PETA Wants Your Honda Spiders and Your Honda

For Immediate Release:
March 14, 2011

Contact:
Kristin Richards 202-483-7382

Torrance, Calif. -- Following Honda's recent announcement that its dealers should be on the lookout for spider infestations in the company's 2008 and 2009 Accord models, PETA is updating its blog to extend to Accord owners the same offer it made last week to Mazda owners: The group will gladly accept any Honda Accord donated by car owners who have a spider phobia and who might be creeped out by the idea of continuing to drive the spider-friendly cars. Torrance-based Honda says that the spiders who have been taking up residence in Accords aren't likely to pose a safety risk to drivers—as was the case in the recent recall of 65,000 Mazdas because of spider infestations. PETA has already had several inquiries from Mazda owners interested in donating their cars.

"It's a win-win solution for compassionate people who suffer from arachnophobia, one of the most common phobias," says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. "The spiders will be out of their sight, and the cars will be put to good use in the service of PETA's lifesaving fieldwork rescuing much larger life-forms."

PETA plans to try to safely remove the spiders from any donated cars and release them into a wooded area near the organization's headquarters in Norfolk, Va. A PETA member with a fear of mice once discovered a mouse living in the glove compartment of her new Jeep; PETA was happy to accept both the car and the mouse.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.