I love it! This one is a real winner. It’s got the Trollsens and it’s New Years relevant!
Click for a larger versionTo check out the archives of past strips, click here. - Joel

Did we need more evidence to know that no-kill shelters are not the solution? According to news reports two members of a no-kill animal rescue group will serve time behind bars for keeping nearly 300 dogs and cats in squalid conditions. Former Noah’s Ark Animal Rescue, CA owner Alexiea Tiraki-Kyrklund was sentenced to 16 months in prison, and Gloria Yvette Ramos, head volunteer at the shelter, was sentenced to a year in jail and five years probation for felony animal cruelty.According to prosecutors, animal control officers found 152 dogs and 147 cats inside the building, and a state-licensed veterinarian determined that the conditions were detrimental to the animals' health and safety.The defense attorney argued that most of the animals had been in poor health when they were rescued from other facilities and that his clients "didn't do anything wrong." It’s that last quote about not doing anything wrong that bothers me. The police only found out about this because the stench was so overwhelming. If humans were overpowered by a smell beyond closed doors, imagine what the animals, with their sensitive noses, were subjected to inside! Good intentions can cause as much harm to animals as the worst abusers sometimes. - Joel

Animals are pretty impressive. Most of them are faster than us humans. Many of them are stronger. And now we see that some are even smarter than some of us.This isn’t a new story, but it just keeps floating around and has finally made its way to my inbox. Researchers in Japan have showed that chimpanzees can outdo college kids with some counting and memory games. Watch some of the videos below (and then scour YouTube for more). Along a related note here’s a nice clip of a crow using a tool. Chimpanzee
vs.HumanFor those who like to reader in the audience, here’s a great piece from the Sunday New York Times Magazine about “the two greatest nonhuman linguists of our day: Washoe, the sign-language-wielding chimpanzee with an intense footwear fetish; and Alex, the wildly outspoken parrot.” It all begs the question, what are we going to do in 2008 knowing now without question how smart animals are?- Joel

If you haven’t seen it yet, it is imperative that you watch this new video for our ABC Campaign, which is both an initiative to educate people about the importance of spaying and neutering their animals, and stop breeders from pumping out thousands of pups every year who take homes from those destined to die in shelters. What I like about Sex Talk, and the other spot we’ve put together for this campaign, is that it’s a lot more than just a funny ad. There’s something about it that makes you really uncomfortable—which, I guess, is exactly what a proper chat about the birds and the bees is supposed to. Check it out if you haven’t seen it yet, and you can watch the other video (Buy One, Get One Free) here.

When tragedy strikes at such a large scale as with the assassination of Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and death of 20 others, it’s impossible to ignore its impact. A colleague sent me the following quote by Ms. Bhutto that I did think readers of this blog would find interesting and worth passing along. “A Vegetarian diet keeps me fit in spite of the strains of office. All Muslims should take to Vegetarianism, or otherwise the livestock would not be found."Over six years ago I wrote an op-ed for my college school paper titled “For peace’s sake, stop eating meat”. I might not agree with everything I wrote six years ago, but I still believe that there’s a strong relationship between the respect we give both our human and animal companions on this planet. Is it so hard to just be kind?If Ms. Bhutto’s words do inspire you to explore vegetarianism here’s a free Vegetarian Starter Kit to help you along the way.- Joel

Trollsen Twin UpdatePage Six reported earlier this week that Hairy-Kate and Trashley are “groveling at the non-leather shoes of PETA” in response to our Trollsen Twin campaign. According to one source, "The Olsens want to make peace with PETA." Well Trollsens, I think we’ve made our demands clear. Stop supporting the cruel and frivolous torture of animals. Cut it out!Hey Charities, Stop Testing on Animals. OK?OK! magazine had an article in their January issue about how Sir Paul McCartney has been unable to honor the memory of his first wife Linda by giving money to some cancer charities because they support vivisection (that’s a big word for animal experimentation), which Linda was passionately against.Check out HumaneSeal.org to see if charities you’re interested in supporting fund animal experimentation.Jack Hanna—Expert on Tiger AttacksBy now everyone has heard about the tragic tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo on Christmas. What you might not know is how you can help make sure a similar tragedy never happens again by urging the zoo to permanently close their tiger exhibit.One bit of irony that a reader of this blog pointed out to me is how the media has been trotting out everyone’s favorite wildlife pimp Jack Hanna as an expert on exotic animals. But maybe that does make sense, after all Jack was involved in a similar incident in 1973 when a lion at his menagerie tore off the arm of a kid. Almost 35 years later and he still hasn’t stopped abusing animals...Are you sexy?Prove it. - Joel

What was PETA up to in 2007? Watch this video to find out.The video really captures how kick ass we all are. And by “we” I mean all of us who fight for animals. We pretty much rule.

File this one under “hilarious.”

PETA Asia-Pacific, which may or may not be comprised of drunken frat guys, had a clever demonstration planned in which inflatable sex dolls would assert the fact that “KFC Blows”. Unfortunately the dolls were confiscated by customs officials in the Philippines, who may or may not be lonely men.

