When a woman contacted PETA with information about trucks jammed full of birds routinely driving through her area, she added that two chickens had fallen off a truck that morning. She had taken them home with her, where she gave them food, water, and bedding.

One of the injured birds had died, and the other was unable to stand. PETA's Cruelty Investigations Division urged the woman to take the surviving bird to a nearby veterinarian right away. The doctor found that the chicken was suffering from two broken legs and was so profoundly overweight (like many chickens raised for meat) that even if he were able to heal her legs, she would never be able to bear weight on them or have a decent quality of life. He recommended that the anguished hen be euthanized right away—a far gentler end than she would have faced in the pandemonium at the slaughterhouse.

What You Can Do

If you see any animal in trouble, please don't turn away—provide help, even if the kindest option is a humane release from suffering. You can also save lives by going vegan: Every penny spent on meat, milk, or eggs funds the institutionalized torture of countless animals like these two chickens.

The story is a common one but still heartrending: Deuce's owners bought him as a puppy, but when he got big—although still full of energy and enthusiasm—instead of giving him gentle guidance and abundant exercise, they kicked him out of the house and chained him to a tree.

A Chain Is Not a Home

Fortunately for Deuce, one kind soul saw that he was tied up in the mud without shelter on a rainy day and took pity on him. After other rescue organizations refused to help Deuce, PETA was contacted and immediately arranged to have the pup picked up—the uninterested family surrendered him to the rescuer—and taken to a reputable animal shelter.

That would be enough of a tail-wagger for many animals who are facing a similar plight, but Deuce's good fortune continued: Shortly after arriving at the animal shelter, he was adopted by a loving family, and now he spends every day indoors as a cherished member of the household.

What You Can Do

Both dogs and cats are happier and safer indoors. Please, if you spot an animal left outside, be ready to help—and don't take "no" for an answer!

When PETA learned that a Florida man was trapping (and perhaps killing) squirrels directly under a bird feeder, a PETA cruelty caseworker jumped into action. While the trapping was legal under state law—which meant that Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials couldn't help—the squirrels suffered for hours from the intense Florida heat and from anxiety, especially since squirrels prefer to burrow and minimize their exposure to humans and other potential dangers.

In addition to asking Fish and Wildlife to confront the man trapping the squirrels, the caseworker called and e-mailed the man and encouraged one of the man's neighbors to speak to the trapper, who ultimately agreed to stop capturing the squirrels. The neighbor was also urged to stop feeding squirrels, which attracted more of them to the area.

What You Can Do

There's no need to resort to drastic measures: Learn how to live in harmony with our wild-animal neighbors. Even if you enjoy wildlife, please think carefully before feeding them, as doing so can expose them to predators and other dangers.

They spent their days relegated to a carport, cast aside like old exercise equipment. The two dogs were locked inside crates from early in the morning until dusk without a chance to relieve themselves and no way to escape from the blistering Southern summer heat. The Labrador mix did not even have room to stand up.

A neighbor who had to watch the dogs suffer had tried calling animal control for help. And although officers went to the home and issued a warning, they refused to confiscate the dogs because the animals did not appear to be in immediate danger of dying from dehydration or heatstroke. Frustrated, the neighbor called PETA for help.

We called animal control every few days to file an animal welfare complaint against the owner. Each time animal control paid a visit to the house, officers issued the owner another warning. Realizing that he would either have to allow his dogs indoors or continually deal with animal control, the owner surrendered both dogs to the local shelter.

It took a lot of persistence, but now both dogs have a chance to find a new home with a guardian who understands that dogs belong indoors with the rest of the family.

PETA has a wealth of information on how crating is detrimental to dogs, which you can share with anyone you know who is considering using these cruel cages (for even a short length of time).

Some visitors to South Carolina turned their vacation into an opportunity to advocate for animals when they spotted two aquariums packed to the brim with slider turtles at a beach shop.

The aquariums were full of water, and the turtles had only a small bit of rock and cut-up pieces of a pool toy to climb onto to rest. Slider turtles can't hold their breath for long underwater, and the turtles were exhausted from being forced to swim constantly and surface frequently in order to get air. Reportedly, some of the animals had already died from their ordeal.

The tourists called PETA, and we contacted a reputable law-enforcement agency in the area. The responding officer immediately cited the store manager for cruelty to animals. The officer also ordered the store to give the turtles more space, provide each tank with sufficient items for the turtles to rest on, and closely monitor the quality of the water.

In court, the officer and an equally diligent prosecutor made an excellent case for cruelty charges, and the manager was convicted and slapped with the maximum penalty—more than $1,000. The court also appointed a reptile specialist to educate the manager on the proper care of turtles. PETA is pushing the store to stop selling turtles altogether.

