PETA Asks Greyhound to Change Its Name to Spayhound

Group Wants Venerable Bus Company to Help Take a Bite out of the Homeless Animal Crisis

For Immediate Release:
June 6, 2011

Contact:
Kristin Richards 202-483-7382

Dallas - Today, PETA sent a letter to Dave Leach, president and CEO of Dallas-based Greyhound Lines, Inc., asking the company to temporarily change its name to Spayhound and/or change the logo on at least one of its buses to an image of a mother dog nursing three newborn puppies next to the captions "End Animal Homelessness: Save Lives. Spay Today!" and "Make Your Dog a Spayhound." In the letter, PETA points out that every new puppy or kitten born means one fewer home for an animal whose life depends on being adopted.

"There's no better place to publicize the vital importance of spaying and neutering companion animals than on buses that are seen by millions of Americans every year," says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. "By getting on board with our Spayhound proposal, Greyhound could help countless homeless dogs and cats get on the road to a happier life."

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

PETA's letter to Greyhound CEO Dave Leach follows.

June 6, 2011

Dave Leach
President and CEO
Greyhound Lines, Inc.

Via e-mail

Dear Mr. Leach:

I'm writing on behalf of PETA and our more than 2 million members and supporters worldwide to suggest an unconventional idea that would help save dogs' and cats' lives: Temporarily change your name or that on at least one bus from "Greyhound" to "Spayhound." The new logo, available here, could read, "Make Your Dog a Spayhound—PETA," and encourage passengers to "End Animal Homelessness: Save Lives. Spay Today!"

Each year, 6 to 8 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters all over the U.S., in every city where Greyhound buses stop to load and unload, and roughly half of these wonderful animals must be euthanized because there simply aren't enough good homes for them. Countless other animals are abandoned on the streets, where they starve, die of untreated injuries and illnesses, get hit by cars, or fall prey to animal abusers. Every new puppy or kitten born means one fewer home for an animal whose life depends on being adopted—that's why preventing more births in the first place is so crucial. We want Greyhound in the driver's seat when it comes to helping animals survive the dog and cat overpopulation crisis.

Changing your company's name to "Spayhound" for a day—even just by using signage—wouldn't just take a bite out of the homeless-animal crisis. It would put you on the map as a progressive, compassionate company helping to tackle a critical social problem in an unprecedented, upbeat way. People would love you for it. Please contact me to discuss this suggestion. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid E. Newkirk
President