mooseyscountrygarden / CC

Recent news reports have confirmed that there is fowl play going on at the Polson Health and Rehabilitation Center in Polson, Montana, and according to inside sources, the residents of the facility couldn't be happier about it. In fact, last week's visit from "Fowl Play"—a "therapy chicken" program featuring Carlita the Cornish game hen and Alex the rooster—left the crowd begging for more.

Accompanied by their adopted mom, Jana Clairmont, Carlita and Alex visited the facility to cheer up residents. The plucky pair were treated like rock flock stars and basked in the attention as people cuddled with and cooed over them. That's why we wrote to Polson officials and asked them to chuck the chicken meat off the menu—out of respect for Carlita, Alex, and the billions of smart, interesting birds just like them who are abused on factory farms each year.

In return, we're willing to supply Polson with oh-so-yummy Gardein mock-meat products—approved by Carlita and Alex! Check back to keep abreast of our Polson poultry plea.

Written by Amy Elizabeth

thesun.co / CC

Tomorrow is the birthday of PETA's favorite British comedian (Ricky Gervais … obviously), so PETA Europe has teamed up with Animal Rahat to give him a very unusual present … a bullock! Well, they haven't exactly gift-wrapped and mailed him a bullock—that would just be wrong—but they have rescued and retired a hardworking bullock through Animal Rahat and named the lucky guy "Ricky" in Gervais' honor.

Gervais' cute namesake is a 20-year-old bull who has worked the sugar mill district in Sangli, India, his entire life and would have been sent to slaughter if Animal Rahat had not rescued him.

PETA Europe wanted to give Ricky an extra-special birthday present this year for being such a great sport for animals. As you may recall, the star launched into a hilarious "tirade" earlier this year against organizations that send animals to people in developing countries. Recognizing that impoverished people often lack the basic means to feed and care for the animals they receive, Ricky remarked, "There's nothing in it for the goat!"

Add to that the letter he sent to Gordon Brown asking for an end to the use of real bearskins for The Queen's Guards' caps and his teaming up with Pink to voice one of the characters in our Stolen for Fashion CGI video, and you have one compassionate comedian who deserves a great big "Thank you!"

Happy birthday, Ricky.

Written by Shawna Flavell

It's not too often that you hear about a chicken who is the center of attention rather than the center of a dinner plate. That's why I was so psyched to run across this article about Mr. Joy. A therapy chicken who visits assisted-living centers around Charlotte, North Carolina, Mr. Joy totally digs it when people pet and coo over him. And from the sound of it, people totally dig this cock-a-doodle dude too!

Also a patron of the arts and an animal rights activist (I kid you not), Mr. Joy and his adopted mom, Alisha Tomlinson, are on a mission not only to spread cheer but also to spread the message that chickens are smart, interesting animals who don't deserve to be turned into nuggets.

In fact, when he's not working the rest-home circuit or kicking it with his two wives in their spacious coop condo; he can usually be found in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant. Sticking up for all his fallen peeps who have been abused, butchered, battered, and thrown into buckets, Mr. Joy charms the crowd from the safety of the car while his mom hands out leaflets about factory farming.

Want more Joy? Check out his Web site here. On a more comical note, check out a video showing Mr. Joy getting the beauty-shop treatment below:

-Amy

Posted by Amy Elizabeth