Herd of 'Cows' to Descend on Footwear Expo to Protest Against Leather

PETA 'Bovines' Ask Consumers to Help Save Their Hides 

For Immediate Release:
June 25, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382 

Miami --  Wearing cow costumes and holding signs that read, "Hands Off My Hide" and "Leather Rips Off Cows," PETA members will converge on the Shoe Market of the Americas Trade Show in Miami. Their point? That shoes and other items made of leather cost cows the skin off their backs and that there are many stylish nonleather shoes—from trainers to wingtips to spiked heels—to choose from.

When:    Tuesday, June 26, 12 noon

Where:  Northeast corner of N.W. Seventh Street and N.W. 72^nd Avenue, Miami

Every year, most of the millions of cows slaughtered by the leather industry endure castration, tail-docking, and dehorning—all without being given any painkillers. Leather is also bad for the environment: In order to preserve the skins, companies use toxic chemicals that can end up in nearby soil and water supplies.

"Leather is murder on the environment, human health, and especially cows," says PETA's associate director of campaigns, Lindsay Rajt. "Mutilating cows on factory farms and skinning them alive in slaughterhouses while so many fashionable nonleather shoes are available just isn't right."

For more information, please visit PETA.org.