PETA Asks Hello Kitty to Save Real Kitties by Starring in Spay-and-Neuter Ad

Sanrio's Suffering Brand Could Help Alleviate Animal Suffering

For Immediate Release:
June 17, 2010

Contact:
Michael Lyubinsky 757-622-7382

San Francisco -- In light of news that sales of Hello Kitty products have become stagnant, PETA has written a letter to Katsumi Murakami, CEO of Sanrio, Inc.--the American subsidiary of Japan's Sanrio Co., Ltd., which owns the Hello Kitty brand suggesting a way to boost sales while fighting the homeless animal overpopulation crisis: Have Hello Kitty star in a PETA ad campaign and merchandise line featuring the slogan "Hello Kitty. Goodbye Animal Homelessness. Please Spay or Neuter." PETA's Asian affiliate  also sent the letter to Shintaro Tsuji, CEO of Sanrio Co., Ltd.

PETA's letter to Katsumi Murakami, CEO of Sanrio, Inc., follows. For more information, please visit PETA.org.

June 17, 2010

Katsumi Murakami
President and CEO
Sanrio, Inc.

Dear Mr. Murakami,

I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world's largest animal rights organization, which has more than 2 million members and supporters worldwide. When we read that Sanrio is looking for a way to reinvigorate its "Hello Kitty" product line, we had an idea that would increase sales while reducing the homeless animal crisis: Hello Kitty could star in a new spay/neuter ad campaign and merchandise line, which would feature her image and the slogan "Hello Kitty. Goodbye Animal Homelessness. Please Spay or Neuter."

 As you may know, every year, millions of animals worldwide are turned over to animal shelters, and many of them are euthanized because of the lack of good homes. Millions of other unwanted dogs and cats live on the streets, where they often fall victim to cars, abuse from unkind people, attacks by other animals, disease, or starvation. Much of this suffering can be prevented by simply spaying and neutering. Spaying just one cat can prevent 420,000 cats from being born in seven years, and spaying one dog can prevent 67,000 dogs from being born in six years.

Promoting spaying and neutering is a win-win situation for Hello Kitty and real kitties (and doggies) alike. We would be happy to partner with Sanrio to promote sales of the product line on our popular Web site--we are confident that millions of compassionate consumers worldwide would be eager to sport adorable Hello Kitty merchandise if it helped to say "Goodbye!" to the cat and dog overpopulation crisis. Please contact me to discuss our proposal further. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Tracy Reiman
Executive Vice President