Written by Michelle Sherrow
Winter skin. Need I say more? While alligators have qualities that I admire—they're family-oriented and great swimmers—I don't enjoy it when my skin feels like one.
The folks at Brooklyn's Metropolis Soap Company (a fave of Zooey Deschanel) are sending three lucky PETA Files readers the cure for the winter-skin blues: the reader's choice of one of seven superb body scrubs that not only exfoliate the alligator skin but also moisturize with a hint of shea butter.
Every scrub is made from natural ingredients such as real fruit, flowers, sugar, and salt, with no parabens or sulfates. And the best part is that they're all vegan and cruelty-free, so they don't hurt alligators or any other animals.
To enter, just post a comment telling us which of the scentsational scrubs you'd like to have delivered to your door, and three winners will be chosen at random.
In a while, crocodile!
Because of shipping requirements, people living only within the 48 continental United States are eligible to win. Three winners will be chosen at random from the animal-friendly comments that are submitted. The contest will end on March 6, 2012, and we'll contact the winners by March 14, 2012. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.
Written by Jeff Mackey
The year 2011 was a great one for animals, and 2012 is bound to be even better. Tell us what you plan to do for animals in the coming year, and you could win a gift basket to help you start the year off right! The basket contains a selection of fabulous health, beauty, and whole-food products—including Bija certified organic teas, Green Beaver hair-care products, olive oils, and nutritional supplements—from PETA Business Friend Flora, Inc.
Not sure how to get active for animals in 2012? Here are some ideas:
Let us know in the comments section what you have up your sleeve for the new year, and you'll be entered in the drawing for a chance to win the Flora gift basket.
A winner will be chosen at random from the animal-friendly comments that are submitted. The contest will end on January 13, 2012, and we'll contact the winner by January 31, 2012. Make sure that you 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!
Written by PETA
It's the season for giving, and PETA Business Friend Allison's Gourmet is giving away a $50 gift certificate for delicious vegan treats to one lucky PETA Files reader. Could it be you?
Allison's Gourmet is one of the premier all-vegan online bakeries. Because none of Allison's cookies or confections contains animal products, the treats are 100 percent cholesterol-free and don't contribute to the cruelty to animals found in the dairy and egg industries. And I can tell you from personal experience that these are some of the most delectable desserts that you will ever eat. To enter this contest, simply complete the form below.
Can't wait to get your own box of vegan confections, or want to give one as a gift? Head on over to the Allison's Gourmet website today. And since there's no such thing as giving too many gifts, stock up on all sorts of goodies from the PETA Catalog this holiday season.
Contest entries will be accepted from December 13, 2011, through December 22, 2011. One winner will then be chosen at random from all entrants and presented with a $50 gift certificate to Allison's Gourmet. The winner will be notified by January 15, 2012. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by submitting your entry to this contest. This contest is open only to residents of the United States. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Good luck!
Written by Heather Faraid Drennan
After receiving a ton of endearing, funny, interesting, odd, and clever submissions for our contest asking how you would like to rename "mutts" with a moniker that celebrates rescued dogs' uniqueness and diversity, we've narrowed the list to four terms, and the pollsters are ready to start tallying the votes.
The winning name will be made into a bumper sticker reading, "I ♥ my ____," that will be sold at PETA's CafePress store. But the smarty who submitted the winning term will snag a free sticker, along with a gift basket brimming with goodies for their pedigree-free pup.
Stay tuned to see which name will claim the fame!
Poll closes December 12th and winner will be notified by December 15th.
You might recognize the enthusiastic, charming, and incomparable Tamar Geller from her television appearances on such shows as Oprah, Ellen, and Larry King Live, and now you have the opportunity to see the dog coach to the stars in her very own PETA miniseries. We've teamed up with Tamar to produce a set of six short episodes about how to be your dog's best friend, and we'll release one per week starting today. First up is Episode 1: "Your Dog's 7 Basic Needs."
Tamar's motivation for making this series is to debunk dog-training myths and encourage people to pay more attention to their dogs and to use positive reinforcement, all of which will be covered in future episodes on PETA's "Features" page. Episode 1 covers such issues as how to provide your canine companion with mental and physical stimulation. One tip: Talk to your dog! Dogs can understand up to 150 words, and you can converse with them simply by narrating their actions and praising their behavior.
When you view each episode on PETA's "Features" page, you can also enter to win a yummy prize for your dog. We've teamed up with PETA Business Friend V-dog to give a month's supply of healthy, vegan dog food to one winner each week as Tamar's videos are released. So check the PETA “Features” page every week for the next entertaining and informative installment in the series.
