PETA’s high-profile protests against the abuse of animals for “entertainment” garnered international media attention and educated millions of people about the beatings, neglect, and endless hours confined to chains and cages endured by animals in zoos, circuses, and other animal attractions.

After years of pressure from PETA and concerned citizens, the Alaska Zoo sent Maggie, the zoo’s lone elephant, to a sanctuary in California, where she will have the opportunity to roam, play in a lake, forage for fresh vegetation, and enjoy the company of other elephants.

The online job-search company CareerBuilder stopped using chimpanzees in its ads and American Greetings pulled its chimpanzee greeting cards from Target stores after PETA informed them that “trainers” subject baby chimpanzees—too young to be separated from their mothers—to beatings, electric shocks, intense confinement, and psychological abuse.

Nicholas and Gypsy—the last of the 16 elephants required by the U.S. government to be released from the Hawthorn corporation following PETA’s intensive campaign against the circus rental company—were transferred to a sanctuary where they are finally free from shackles and beatings.

Panasonic Broadcast & Television Systems Company stopped sponsoring the annual Iditarod dog-sled race after PETA informed the company that hundreds of dogs suffer serious injuries and illnesses (some resulting in death) when forced to run an average of 125 grueling miles per day.

Among the dozens of harmful events and displays using animals that PETA was able to get canceled this year were “donkey basketball” games, a “kiss-a-pig” contest, and hotel bird displays. We were also able to persuade the organizers of several fairs and other events not to give away animals as prizes.

A PETA investigation at G.W. Exotic Animal Memorial Park (GW) in Oklahoma—which tears newborn animals away from their mothers and exhibits them at shopping malls—found dead, dying, and injured animals; extreme crowding; a lack of food, water, and veterinary care; and cruel staff. After sharing our findings with shopping malls in the Midwest, 14 decided to ban GW, and Metro North Mall in Kansas City, Mo., banned all wild animal displays!

After chickens were thrown onto the court and killed at a Kansas State University (KSU) basketball game, PETA asked the school to ban the use of animals at all events. In response, KSU announced that “[a]ny fans caught with animals … will be ejected from the game and could face prosecution.”

Both AIDS Walk New York and Pennsylvania’s Delaware County Wage Peace & Justice canceled “dove releases” after PETA explained that the domesticated doves would be at risk of predation, exposure, and the inability to locate their homes.

PETA convinced Lucky Brand Jeans to stop selling T-shirts promoting the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. After learning that Ringling abuses animals with chains, whips, and bullhooks, the retailer decided to donate the $77,000 worth of shirts to a relief organization.

PETA staffers spent months following Ringling on tour, videotaping handlers who hit elephants with bullhooks (sharp steel-tipped clubs) and forced arthritic, limping elephants to perform. Our documentation has spurred the U.S. government to launch several investigations (currently underway) regarding Ringling’s apparent violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

“PETA is more powerful than any organization I can think of.”

—Sidelines, August 1, 2007