PETA Lauds Zynga for Removing Pit Bulls From Mafia Wars

Canine 'Weapons' Removed from Facebook Game After Animal Rights Group Cries Foul

For Immediate Release:
May 7, 2010

Contact:
Alicia Woempner 757-622-7382

Norfolk, Va. -- After receiving a letter from PETA in which the group expressed concerns about the portrayal of a chained, snarling pit bull as a "weapon" in Zynga Game Network's Facebook game Mafia Wars, the company has removed pit bulls from the game. PETA is sending vegan chocolates to Zynga founder and CEO Mark Pincus to thank him for his compassionate decision.

"Mafia Wars is obviously only a game, but the suffering endured by thousands of pit bulls who are treated as if they were nothing more than burglar alarms or fighting machines is very real," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "By removing Mafia Wars' virtual pit bull, Zynga is no longer perpetuating the mindset that it's acceptable to chain, neglect, and abuse real dogs."

If PETA's inches-thick files on pit bull abuse cases are any indication, pit bulls are the most abused breed of dog. People who train pit bulls to fight or to guard drugs typically keep them in heavy chains, taunt them into aggression, starve them, and beat them. If dogs lose a fight, they may be shot, hanged, beaten to death, or drowned. "Winners" are often chained up and left to suffer from broken bones and infected wounds without being given any veterinary care.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.