This all happened because some tourists took a few minutes out of their vacation to help animals. Never let an opportunity pass you by—never be silent. 

When this orphaned baby pigeon was brought into a parks department office, the woman who accepted the hatchling did the right thing and contacted animal control—but unfortunately, animal-control officers didn't do the right thing. Although they said they'd come get the bird, they didn't show up. So the tenacious lady made another smart move: She called PETA.

The little one was lethargic, having been without his parents for so long, so PETA's caseworker quickly called the agency responsible for rescue and rehabilitation for animal control and had it expedite care. You'll be glad to know that the pigeon was successfully rehabbed. His future looks bright—or, as the caseworker put it, "He is going to be a rock star among pigeons."

What You Can Do

If you want to be a rock star among pigeons (or any other animals), all you have to do is be ready to offer assistance when they're in trouble—and don't give up until they receive the help they need.

After observing a large number of dogs who were living in filthy conditions, chained, breeding, fighting, or confined to hot areas—and getting no help from local animal control—a caring person notified PETA, and one of its caseworkers jumped into action.

The miserable pups were covered with fleas and living without veterinary care or socialization. Two of the dogs were kept inside a trailer that had no air conditioning or any other kind of ventilation. One was significantly underweight. Those responsible for the sad conditions of the dogs clearly didn't care about their welfare, so the caseworker persuaded them to surrender the animals and arranged for an area resident to pick up the 13 dogs and carry them to a reputable local animal shelter—from which one has already been adopted into a loving home.

What You Can Do

PETA will continue to monitor the situation to make sure the dogs' former owners don't acquire more animals, but this case again illustrates the importance of speaking up when you see animals in trouble and being persistent until they get the help they so desperately need.

A New York state man was shocked to see a tiny kitten drag himself into his yard by his two front paws. The lower half of the kitten's body was smashed and limp, so he had likely been struck by a car and the driver had failed to stop and check on him. There is no way to know how long the kitten had been suffering, dragging his broken body.

The man called local authorities, but they showed little interest in helping the injured animal. Frustrated, he called PETA for help. We contacted local animal-control officials, but because it was after hours, they told us they couldn't send an officer out until the next day. We persisted, stressing how badly injured the kitten was and how imperative it was that he get immediate help. Animal control relented, and within an hour of the man's worried call, the kitten was mercifully euthanized and freed from his agony.

Sometimes one hour is all it takes to save an animal from immense suffering. It may require persistence and patience, but you will prevail if you refuse to take "No" for an answer. And if all else fails, call PETA. 

After residents complained about a smell coming from a neighboring apartment, the building's management company left several notices and tried to contact the tenant. But after getting no response, company staffers entered the apartment, where they found this abandoned puppy, less than 5 months old, who had been left tied to a radiator. So they contacted PETA.

PETA's caseworker quickly contacted local animal control officials and asked them to pick up the dog right away. The poor pup was in good condition, but her tether was very short. She was surrounded by her own waste and had no food or water. The puppy was brought to a local animal shelter, where she was given veterinary care and was spayed. Now she's been adopted by a loving family, who will never leave her behind—and in return, she'll give them her whole heart.

So that's the happy ending, and here's the moral of the story: This puppy could have easily starved to death if apartment management hadn't helped by contacting PETA. If you ever find an animal in need, speak up.

PETA's Emergency Response Team received an e-mail from a woman wondering what to do for her ailing cat, who had been diagnosed with feline leukemia (FeLV) and was losing weight, acting lethargic, and not eating anymore (common symptoms of this ravaging disease). We responded immediately and learned that her young cat, Tigger, had been diagnosed two weeks prior when she took him to the vet because of dramatic weight loss. Two different veterinarians had recommended euthanasia as the most compassionate option for Tigger, but his guardian was reluctant to take their advice.

In light of Tigger's diagnosis and alarming condition, we gently counseled his guardian about the prolonged suffering that FeLV causes, including further weight loss, fever, gastrointestinal problems, difficulty breathing, and a compromised immune system that could lead to secondary infections.

Tigger's guardian finally agreed that merciful euthanasia was the kindest thing she could offer her beloved animal companion, and she rushed him to a veterinarian that afternoon. The next day, PETA received a phone call from Tigger's guardian to tell us that she was relieved that he was finally free from his suffering. It had been hard to let go, but once she convinced herself to do it, she realized that it was the compassionate choice.

The once frisky, playful cat quickly deteriorated

If someone you know is struggling with the deteriorating illness of an animal, please urge them to consult a veterinarian to ensure that the animal doesn't languish. If you've recently lost an animal, setting up a True Friends Memorial can be a special way to honor your animal companion's memory.