Here's the Scoop: PETA Proposes Pupular New Soy Ice Cream Flavors---'Dog Poop' and 'Kitty Litter'

For Immediate Release:
June 23, 2010

Contact:
Amanda Fortino 757-622-7382

Rehoboth Beach, Del. -- Today, PETA sent a letter to Luther Hearn, owner of The Ice Cream Store in Rehoboth Beach, Del., dishing out the poop on the dog and cat overpopulation crisis. The store recently announced its new and apparently popular "booger" ice cream (eew!), and now PETA is asking Hearn to create two nondairy ice cream flavors--"dog poop" and "kitty litter"--and donate part of the proceeds to a low-cost spaying and neutering program, such as the one that PETA offers.

Every year, up to 8 million wonderful and worthy dogs and cats enter animal shelters in the U.S., and about half of them must to be euthanized because of a lack of good homes. PETA encourages people who want to bring a dog or cat into their families to adopt one from an animal shelter because, as the group's posters say, buying an animal from a breeder or pet shop kills a shelter dog or cat's chances of finding a home.

"PETA hopes that The Ice Cream Store will help take a bite out of the homeless animal crisis by introducing 'dog poop'--and 'kitty litter'--flavored soy ice cream," says PETA vice president in charge of companion animal issues Daphna Nachminovitch. "By adding a dairy-free alternative to its other flavors, the store will appeal to anyone who has a dog or cat at home or helps animals in need."

For more information, please visit PETA.org or click here.

PETA's letter to Luther Hearn, owner of The Ice Cream Store, follows.

June 23, 2010

Luther Hearn, Owner
The Ice Cream Store

Dear Mr. Hearn:

I'm writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 2 million members and supporters worldwide with a business proposal for The Ice Cream Store. In light of the success of your "booger" ice cream, we thought that you might care to offer two more unusual flavors that would almost certainly sell: "dog poop"--and "kitty litter"--flavored nondairy ice cream. A portion of each scoop (pun intended) could be used to reduce the number of homeless dogs and cats. We are 100 percent serious, as these would be 100 percent the talk of the town (and beyond) and would be especially attractive to people who care about animals. Here's why:

These fun flavors would surely be a huge hit with kids of all ages and a great way for people to beat the heat while helping animals. Each year, as many as 8 million wonderful dogs and cats end up in animal shelters because there are too few homes to go around. This means that approximately half of them have to be euthanized. Donations from the sale of your "dog poop"--and "kitty litter"--flavored nondairy ice cream could help provide spay or neuter surgeries for people on a low income so that they can get their animals "fixed." We run two such clinics in North Carolina and Virginia, and other groups have clinics too. Attached is a picture of a happy family and the dog who got fixed thanks to our clinics.

The "dog poop" flavor could have the look of the real thing but with a taste that everyone loves, including the young (and not so young), vegans, and even the lactose-intolerant. We suggest a rich, velvety soy chocolate ice cream with chunks of dark chocolate bars in it. "Kitty litter" could be mint ice cream with chunks of vegan brownie.

Will you please be sweet to dogs and cats by offering these unique treats? We would be happy to help you to develop these flavors and to find a supplier of vegan ice cream as well as to work with you to find a suitable outlet for your donations.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid E. Newkirk
President