Peter Dinklage asks fans to join him in making kind choices by not hurting animals or asking others to hurt animals for them. Read more.
"NY Ink" star and tattoo artist Ami James says that people should "never be silent" for animals in a new ad for PETA. Read more.
Animals and the planet depend on us, and actor Maggie Q wants us to know what we can do to help. Read more.
Animals are forced to endure the pain of having chemicals applied to their sensitive eyes and skin. Join Dave in buying only cruelty-free products. Read more.
Actor Taraji P. Henson wants us to show dogs the unconditional love that they so graciously give us. Make animals a part of your family. Read more.
Company Nixes Live-Animal Promotion Over Dangers of Giving Animals to Unprepared Guardians
For Immediate Release:January 6, 2011
Contact:David Perle 757-622-7382
Bogotá — Mobile phone operator Comcel has confirmed to PETA that the company has canceled plans to raffle off 200 purebred puppies to winners of a cell phone promotion in Bogotá on January 15. The change came after PETA posted an action alert on its popular website asking visitors to contact executives at Comcel and its parent company, América Móvil, to explain the dangers and cruelty involved in such promotions and plead with them to put a stop to it. Comcel Legal Vice President Hilda Maria Pardo has assured PETA that the company "has decided to give away as a prize in the raffle, a debit card instead of live animals."
"Kudos to Comcel for recognizing that live animals are not toys and deserve real consideration and commitment," says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. "When people give animals as prizes, they usually don't realize that they might be contributing to the animal homelessness crisis by condoning the breeding of pedigree pups. We want everyone to understand that puppies need and deserve a serious commitment of time, money, and love and that many families are unprepared for such a commitment."
Animals require a lifetime of commitment and care. Puppies and other animals who are given as prizes or gifts to unprepared recipients are often casually discarded when the novelty wears off—and many are mistreated. Millions of unwanted cats and dogs who enter animal shelters every year must be euthanized because of a lack of good homes. Breeders and pet stores add to the overpopulation crisis; every time someone purchases a cat or a dog, a homeless animal loses his or her chance at finding a home.
PETA encourages families who have discussed adopting a four-legged companion—and have the time and resources to do so—to save a life and adopt a homeless animal from their local shelter. Once the decision to adopt has been made, it's important that each family choose its own animal companion and not have a puppy or other animal thrust upon them as a prize or a gift.
To learn more, please visit PETA.org.