The weather is turning cooler, but that doesn't mean our hearts should too. Fall is a great time to make a fashion statement in support of clothes that warm our skin and don't cost animals theirs. One lucky PETA Files reader will snag this autumnal 'No Fur' Burnout Fitted V-Neck T-Shirt, perfect for layering, to take you into cooler weather in style.
To enter, just post a comment about why you won't shroud yourself in dead animals. A winner will be chosen at random.* (Just remember to wear the tee with your pleather shoes because animals used for leather suffer too.) Good luck!
*The winner will be chosen at random from submitted animal-friendly comments telling us why the commenter wears cruelty-free clothing. The contest ends October 7, 2011, and the winner will be notified October 21, 2011. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.
"We give dogs time we can spare, and love we can spare. And, in return, they give us their all. It's the best deal anyone ever made."—M. Acklam
Does your dog get the "leftovers"—leftover time, leftover attention, leftover energy? We're all busy, but our dogs deserve more than leftovers. Quality time with their humans—spent playing fetch or hide-and-seek or getting a massage or even just a scratch behind the ears or a belly rub—is food for the doggie soul. Here are some fun, easy "snacks" for your dog's psyche from PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk's book Let's Have a Dog Party!
Dogs appreciate the simplest of gestures. Even a few kind words can send a pup into belly-up bliss. Praise your dog often with kind words, such as "Good puppy! What a sweetie! We love you!" and prepare for the wet kisses. Special treats—a new toy (try a musical one), homemade biscuits, or even cardboard boxes to shred, a sock with a ball tied inside it, or a branch to chew on—can make a dog's day. A raised voice can ruin it.
Every dog loves a walk, and they need the exercise (as do we!). They also need to catch up on all the local neighborhood news, so let them sniff. If you're using a collar, which can cause imperceptible but nagging neck injuries even if the dog pulls only slightly, try switching to a safer and more comfortable harness, which gives you better and easier control. Never use a choke or pinch collar—they hurt, and they're dangerous. Your best bet for dogs who pull hard is a Sense-ation harness, which has a front leash attachment.
When the weather is hot, short walks (never jogs) during the coolest parts of the day are best, choosing shady, grassy routes and avoiding hot pavement, which can burn foot pads. If you can't walk barefoot on it, your dog shouldn't have to, either. Walk at a leisurely pace and take along water. Overexerted dogs can quickly suffer from heatstroke because of their fur coats and inability to perspire through their skin, just as they do when they are left in a hot car.
A dog party is a great way to show that you care. There are plenty of excuses to throw one—birthdays, adoption anniversaries, "bark" mitzvahs, and more. Invite friends to the beach, a dog park, or your backyard, and treat canine and human guests to fun games, snacks, and goodie bags.
For more detailed ideas for giving your biggest fan some star treatment, enter to win a copy of Let's Have a Dog Party! by posting a comment below telling us how you celebrate your dog.*
*The winner will be chosen at random from commenters who tell us how they celebrate their dogs. The contest ends September 2, 2011, and the winner will be notified by September 16. Rules and restrictions apply. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.
And we have another 10% Wool comic "Tag and Release" contest! Here's how it works: You submit the caption for this week's comic in the comment section below. The person whose caption best complements the strip will receive a prize. This week's winner will walk away with a peta2 "Free For All" T-shirt!
The entry round ends at 12 noon on March 15, 2011, and we'll announce the winner and showcase the winning comment in a blog post on March 17, 2011. Be sure to 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!
Don't forget to check out the archive of past 10% Wool comic strips and get more information on the series and the writer here. Plus, learn how to get Jeff's other comic, DeFlocked, into your local paper here.
You say it's your birthday? PETA wants to party with you. We have a neat new Web feature that lets you make your own webpage on PETA's site for your birth month. Your friends and family can use it to wish you a happy birthday and give gifts for animals on your behalf. You can ask for spay or neuter surgeries, toys for lonely backyard dogs, days off for working animals—whatever strikes your fancy. And you can rake in gifts too. This month, the birthday guy or girl who earns the most gifts for animals will win a PETA tote bag filled with a shirt, a travel mug, vegan lip balm, a pin, and a "Peace to All" necklace.
The contest runs from March 1 through March 31, and the winner will be announced on April 1. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited.
Let's get the party started!
It wasn't easy to choose just one winner for PETA's "All-Expenses-Paid Thanksgiving Vacation to NYC" contest from the many video entries we received—but we did it. Ladies and gentleman, meet Kate, who eloquently explains why she and her family will be leaving turkey off the menu this Thanksgiving.
Congratulations to Kate, who's no doubt gearing up for a lot of weekend adventures in the Big Apple—and to everyone who entered, thanks for speaking up for turkeys.
Now the question is how will all of you benevolent busybodies celebrate Thanksgiving Day and Fur-Free Friday?
Written by Karin Bennett
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.
Follow PETA on Twitter!