plush bed and chef-prepared treats are a far cry from Edie's beginnings. She was found wandering the streets, homeless and starving, her broken tail a silent testimony to a painful past. Edie was taken to a local animal shelter where her irrepressibly joyful demeanor instantly attracted the attention of the director of an organization that teaches dogs "job" skills. Just a little more than a year later, the sweet dog with the crooked tail whom no one wanted is beloved by travelers from around the world. When she's not on the job, Edie relaxes at home with her guardian, who also works at the hotel.

Every day, PETA's Community Animal Project (CAP) rescues dogs like Edie from life on the streets. To help us give more dogs a happy ending, please consider a donation to CAP. And if your home is ready for its own canine ambassador, visit your local shelter to meet the many "Edies" ready for adoption.   
 

Written by Michelle Sherrow

This week is the 83rd annual National Dog Week, and to celebrate, we're showcasing some of the wonderful dogs (and a few cats) PETA has helped recently with our mobile spay-and-neuter clinics.

One such dog is Bentley, a charming white ball of fluff whose guardian does not drive and lives in a rural county where there is no veterinary clinic. If not for PETA's SNIP truck, Bentley likely would not have been neutered and may have contributed to the animal homelessness crisis.

PETA's fleet of spay-and-neuter clinics provides free and low-cost sterilization surgeries in southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina. So far this year, clinic workers have spayed and neutered more than 7,500 animals and provided round-trip, door-to-door transportation (often to remote residences) to more than 400 animals, free of charge. Nobody is ever turned away because of financial reasons.

Please consider helping PETA continue to offer free and low-cost sterilizations by making an ear-marked donation to our animal overpopulation fund. If you cannot give at this time, consider volunteering at a local spay-and-neuter clinic or offering to drive an animal whose guardian is without transportation to a surgical appointment.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

PETA is calling for a criminal investigation and appropriate charges after PETCO left hundreds of caged animals to die in its Johnson City, New York, store in massive flooding caused by Tropical Storm Lee.

Despite highly publicized flood warnings and a mandatory evacuation order from the town's mayor, PETCO's vice president of animal care (a misnomer if we ever heard one), Marcie Whichard, had the nerve to call the flooding "completely unpredictable" and admitted that "the decision was made to keep the animals in the store."  Hundreds of birds, guinea pigs, ferrets, hamsters, mice, reptiles, and other animals were abandoned, forced to try to keep their heads above water as floodwaters rose. Nearly 100 animals died. One can only imagine the terror and suffering that these animals experienced, all because PETCO—a multibillion-dollar company—could not be bothered to make provisions for them.

This is not the first time that animals have suffered and died at PETCO's hands. The company has a history of chronic animal-welfare problems, including buying the animals it sells from massive mills that warehouse animals in filthy, severely crowded conditions; withhold veterinary care from sick, starving, and injured animals; throw live animals into the trash; and much, much more.

Please help obtain justice for the animals PETCO abandoned to drown by politely urging Broome County District Attorney Gerald Mollen to launch a criminal investigation into PETCO's actions. Call his office at 607-778-2423 or e-mail him at gmollen@co.broome.ny.us. And please never buy animals or anything from stores like PETCO that see animals as nothing more than a way to make money.

Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post

Tomorrow is National Pet Memorial Day, a time to honor the animals with whom we have shared our lives and love. We gave them a home, and in return, they gave us their all.

 
© Andrew Helwich | iStockPhoto.com

Looking for a way to memorialize your best friends past and present? You could do something kind for animals who haven't had the good fortune to be cherished by someone like you. For example, you could offer to take a lonely chained dog for a walk and offer him or her treats and toys. Or you could volunteer at your local humane society or spay-and-neuter clinic. In these economic tough times, animal charities are struggling and would welcome a donation in your animal's name.

You could also post an online remembrance of your beloved animal companions on PETA's True Friends Memorial page. Tribute pages can include stories, pictures, and videos and are easily linked to blogs, websites, and social-network profiles. People can view the tribute to your animal and make a donation in their honor that will have a lasting impact and improve the lives of not-so-lucky animals.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

A family moving from Michigan to southwest, Louisiana found out the hard way that unlike furniture, animals cannot be replaced, and strangers can't be trusted to move them. The Juhala family had reportedly hired Bluegrass Pet Transport Company to drive their beloved pug Igor to his new home because they knew it was unsafe for him to fly in a plane's cargo hold. But according to news reports, a month after the company picked him up, the Juhalas still had not seen their dog, and their frantic phone calls to company owner Bob Lawson hadn't been returned.

When Lawson finally called the family, he apparently claimed that he had gotten a short distance from their new home and was walking Igor at a rest area when the dog heard a noise, pulled the leash from his hands, and ran away. Lawson claimed that he had not seen the dog since. The Juhalas are asking that anyone with information about Igor contact the KPLC-TV news team, which has been following his story.

As the Juhalas learned, it is never safe to hand animals over to a stranger to transport them. They could be abused, lost, or even sold to a laboratory. The cargo hold of a plane is no place for animals, either, as they can fall victim to extreme temperatures, sometimes resulting in death. The safest option is to insist that our animals fly with us in the cabin or to drive them to the destination ourselves.  

Written by Michelle Sherrow