Written by PETA
My sister has always written letters and signed petitions about animal issues, but all it took for her to become a full-out anti-circus campaigner was for me to bring home a bullhook from the PETA office for her to see and touch. The sheer ugly menace of this standard elephant training tool really hit her (not literally!). As she put it, "The thought of elephants getting beaten and hooked with this sadistic weapon makes me sick."
Seasoned activists are already familiar with these heavy, metal-tipped, fireplace poker–like devices, which circuses like Ringling use to break elephants and keep them afraid to move an inch without permission. And now you have a chance to get your hooks on one. Leave a comment telling us how having a real bullhook would help you educate people about the abuse of elephants in circuses, and you'll be in the running to win one to use in your local campaigns and anti-circus demonstrations!
The person who leaves the most motivated comment will win this ghastly weapon for his or her own show-and-tell educational efforts. The contest ends on May 14, 2010, and we'll announce the winner on May 18, 2010. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by submitting. And please remember, let our Action Team know when the circus is coming to your area so that we can work together to plan a demonstration and get the word out.
Good luck!
Written by Jennifer O'Connor
What's up, Doc(tor Pepper)? This wascally wabbit bottle-opener, that's what!
If any of you out there share your home with bunnies, you know how much mischief their incisors can get them into. But here's one bunny whose chomping powers will impress all your friends. The Bottle Bunny bottle-opener makes quick work of everything from Wild Hare Pale Ale to Jones Chocolate Bunny Soda—and it looks nose-wrigglingly cute doing it.
Obviously, you must possess one, but how do you get it? Post a comment below telling us your favorite imaginary soda flavor. The person who dreams up the most creative flavor hops away with a Bottle Bunny of his or her very own.
The contest ends on May 19, 2010, and we'll select a winner on May 21, 2010. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting.
What are you waiting for? Hop to it!
Written by Alisa Mullins
Cows are cool, and so is bling. And that's what makes Alternative Outfitters' 'Go Veg' Cow Pendant Necklace a must-have accessory.
Handmade out of recycled aluminum, this pretty conversation piece is a great way to spread the pro-vegan message (and look good while doing it). So cow's about trying to win one of these necklaces? Just tell us what mooved you (OK, I'll cool it with the cow puns … for now) to go veg. The person who leaves the most inspiring comment will walk away with this awesome animal-friendly accessory.
Before you start dreaming about fine jewelry, please read the fine print: The contest ends on May 12, 2010, and we'll pick the winner on May 15, 2010. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting.
Good Luck!
Written by Amy Skylark Elizabeth
It's Earth Day, and because one of the most effective ways to fight climate change is to stop consuming animal flesh and other food ingredients derived from animals, we want to know what actions you are taking to help others realize that "meat's not green." Tell us about your efforts in the comment section, and you might score the eco-chic "Tofu Never Screams" tote as well as PETA's reusable, BPA-free water bottle.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Two entries drawn at random will win both the tote and the bottle. The contest ends on April 29, 2010, and we'll pick the winners on May 3, 2010. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting.
Happy Earth Day!
Written by Karin Bennett
Where is my dog Henry's ball? If only it glowed in the dark like a Galaxy Glow dog toy from Premier!
Sure to please your pup, these easy-to-find-even-in-the-dead-of-night toys are perfect for an after-hours game of fetch. Want to fetch one? Just tell us about something your dog does that makes you glow (with love, of course). The two people whose comments most make us go "aww" will score a football. Your comment should also include the size of your dog, so that we can hook him or her up with the right-sized weird and wonderful toy.
While I'm checking under the couch cushions for Henry's ball, please read the fine print: The contest ends on May 5, 2010, and we'll pick the winners on May 7, 2010. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting.
Tweeps, we need your help! USA Today has announced that it will donate a full-page ad (a $189,400 value) to the nonprofit organization that garners the most tweets on Twitter. If PETA wins, we will use the ad to call for an end to Canada's annual seal slaughter, which is happening right now and may result in some 388,200 seals being bludgeoned and killed on the ice this year. Imagine if just one tweet could save one seal.
The contest ends on Friday, April 16, so please tweet, retweet, and post our tweet on your Facebook pages ASAP. Just be sure to include "#AmericaWants @PETA to get a full-page ad in USA TODAY" in your tweet so your vote will count. If you haven't yet joined the "flock," please sign up for a Twitter account now so that you can make your voice heard. A tweet for PETA is a tweet for seals!
Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post
OK, we know that your animal companions already have you eating out of their hand (er, paw), but wouldn't it be nice if they could eat their kibble out of a cool new bowl from Daisy Dog Studio?
Almost as cute as your animal companion, these handcrafted porcelain bowls offer some serious fine dining for Fido. Speaking of the name "Fido" (does anyone really name their dog "Fido" anymore?), let's play the name game. To win this prize, leave a comment telling us the story behind your dog or cat's name. The most compelling name and story will score one lucky dog or cat lover a set of these must-have dishes. Personally, the best dog name I've ever heard is "Lunch Box." Not only is the big guy shaped just like one of those old-school metal lunch boxes, but he also has a habit of stealing your peanut butter sandwich when you're not looking.
Before you try to top that, here's what you need to know: The contest ends on April 28, 2010, and we'll pick the winner on April 30, 2010. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting.
Last week, your votes ensured that Pamela Anderson's wildly entertaining and uniquely activist run on Dancing With the Stars (DWTS) would continue. (Her anti-bullfighting paso doble was the first of its kind.) To say thanks, we're giving away two bottles of Pamela's new cruelty-free Malibu perfume.
Watch DWTS tonight and vote for Pamela by calling 1-800-868-3411, texting "vote" to 3411 from any AT&T phone, and visiting ABC's Web site. You can vote by texting and calling up to 30 minutes after the show ends, and you can vote online until 11 a.m. ET tomorrow.
Then enter our contest by posting a comment below to tell us which of her many memorable moments on DWTS has been your favorite.The contest ends on April 16, 2010, and we'll pick two winners at random on April 19, 2010. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you're agreeing to both by commenting. Good luck!
Written by Logan Scherer
Smell that? It's the savory scent of our Fine Faux Foie Gras Challenge permeating the blogosphere. Check out our fabulous future L.A. neighbors' attempt to win top honors:
With the stakes insanely high—$10,000 to be exact—compassionate chefs everywhere are making their ingredient lists and checking them twice. (Hey, soon-to-be-fellow Angelinos: You still have time to tweak your recipe so that it contains no animal products!) The only force-feeding in this contest will be when our judges stuff their own faces with international chefs' sure-to-be-succulent recipes.
What a week it's been—I never dreamed I'd see so many flakes in one place (and I'm not talking about Snowmagolypse)!
During PETA's "Who Wore It Worst?" competition, a fur-addicted mother squared off with her daughter. Devilishly self-centered divas duked it out. Pelt-wearing wannabes went toe-to-toe. And two famous wives, each married to cruelty to animals, united on one Web page in a furocious smackdown.
You voted, and now we've chosen a winner. But before we reveal who was crowned "Fur Hag 2010," we'd like to hear your predictions. Share them below.
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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