Written by PETA
Despite the fact that footage of a handler with Have Trunk Will Travel (HTWT) beating and shocking an elephant named Tai has been widely publicized, California institutions continue to hire the shady outfit. In addition to the Santa Ana Zoo, which offers rides on elephants provided by HTWT, the city of Sierra Madre, California, had planned to feature Tai in its July Fourth parade today. But after hearing from PETA and hundreds of concerned citizens, the city canceled its plans and Tai will get the day off.
HTWT is unrepentant about the footage showing elephant beatings and has even defended the use of bullhooks (rods resembling fireplace pokers with sharp metal hooks on the end) and electric shock prods. PETA had pointed out to Sierra Madre officials that not only is using Tai in parades cruel to her, it also poses a risk to paradegoers, since Tai could easily be spooked by the noise and commotion of a large crowd, live bands, and possibly even fireworks, and break free, which could lead to injuries.
You can celebrate Independence Day by urging the Santa Ana Zoo to follow Sierra Madre's lead and stop doing business with HTWT. Every organization that hires HTWT helps pay for the oppression of elephants.
Written by Alisa Mullins
Last year's McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago was chock-full of behemoth balloon characters and live entertainment (was that the cast of Jersey Boys I saw serenading their way down State Street?), but something was missing …
Wait, I know! Where was the killer clown? Considering that McDonald's refuses to adopt controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK)—the less cruel slaughter method that would spare birds from having their throats cut while they're still conscious and from being scalded alive—no parade sponsored by the fast-food fiend would be complete without a bloodstained float full of terrified birds being butchered by "Raging Ronnie," the grand marshal of gore. That's why we recently submitted a request to sponsor the following float in this year's parade:
This float idea? I'm totally lovin' it. No word yet on what the parade organizers think. While we're waiting for an answer, tell us about an animal rights–themed float that you would like to see in a major parade …
Written by Amy Elizabeth
How would you react if you learned that your father was Charles Manson?
DJ Matthew Roberts was adopted as an infant. When he recently found out that his biological father is the infamous criminal, he made it very clear that he's nothing like his old man:
"My hero is Gandhi," said Roberts. "I'm an extremely nonviolent, peaceful person and a vegetarian. I don't even kill bugs."
By not eating meat, Roberts is saving the lives of more than 100 animals each year. File this one under "sometimes the apple does fall far from the tree."
Written by Logan Scherer
San Francisco's gay pride parade—touted as the world's largest—got a healthy infusion of vegetarian pride on Sunday. Working with local group Bay Area Vegetarians, PETA showed up in full force—accompanied by more than 100 men and women who were eager to educate the public about the benefits of a vegetarian diet.
Obviously, everyone who participated in the parade had tons of fun—but the icing on the (vegan) cake is that more than 500,000 people attended the event and learned that by cutting meat out of their diets, they could be healthier, reduce their carbon footprint, and save over 100 animals' lives per year.
Check out even more pictures of the parade here.
Written by Liz Graffeo
Back in December, we spread some holiday cheer with news that a greyhound racetrack in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, had closed. Today we are celebrating Independence Day for all greyhounds used in racing in New Hampshire, because the last two dog tracks in the state have stopped racing greyhounds!
Greyhounds in the Granite State will now be spared routine racetrack horrors, which include long hours in cramped kennels, broken legs, heatstroke, and heart attacks, and being abandoned, starved, shot, or sold to laboratories when their racing days are through. Break out the bubbly and join us as we toast this victory.
One state down, nine to go …
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!