Written by PETA
A participant in a photo shoot became a model of compassion when she saved a goat's life. The goat was being used as a "prop," and the shoot took place on a scorching-hot summer day on a California ranch. The visitor found the goat lying on the ground with hooves that were so overgrown that he was unable to stand up or reach food and water.
The witness contacted PETA, and we quickly alerted animal control. And voilà! The goat was surrendered to animal control within 24 hours. It likely took months for the hooves to grow so painfully long, but the goat's owner claimed that he "didn't notice." (Yet the photo shoot participant noticed them with one glance.) PETA is asking for cruelty charges.
After a long overdue hoof trim and some TLC, the goat was put up for adoption, his photo prop days behind him.
You don't have to be an expert to tell that an animal might be suffering. If something doesn't look right, it probably isn't right, so please speak up!
Written by Michelle Sherrow
Earlier this week, Florida resident Willie Bell turned down a plea deal of three years in prison for a felony charge of cruelty to animals. Not smart: Now Bell faces five years in prison, and if he's convicted, he deserves every second of it. According to police, Bell tied a 30-pound dumbbell around a dog's neck, placed the dog in the water 25 yards off shore, and forced him to swim for his life. Blackie, the 2-year-old pit bull mix, was rescued after a witness saw him struggling and called police.
When PETA heard about this case, we immediately contacted the local police department, since dogfighters often train dogs by forcing them to tread water. Fortunately, the investigation turned up no evidence of dogfighting, and Blackie is now back with his guardian, Bell's cousin, who was reportedly horrified to learn about Bell's alleged actions.
Pit bulls are the most abused dogs in dogdom. Because of their "macho" image, pit bulls are the breed of choice for thugs, gangs, drug dealers, and dogfighters. But we can all help stop this cycle of abuse. Speak out against negative media depictions that perpetuate the image of pit bulls as fighting machines. And please, if you see an animal in danger, contact your local police department immediately.
Written by Paula Moore
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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