Written by Michelle Kretzer
Mariska is not the kind of horse who will let a little thing like a locked gate get in the way of her freedom. Her guardians captured a video of her using slight of tongue to free herself and her friends from their stalls. Visit The Telegraph to see the awesome video!
Perhaps we could get Mariska to set her sights on freeing her fellow horses who are suffering in the carriage industry. Until then, will you please help them?
When boyfriends go vegan, sexy videos go viral. "Boyfriend Went Vegan and Knocked the Bottom out of Me" is PETA's cautionary tale of what can happen when men stop clogging up the blood vessels to all their organs (and not just the heart!) with meat and dairy products. More than 3 million people have watched so far as narrator Kevin Nealon gives frank advice about living with BWVAKTBOOM, quickly skyrocketing the video to become one of the most watched of the year.
Help protect your friends by sharing the BWVAKTBOOM video. And be careful out there.
Written by Jeff Mackey
It was a truly great year for PETA—and for the many animals whose lives were improved and saved by the string of victories won over the past 12 months, all made possible by the vital support of its treasured members. Take a look at the highlights:
A new year means new opportunities to help animals, and we all hope 2013 brings even more brilliant victories—but to make that happen, PETA needs everyone to offer as much support as possible. Don't miss out—become a member today. Your tax-deductable year-end gift will support PETA's crucial work and make 2013 the brightest year yet for animals!
Written by PETA
What could be cuter than a rat with a cotton-ball tail? OK, cuter and real? I nominate this "Awww"-some video of Tinkerbell taking a bath:
Rats are not only adorably squeaky clean but also super sweet and smart—not that hygiene, looks, and/or IQ should ever be a requirement for caring about rodents or any other animal.
Written by Karin Bennett
What's a fast way to make an Average Jane wince? Just say "Diet." Many people mistakenly believe that dieting is all about deprivation. Not so! Watch as Skinny Bitch author Rory Freedman weighs in:
As Rory points out, the easiest, most delicious way to shed pounds and improve overall health is to go vegan. You'll discover seemingly endless menu possibilities with grains, legumes, fruits, and veggies as well as an abundance of "fooled-ya!" flavors and textures to satisfy any craving.
If you haven't already gone vegan, no more excuses: It's time to lose weight and save animals by pledging to be "Fit 4 Summer, Healthy for Life"—and enter to win a "Get Fit With Skinny Bitch" prize pack. Your waistline, your heart, and countless animals thank you for caring.
I've always said that numero ocho is a lucky number—think natural wonders, that timeless tune by The Beatles, and Schoolhouse Rock.
And with the premiere of our new tell-all, eight just beat out seven as my number one numeral:
If you've ever wondered, "What's PETA thinking?" then you'll want to watch this. Narrated by our own Ingrid E. Newkirk, the video takes an in-depth look at how and why PETA employees and supporters stay so motivated to defend all animals, including the maligned and misunderstood.
So if your friends or family members have ever asked you, "Why does PETA rely so heavily on the Lettuce Ladies to turn people on to a vegan diet" or "How do you remain so relentless in your efforts to make a difference," now's the time to answer them. Use this video to spread PETA's secrets to everyone you know via Facebook and Twitter.
Dogfighters are cowardly scum. Just ask the "Scumdogs of the Universe"—better known as thrash-metal band GWAR, whose lead shrieker Oderus Urungus unleashes his wrath on dogfighting in a new peta2 video.
In the video, a chained GWAR "slave" is pitted against Guy Kozowyk of metal masters The Red Chord in a WWE-esque, no-holds-barred match. Unlike dogfights, in which dogs are forced to tear each other to shreds, no real blood is shed in this match, and the willing participants live to fight against dogfighting another day.
The Supreme Court recently struck down a law banning the distribution of videos depicting illegal conduct such as dogfighting, but that doesn't mean that you have to be an intergalactic humanoid barbarian (unless you're into that) to combat this blood sport. If you find evidence that dogfighting is taking place in your area, please contact your local humane society or police department right away. You might also want to contact neighborhood watch groups in your area to encourage them to keep an eye out for possible dogfighting rings. Whatever you do, please declare "GWAR" on dogfighting!
Written by Amy Skylark Elizabeth
Oscar-nominated and Golden Globe– and Grammy-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix is talented, compassionate, and heart-achingly handsome. (I assure you, it's a harmless crush.)
Joaquin, who is vhegan—right down to his pleather gladiators—has narrated our exotic-skins video in the hope of inspiring both shoe aficionados and luxe footwear designers to shun exotic skins, à la Nike, Cole Haan, H&M, and Overstock.com.
He's also penned letters to Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin in which he points out that many snakes, alligators, lizards, and crocodiles are skinned alive by people who believe that the practice makes leather more supple. Snakes can remain alive for up to four days after they are skinned.
There are enough skin-free styles to inspire any shoe fanatic and handbag addict to give skins the boot. I personally can't get enough of the offerings at MooShoes. How do you satisfy your need for skin-free kicks?
Mario knows what it's like to be on top—his new album, D.N.A., has been climbing the charts—but his compassion keeps him grounded. That's why this Billboard Music Award–winning R&B crooner is baring his "Soul Truth" tattoo (and his chest) in a sexy new "Ink, Not Mink" ad. And in a PETA Files exclusive interview, the soulful singer opens up about his lifelong love of animals, explains how an animal is killed for every piece of fur that is produced, and even serenades us with an impromptu tune:
Follow Mario's melodious lead by pledging to be fur-free forever.
Written by Logan Scherer
They're smart, playful, and ridiculously adorable—but they don't belong in ads.
The hip swimwear and clothing company Bonobos has shown that it's a champion for chimpanzees by pulling from its Web site a video that featured a chimpanzee cavorting in swim trunks.
Once Bonobos gave it some thought (maybe after its staff filled up on what must be their favorite brain food), it didn't seem like such a great (ape) idea to support an industry that captures baby apes and keeps them isolated in cages. The company realized that ads making apes look cute and clownish misrepresent these wild animals, who often end up dumped in roadside zoos when they get too large and strong to manage.
Here's what the company had to say:
"At the end of the day, we made Big Chimpin' with the best intentions—but we were also a little naive, and we're not afraid to say so. One of our missions as a company is to help out our friends in the Congo who are working so hard to improve the situation there, so in using a real chimp in our video, we were actually doing ourselves a disservice as well."
And what brought about the company's change of conscience? People like you!
"We thank everyone who wrote to us out of concern for Suzy's safety and dignity. In the end, it's because of your thoughtfulness and willingness to speak up that we learned so much!"
Three cheers to Bonobos! It's one more company—like Sprint Nextel, Gap, and SEGA—that has realized that apes do not aspire to be models or actors (even if they do seem cuter and more intelligent than some former child stars).
Written by Heather Drennan
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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