PETA Asia-Pacific had planned to take the dolls on a tour of red-light districts, including Pat Pong in Bangkok, Kings Cross in Sydney, Kabukicho in Japan, and the Philippines' Angeles City. The dolls were confiscated by customs officials when they arrived in the Philippines via U.S.-based package carrier UPS en route to PETA Asia-Pacific's office in Makati.

"The blow-up dolls were a trouble-free prop because KFC also treats chickens like inanimate objects," says PETA Asia-Pacific Director Jason Baker. "KFC profits from using crude killing methods—the company has an international obligation to stop torturing the birds who end up dead in its buckets. We're calling on people worldwide to boycott KFC until the company implements minimal animal welfare standards."

Next maybe PETA Asia-Pacific will challenge KFC’s executives to Beirut to decide the fate of the 850 million chickens raised and killed for KFC.

I’m a fan of lists. I’m also a fan of Jack Shepherd (as in the guy who usually writes this blog not the doctor on Lost—though I like him too). Jack’s off enjoying the holidays with his family so I thought I’d use part of my time on the blog to spotlight some of Jack’s non-blog work at PETA. (Hopefully Jack will keep this in mind when he comes back and sees all the typos I left on “his blog.”) Jack’s primary job duty other than writing The PETA Files is coordinating what we call “online viral projects”—projects that are funny, shocking, or emotional in some other way so much that when people see them they forward them on to their friends and the content spreads around the Internet through word of mouth.

My 10 Favorite Projects That Jack Masterminded or The Ten Projects that I’m Most Proud to Have Worked with Jack On

1. Super Chick Sisters
Super Chicks Sisters, a parody of Super Mario Bros. that highlights KFC’s abusive practices was Jack’s first mega-hit. We really made an impression on the gaming world—and Jack knows better than anyone that it’s a tough world to penetrate. Over a half a million people have played Super Chick Sisters on our web sites. Probably an equal amount of people have played it on other sites. Not bad!

2. Trollsen Twins: Full House of Horror Video

Jack Shepherd is Futureman.

Jack had to watch endless hours of Full House to be able to write the Full House of Horror script. Then he put his money where his mouth is and got naked for the project in true Terminator style. Really just seeing Jack walk down the Tanner’s kitchen stairs is why this project is my second favorite. It’s that simple.

3. Santa Got Run Over by His Reindeer
Jack not only wrote the lyrics but he sang the song as well. It’s the singing that gets it the high ranking. I love the whole animation because it highlights how we have a sense of humor about ourselves.

4. State of the Union Undress Jack certainly has an interesting job! He’s paid to recruit his co-workers to shed their clothes for the Internet. Watch the video if you don’t know what I’m talking about. This makes the top 5 of my list of favorite projects because it’s a great example of how ballsy PETA is. We’re not afraid to be edgy and neither are the brave individuals who work for PETA who are willing to put themselves out there.

5. Trollsen Twins: Dress Up the Trollsens
This campaign, which is about how Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen should stop promoting and wearing fur, is so wonderful it’s on the list twice! We had been talking about doing a dress up dolls game for over a year before the Trollsens campaign came around and we knew we had a match.

6. KFC Cruelty Sign Generator
I love this project because it’s something KFC should have done themselves and probably would have if they had thought of it. Although their version would have educated far fewer people about cruelty to animals…

7. PETA’s Holiday Snow Globe E-card

Jack was the voice of Tiny Tim in a holiday e-card that didn't make the cut.

The sleeper hit of 2007. I was pretty psyched when I met up with a friend I hadn’t seen in years and he mentioned he saw this the other day. Not bad for a holiday e-card in a world that’s drowning in them.

8. The Fast Food Nation Game
This game, which we created to help promote the Fast Food Nation movie is truly addictive. When making this list I got sidetracked and had to play the game for 20 minutes. Actually every time someone so much as mentions it I have to play it through again. It has a power over me.

9. Burberry Chavs
Thank goodness Jack is British. Otherwise I don’t know how we would have pulled this one off. It’s a great project though because it’s funny even if you don’t know what a “chav” is. I’d explain what this project is but really you just have to experience it for yourself.

10. Pirates of the Carob Bean
I’m obsessed with choose your own adventure stories. In fact this project is almost like Jack’s present to me (Thank you, Jack!). The jokes were actually a bit too niche nerdy for this to be the hit we had hoped but I love it enough to make up for the rest of the world not knowing it exists.

Jack has done many voices for animations, including this one that's not on my list.

Jack of course would want me to mention that he doesn’t work on these projects alone. Our web folk (Karen, Reannon, Elizabeth O, Shawn, Hasan) are crucial, as are our AV dudes (Hey Jamie and Hayden, what’s up?). Then there are all the people who help with ideas, media, and well there are people all over the organization who’ve helped out. Just like all of PETA’s campaigns and projects these are a real team effort.So if you haven’t already take some time to explore all of these web sites and send them along to your friends who might be open to animal rights but need a soft approach. These projects should warm them right up.- Joel

Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia has been named PETA’s “Person of the Year.” Byrd has been recognized with the award for his passionate defense of animals throughout six decades of public service. The senior senator, who was a meat cutter in his youth, has evolved into a tireless advocate for improving legal protection for animals, including animals who are slaughtered for food. The following are a few of Byrd's many efforts in behalf of animals: