Are there any Monty Python fans in the house? In one classic Monty Python sketch, John Cleese plays a self-defense instructor who insists—despite his class's protests—on demonstrating ways to protect oneself against attackers armed with various types of fruit.

Well, it turns out that he might have been on to something.

Last week's news was filled with food-related violence. First, in Michigan, Frederick McKaney allegedly hit a woman over the head with a frozen chicken. Then word arrived of a Maryland man who reportedly held up a convenience store with—what else? A banana! Somewhere, Graham Chapman is shaking his head.

All this violence is enough to make you worry that we're headed for a future filled with bumper stickers that read, "You'll take my French bread only when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers," and cop shows that feature officers who yell, "Drop the carrot sticks, and put your hands where I can see 'em."

So can we all agree that it's time to chill with the edible aggression? We've started the ball rolling by asking authorities to make sure McKaney is fed a vegetarian diet should he end up spending some time in jail, since everybody knows (right?) that animal abuse is connected to violence against humans!

So let's all take a deep breath and reach for tasty veggie fare to help end the violence inflicted on others—both human and nonhuman. Plus, going vegetarian helps you and the environment too! Though you might want to leave the bananas alone until you're a bit calmer.

Posted by Jeff Mackey

annoncesetanimaux / CC

The new Japanese Honda Freed, for example, has a floor low enough for even short-legged dogs to jump into the car. Here in the States, the Honda Element was chosen as the "Best dog car, ever" by (who else?) DogCars.com—for being easy-to-clean and resistant to nose-prints.

We may not all be able to go out and change cars, but now—at the beginning of vacation season—it's a good time to give some thought to the best ways to travel with our animal companions. PETA's Web site HelpingAnimals.com has a lot of great tips about how to enjoy a road trip with Rover—or how to take care of him while you're away.

Of course, if you do decide to take your furry friends along, be sure to plan ahead for pit stops—even without the heat of summer, cars can get way too hot for dogs and cats in no time at all!

Posted by Jeff Mackey

news / CC

As you might know, I once helped open a KFC restaurant in Gungahlin, ACT. However, if I knew then what I know now about KFC, I never would have taken part. I was shocked to learn ... that KFC has refused to demand that its suppliers eliminate the worst abuses suffered by the more than 850 million chickens raised and killed for its restaurants every year.

As the head of KFC in Australia, you have the power [to] improve the way that chickens are treated, and I hope you will take action to do so. Take it from me: No "chick" wants to be treated like a piece of meat.

Imogen goes on to discuss problems that were documented during an undercover investigation into a KFC supplier in Australia. The undercover investigator found chickens who were suffering from broken limbs and failing organs because of the animals' unnatural growth rates. The investigator also documented living birds forced to live amongst dead bodies in a long, barren shed.

KFC isn't the only animal issue close to this beauty's heart: She's also done some fantastic anti-fur ads and compelling (not to mention hot) ads that shine the light on cruelty to elephants and bulls. Check 'em out here! Animals—and everyone who had to pick their jaws up off the floor after checking out this ad—thank you, Imogen!

Posted by Sean Conner

firstshowing / CC

The friendship between the main character and a cockroach really makes me wonder how much thought folks have put into how incredibly complex and resilient these little guys are and how to humanely control them as opposed to just killing them, which is futile because more will arrive later—and with a score to settle. Heck, you could get so awestruck that you snag a "Crow and Roach" T-shirt to wear out to the theater.

Beyond being pro-roach, the film also has a strong pro-environment message woven in, as WALL-E's "profession" involves compacting trash on the now over-polluted planet Earth. What more could you ask for in a children's movie? They seem to be advocating two hugely important causes and icing it off with the family- and animal-friendly tradition of Pixar. Be sure to grab the nearest 8-year-old and check this one out!

Posted by Sean Conner

It takes a lot to shock the public these days, but the fact that cruel incidents in the horseracing world are finally being taken seriously is just about doing the trick. Before Eight Belles' tragic death made the public realize that horseracing isn't all fun and games, drugging and heavy whipping just made up another day in the industry. But now, people are on red alert, and we're doing our best to continue exposing the horseracing industry for what it really is. Because of all this new attention, the industry is getting a good once-over from the public, Congress, and horseracing authorities, and skeletons just keep falling out of the closet.

On that note, let's talk about whipping, shall we? Now, don't get excited ... this isn't the fun kind. Whipping racehorses was banned in 1982 in Norway under the Cruelty to Animals Act. It's severely restricted in the U.K., and many jockeys there are asking for it to be completely banned. If you ever had any doubt that it should be banned in the U.S., check out this video:

The good news is that Jeremy Rose, the jockey in the above video, was recently suspended in Delaware for six months for "extreme misuse of the whip." You can read all about that here.

It's about damn time that these serious problems are being taken seriously! Here's to hoping that there's no future need for hideous videos and cruelty charges in "sports." Thanks for ruining my Friday, Jeremy! I hope you spend your six months in some serious deep thought.

Posted by Christine Dore

geocities / CC

"They buy them as babies," said the officer on the scene. "They don't realize it's going to get to be hundreds of pounds, eat an awful lot of food and become dangerous." I can picture Joe Schmo at home with his 6-month-old tiger now ... wow! Who knew a hyper-carnivorous alpha predator with 1,000 lbs. bite strength could eat so much? And wow, she's already way too big for a doghouse!

Sadly, it's actually become quite a trend to have a tiger, as 15,000 are kept as "pets" in the States. Since most of the shortsighted people looking to acquire an exotic animal on the black market don't happen to live in a 400-square-mile forest, when adopted into civilian homes, tigers face futures filled with malnutrition, loneliness, and captivity-induced mental illness. Now, while pondering to make the wonderfully progressive decision to write a letter or support a tiger sanctuary, if you want, you can still go ahead and spit.

Posted by Missy Lane

It's like a plot out of a cheesy Lifetime movie or, better yet, a sleazy episode of Maury Povich's talk show: Teen Girls Forge Pregnancy Pact. Man, now that would make a great headline. Oh, wait, it is a headline!

Yep, if you haven't heard yet, 17 Gloucester, Massachusetts, high school students may have formed a pact to get pregnant. And parents say teenagers can't follow through on anything....

Well, while everyone else is trying to figure out who did what or how or why—or whom, for that matter—we thought it'd be a good time to toss in our own two cents. Obviously, this town could use a little more sex education and a little less scandal ala the likes of Jamie Lynn.

So we thought maybe this sleepy fishing town could use a little "Sex Talk"—PETA style! Our PSA, which highlights the importance of spaying and neutering to prevent unwanted births—will air nationally during CNN's Anderson Cooper 360° show. Take that, unprotected sex!

As ill-conceived as the decision may have been for these girls to get pregnant, they at least had a choice, unlike the countless number of female cats and dogs left unspayed and forced to fend off every male animal for miles around when they go into heat. It's anything but a good time.

Hopefully, a little national attention will show that it's about as insane to allow cats and dogs to have litter after litter of babies as it is for teens. And, well, if it reduces the number of teenage girls getting paternity tests on The Maury Show, well, I guess that's good too.

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

kidzcraftz / CC

Think this out, y'all: Insects plus confinement to a bag plus scorching summer heat equals a ton of bugs dying slowly from the heat. And hey, even if that logic is over your head, surely you agree that buying a heaping sack of bugs is a pretty messed-up idea, right?

Please go check out our action alert and shoot the folks at The Home Depot a brief message explaining the obvious.

Posted by Sean Conner

foe / CC

In a historic first, the Spanish Parliament is expected to pass legislation that will extend rights to great apes. Yes, you read that right. The resolutions bringing Spanish law in line with the recommendations of the Great Ape Project will not only outlaw experimentation on apes but will also make it illegal to exploit them for films and TV. Boo-ya! The new legislation has been approved by Parliament's environmental committee and has strong enough support that it is expected to become law within a year.

Woo-hoo! Way to go, Spain! Come on, America, what's the dealio?

By the way, if you want to do something for apes and other primates in the U.S. of A. (since we're not going to be able to get them all Spanish visas), be sure to tell your senators to support the Captive Primate Safety Act. Really. Go.

Posted by Jeff Mackey

lovecarrots / CC

Remember all those times your mother wouldn't let you leave the dinner table before finishing your vegetables? Well, she was on to something. We're not talking about the latest scientific discovery here—just the facts that have been around for a long time.

A vegetarian diet can have a profound impact on the health of the human body. Filling your stomach with plant-based foods instead of animal products eliminates the unhealthy saturated fat and cholesterol that come from consuming animals and animal byproducts, not to mention all the steroids pumped into the animals for unnatural rapid growth results.

We've received so many questions about heart health since Russert's tragic death that we sent off a letter to the editor highlighting just how beneficial a vegetarian diet can be—even reducing the risk of developing heart disease by 50 percent.

Go on over to the VegCooking Blog to find some truly delicious recipes that will make both your tummy and your heart happy. Homemade vegan shepherd's pie, anyone?

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

Quick—who was the first NBA player to win championships with three different teams? If you said John Salley, then ... you read the title of this post. Bravo. But you know what else John Salley is? ... right. A vegetarian. That was in the title too. You know, you really could help me sell this bit a little. Anyway ...

John Salley—who earned his nickname, "The Spider," from his long-limbed defensive prowess—is the latest celebrity to star in PETA's vegetarian testimonial series. Today, the PSA will be launched at the John Muir Middle School in Los Angeles, California, where John is giving a talk to hundreds of students about his vegetarian lifestyle and PETA is providing free veggie burgers for one and all. Turtle Mountain also provided the school with 500 soy ice cream sandwiches for the event! Check out the PSA below:

When we filmed the ad a while back, I got the chance to sit down with John and pick his brain a bit. We got the important stuff out of the way when he told me that he grew up a Celtics fan—I always knew I liked the guy. He first went veg in 1991, after his fifth year in the league (he was a Detroit Piston at the time, but please don't hold that against him). John says that after making the switch, he lost 10 pounds and was still stronger than anyone else on the team (Laimbeer, I'm looking at you). From there, he went on to win powered-by-tofu NBA championships with the Bulls in '96 and with the Lakers in '00, adding those rings to the two he already won with the effing Pistons. Check out the full Q&A below:

Seventeen years later, John's still going strong, hosting The Best Damn Sports Show Period on FOX, pursuing an acting career, and oh yeah, helping to save animals with PETA. So the next time someone asks you, "Aren't vegetarians worried about not having enough vitamin Q?" or whatever, just say, "Actually, we're more worried about not having enough fingers for all our RINGS, yo!"

Here are some photos from the launch event:

Posted by Dan Shannon

smh / CC

Rick Dutrow is Big Brown's trainer, who was M.I.A. during the congressional hearings. It seems the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority found one of his horses, Salute the Count, with the highest level of clenbuterol (a bronchial dialator that also functions as a steroid) that the chief steward had seen in four years—more than twice the allowable level.

Dutrow is being suspended for a mere 15 days and will have to return the $20,000 that he made off drugging and racing Salute the Count at the race where he was tested. In his defense, he was quoted as saying that he uses this on many of his horses and has only once had a problem with it.

If that wasn't enough, jockey Jeremy Rose was recently suspended for "engag[ing] in extreme misuse of the whip" on his horse, Appeal to the City, according to this Blood-Horse article. I was not aware that there were proper and acceptable uses for whips on animals—only on humans.

Rose has been suspended (in Delaware only) for six months and will have to pay veterinary bills for the animal, which include treatment for hemorrhaging around his eye from being whipped in the face. Even though it's not as good as being permanently banned from contact with horses, Rose's relatively stiff sentence—virtually unheard of in the history of horseracing—shows that outside pressure is seriously having an effect on state regulatory bodies.

However, in the absence of an overarching federal body to oversee horseracing, the suspensions of Rose and Dutrow will only be effective in Delaware and Kentucky, respectively. They can still train, mount, drug, or whip horses elsewhere.

Posted by Sean Conner

tomorrowaustin / CC

Case in point: This past weekend, Austin was home to the second annual veggie-hot-dog–eating contest, organized by iLoveMikeLitt. Now, last year, we bemoaned missing the first-annual (well, first-ever at that point) contest. So imagine how I feel about missing this year's event, since Austin's a mere three-hour drive from my home in Houston (slogan: "Houston's great—no, really!").

Somehow they managed to carry on without me, though. In fact, nearly 300 folks showed up—including Austin's famed vegan firefighters—to polish off 1,500 LightLife Tofu Pups, along with 14 gallons of vegan ice cream from Austin's own NadaMoo. In the solo contest, Spencer "Tree" Lockwood ate 21 hot dogs to narrowly edge out last year's solo champ, Colin "The Tim Duncan of Competitive Eating" Kalmbacher, whose sentiments captured the quintessentially Austin nature of the whole event:

What is more Austin than a bunch of vegans, vegetarians, and omnivores, all alongside each other, gorging themselves on hundreds of soy dogs for the sheer insanity of it?

Indeed. If you're an Austinite (Austinian?), be sure to sign up for the iLoveMikeLitt event newsletter so that you don't miss out on next year's contest—or other fun stuff like Vegan Arm Wrestling and Veggie Speed Dating. Those of us living in less "weird" places can still get in on the fun—I'm staging my own vegan hot-dog–eating party for the Fourth of July (though, so far, it's just me and my soy-loving hound, Gus). Our resident foodies have picked their favorites, but I'm interested to know what you'll have on the grill over the holiday. Fire it up!

Posted by Jeff Mackey

yahoo / CC

Hold on to your strawberries and (vegan) cream for this one—it seems that Wimbledon has hired sharpshooters to kill pigeons. And what crime did these pigeons commit to merit capital punishment? They pooped. More specifically, they pooped on some tables in an open-air restaurant frequented by media folks who cover Wimbledon matches. Now, I'm no expert in the area of pigeon control, but here's an idea: How about getting a few patio umbrellas? Call me Einstein, but I'd guess that my solution is a whole lot cheaper—in terms of money and lives.

And even if Wimbledon officials don't give a whit about compassion or public opinion, here's something else that they might consider: Their actions seem to be illegal, as in they're likely breaking the law. A U.K. law passed in 2006 prohibits "lethal control" of animals, except as a last resort. PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich had more than a few choice words for Wimbledon, but here are a few that we can print:

Since the use of marksmen to kill pigeons appears to have been carried out as a first, rather than a last resort, and not out of a concern for public health, but rather because the animals were deemed inconvenient by players, you appear to be in clear violation of the law.

Posted by Grace Friedan

Ever wondered how you could combine your love of animal rights activism with your need to pay bills and buy groceries? Were you aware that PETA will pay you to be active for animals? Check out this video message from Ingrid to see why you should work for the best damn lifesaving team around:

If you're interested, just check out our current job openings and send in your résumé!

Posted by Sean Conner

From the "turnabout is fair play" department—and from an Israeli Web site called PetKaput.com—comes a video that dares to imagine what would happen if some role reversal were to happen in the notorious Chinese fur trade. The result is somehow creepier than all the Saw and Hostel films put together—and yet weirdly funny too. Not David Cross or Amy Sedaris funny, but—well, I can't really explain it; you just have to watch:

Ouch! Admittedly, it's a little disturbing, but keep in mind that it's only animation, so no one was actually hurt in the making of it (unfortunately, the same can't be said for the video that inspired it).

Posted by Jeff Mackey

As arguably tasteless as he may be, Triumph the Insult Dog from the Late Night With Conan O'Brien show made some excellent points in his coverage of the recent Belmont Stakes. As I've pointed out before with humor articles and videos, they often sneak in a few insightful points about whatever act or industry they've set in their crosshairs. In the few moments when he's not busy insulting virtually every attendee of the Belmont Stakes, Triumph does just that.

The horseracing industry is just another instance of the same mentality behind dogfighting (although Triumph may have said so less eloquently). The difference is that horses are raced and killed out in the open.

Besides a chuckle, what I took away from this video was a sense of how unimportant horseracing itself is to the Belmont Stakes. Most of what I saw was just noticeably intoxicated people standing in the hot sun, cracking wise and goofing off. I've enjoyed (and been) this very spectacle at every low-cost local beer garden or outdoor concert I've ever stumbled home from. I don't recall once stopping to think how desperately the event needed horses running in a giant loop to complete the experience.

To see Triumph in all his potty-mouthed glory, check out the video here:

Posted by Sean Conner

OK, not quite. Actually, the International Cannes Film Festival is already over, for those of you not on the up and up with film awards. What I'm talking about here is the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival, where two—yes, count 'em, two—of PETA's PSAs have made the short list for public service messages. Ladies and gentlemen, may we introduce "Buy One, Get One Killed" and "Sex Talk"!

All right, so the videos have been around for a few months now, but they're definitely worth watching for a second, third, or 37th time, because, well, they're just that amazing.

This is a huge honor, and we're pleased and proud that both videos are receiving the recognition that they deserve and that spay/neuter advocacy is receiving the spotlight that it so desperately needs.

The animal overpopulation crisis is a growing problem and will only continue to grow if guardians don't do the responsible thing and practice animal birth control for their companion's health and happiness.

Now, about conquering that other film festival. ... Hey, there's always next year ....

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

wktv / CC

With his solid wit and enthusiasm, he brought a pro-animal message to many people who may not have received it otherwise. On the veg front, Carlin has said, "Eating meat is one thing, but this whole beef-rancher-manure-cattle-hamburger side show is a different skillet of sh** altogether. Each year, Americans eat 38 billion hamburgers. It takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce one pound of red meat. Cattle consume one half of all the fresh water consumed on Earth. The sixty million people who will starve this year could be adequately fed if Americans reduced their meat intake to just 10 percent."

Even though Carlin has passed on, his words will live on and we really appreciate his zeal and fervor for animals. "And yet, in spite of all these examples of creature mayhem, I will not strike a dog, I will not chase and taunt a bull around a ring, and I will not squeeze an animal's testicles just to give the yokels a better show," said Carlin in one of the many pro-animal excerpts from Brain Droppings. We'll always remember you!

In honor of George's extremely popular "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" and his passion for animals, we'd like to include our own list of "Seven Videos You Can Never Show on Television." The following list is a sampling of our many banned television ads:

Seven Videos You Can Never Show on Television
In Honor of George Carlin

1. Sexy Vegetables PSA
   Rude food. We promise that pasta and vegetables have never been this sexy or satisfying!


2. Wrong Meeting?
   Our award-winning animal birth control (ABC) ad, featuring one very controversial character


3. Buy One, Get One Killed
   A PSA that really puts the whole "responsible breeder" BS into perspective


4. Milk Gone Wild
   Your favorite video gone udderly wrong


5. Sex and the Kitty
   PETA's pro-spaying/neutering ad shows animatronic cats doing what kitties who are left "intact" do—have sex, that is


6. Sex Talk
   Another award-winning ABC ad, featuring one very interesting conversation you've probably never had with your parents


7. Sexy Sausage: Director's Cut
   High cholesterol, obesity, diabetes, hormonal imbalances, and other causes of impotence can be virtually eliminated (and even cured) with a low-fat vegan diet

Posted by Christine Dore

The Guardian, a U.K.-based newspaper, was recently "granted exclusive and unfettered access" to a super-secret primate testing facility at an undisclosed location and operated by the staff of an undisclosed university. This facility works on marmosets, drilling "tiny" holes in the monkeys' skulls and injecting "minute" amounts of "liquid toxin."

Basically, they—whoever they are—open monkeys' heads up with a drill and pour in some poison. But hey, don't worry about the monkeys—Guardian blogger James Randerson claims they aren't "noticeably affected" by the holes and poison in their heads.

While you can read the whole article here, I would suggest you better spend your time checking out what PETA Europe's Alistair Currie had to say in his response letter:

When James Randerson was shown around a primate laboratory (Report, May 31) did he ask why he was being shown this particular laboratory—and whether his "unfettered" access was the same as seeing what goes on in his absence? Undercover investigations into primate laboratories consistently reveal animal suffering far in excess of what he saw on this official tour, and the research conducted was itself far from typical—most monkeys in the UK are used in pharmaceutical toxicology research. Nor is the attitude of technicians or scientists the point. Whether they are or are not "caring", monkeys don't belong in cages, their brains are not ours to interfere with and this PR exercise was a cynical misrepresentation of a far uglier reality.

And if you're actively searching for a reason to be seriously frustrated for the rest of the day, The Guardian was nice enough to post this audio slideshow in which the tiny monkeys cling to the bars of their cages. Listen closely for the bit about how research staff consider themselves "compassionate professionals"—aren't you curious to know what their definition of a sadist is?

Posted by Sean Conner

One of the many tragic things about breeders (I’m talking about the bad kind here, not the awesome, rockin’ kind) is that their obsession with generating a manufactured, unnatural series of traits in the animals they manipulate inevitably results (as you might expect) in a whole slew of health problems for the victims (not to mention an untimely death for the homeless animals who won’t be adopted as a result). I’m about to drop some science on you here, so bear with me, but this list, of the top 10 over-bred dog breeds in the U.S., is a stark reminder of the sacrifices that these people think it’s acceptable for animals in their care to make so that they can tell their friends that their dog is the fluffiest, or the shiniest, or whatever the hell it is they talk about when they’re not leaving hateful comments on this blog or writing big checks to help the AKC stifle laws designed to protect animals from abuse. Phew! Sorry for the run-on sentence (and the possibly unforgivable use of the phrase “drop some science”)—I tend to get a bit ranty when I talk about breeders. Here’s the list:

The Top 10 Most Over-Bred Dogs and Their Ailments
(Coincidentally enough, this is also the list of the top 10 most popular breeds, according to the AKC)

• Hip dysplasia—a hip disease that can lead to crippling, lameness, or painful arthritis


• Progressive retinal atrophy—degeneration of the retina, which can lead to blindness


• Cataracts


• Eye abnormalities


• Bloat—a life-threatening condition in which the stomach becomes overly filled with food, water, and air and may twist, cutting off access to the esophagus and small intestines; can lead to circulatory failure and death within hours


• Elbow dysplasia—a degenerative elbow disease which can lead to lameness or crippling

2. Yorkshire Terrier

• Bronchitis


• Early tooth decay


• Poor digestion


• Paralysis in the hindquarters caused by herniated disks and other spine problems


• Fragile bones can easily be fractured


• Poor tolerance of anesthetics


• Abnormal skull formations in Yorkshire terriers measuring less than 8 inches (20cm)


• Birthing complications


• “Teacup” Yorkshire terriers often have serious health and behavioral problems


• Slipped stifle—a condition in which the knee-like joint above the hock in a dog’s hind leg slips; may require surgery


• Eye infections


• Gum weaknesses

3. German Shepherd

• Hip dysplasia


• Elbow dysplasia


• Blood disorders


• Digestive problems


• Epilepsy


• Chronic eczema


• Keratitis—an inflammation of the cornea


• Dwarfism


• Flea allergies


• Bloat


• Gastric disorders


• Panosteitis—a painful bone disease that causes periods of sudden pain and lameness


• Spinal paralysis


• Eye disease


• Skin conditions

4. Golden Retriever

• Heart problems


• Epilepsy


• Von Willebrand disease—a blood disorder that can cause prolonged bleeding from simple injuries


• Progressive retinal atrophy


• Cataracts


• Congenital eye defects


• Hip dysplasia


• Skin allergies

5. Beagle

• Hypothyroidism


• Demodectic mange—a skin condition that occurs when a dog’s immune system can’t regulate the number of mites living in the skin and mites proliferate, causing hair loss and open, crusty sores


• Umbilical hernia


• Epilepsy


• Eye and eyelid problems


• Cryptorchidism—absent or undescended testicles, which increases the risk of testicular cancer


• Dwarfism


• Hip dysplasia


• Intervertebral disk disease—slipped or ruptured spinal disks, which can cause pain and paralysis


• Luxating patella—a condition in which the kneecap moves out of place, can cause limping, difficulty walking and osteoarthritis, and may require surgery to correct

6. Boxer

• Cardiomyopathy—a heart disease that causes abnormal heat beat, which reduces blood flow to the body and can lead to unconsciousness, collapse, and death


• Heart problems


• Subaortic stenosis—a narrowing of the outflow valve beneath the heart’s aortic valve, can lead to heart failure


• Epilepsy


• Tumors


• Hip dysplasia


• Allergies


• Deafness (in white boxers)

• Heart disease


• Diabetes


• Urinary stones


• Spinal disc problems


• Eye disorders


• Skin conditions

• Cataracts


• Progressive retinal atrophy


• Allergies


• Severe skin disease


• Hip dysplasia


• Eye problems, especially runny eyes


• Ear infections


• Von Willebrand disease


• Bloat


• Addison's disease—an adrenal gland deficiency which requires lifelong medication and monitoring

9. Shih Tzu

• Spinal disc disease


• Respiratory problems


• Obesity


• Early tooth loss


• Eye problems


• Ear problems

10. Bulldog

• Cherry Eye


• Conjunctivitis


• Entropia


• Dermatitis


• Heart Problems


• Demodectic Mange


• Gastric Torsion and/or bloat


• Hip Dysplasia

Posted by Christine Dore

What was the California Healthy Pets Act has become "Dogs and Cats—Nonspayed or Unneutered: Civil Penalties"—a far cry from the lifesaving legislation that was originally presented to the California Legislature last year.

Although we can support the amended and nearly not recognizable bill because it implements some spaying and neutering of animals (only following running at large and impoundment multiple times), it completely ignores the breeders who are bringing more animals into this world when 6 to 8 million enter our nation's animal shelters each year. These shelters must put to death nearly 4 million dogs and cats every year because of simple math: too many animals and not enough worthy adoptive homes.

This new bill sends a message that the overpopulation of cats and dogs isn't at a crisis level and isn't something that every single litter impacts in a very negative way. Buying an animal from a breeder adds up to killing a homeless animal in an animal shelter. Yet vital legislation that will help reduce the overpopulation crisis in California was changed so drastically that it doesn't even address a major component of the crisis: Breeders kill shelter dogs' chances.

It's time we hold accountable those who are major contributors to the death of millions of animals each year. Organizations like the American Kennel Club (AKC) continue to oppose lifesaving spay/neuter legislation, even though there are exemptions that allow breeding with permits, as AB 1634 did. No one hates euthanasia more than the shelter workers who are forced to hold the syringes, yet it is really folks like the breeders from the AKC who are responsible for the killing. Really, breeders, how do you sleep at night?

See our animal birth control (ABC) campaign for more information.

Posted by Christine Dore

Yesterday, U.S. marshals paid the PETCO food-distribution center in Joliet, Illinois, a little visit—to confiscate a variety of pet food products that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) fears may have been contaminated by rodents and other animals. It does beg the question: If a company isn't even capable of keeping food clean and safe, how are they going to ensure the safety and well-being of the animals they sell in their stores?! Cans are simple inanimate objects ....

This seizure comes after two earlier inspections this spring at the major distribution center found "widespread and active rodent and bird infestation."

The FDA urges anyone who has purchased canned or glass containers at PETCO stores in the states served by this center to wash the outside thoroughly and to wash their hands with soap and water. Don't worry, though—only a few areas were affected … just Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Kansas. Oh, right, and also Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, and Minnesota. Oh, wait, sorry, I forgot to mention Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin. OK, so it's a big freakin' deal! Way to set the bar, PETCO.

This certainly isn't the first time that PETCO has been called out for their disgusting business practices.

PETCO has a history of selling live animals and contributing to the demand of live-animal factories, including massive breeding mills like Rainbow World Exotics (RWE), which, like puppy mills, churn out animal after animal in filthy, hazardous conditions without giving much thought to their health or well-being. PETCO stood by RWE vigorously when PETA shared with PETCO executives its findings of terrible animal suffering at the mill—and it continues to buy animals from RWE! The company doesn't care about "its" animals or your animals; it cares about MONEY.

If you care about animals, don't shop at PETCO (or any store that sells live animals!).

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

textually / CC

As if we didn't already have enough reasons to protest the horseracing industry, the Associated Press reports that nearly 20 racehorses crammed inside a double-decker trailer meant for moving cattle sustained numerous injuries following the four-day transport from the U.S. to Puerto Rico. Apparently, it didn't occur to the people handling these animals that horses are taller than cows. The horses' bodies were forced into unnatural and painful crouched positions—even causing one horse to remain crouched over for five days following arrival.

The injuries sustained en route have prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture to launch a federal investigation.

I guess the handlers missed the memo sent out by the legion of misguided race fanatics that racehorses are better cared for than any other animal used for "entertainment." Sarcasm aside, the aforementioned statement is the number one excuse we keep hearing from race fans who continue to support a dying industry.

This wasn't one case of poorly arranged transport, folks—it's an ever-growing trend in the racing industry to cut costs and increase earnings. Thoroughbreds are transported to Puerto Rico by the hundreds each year, and racehorses on all tracks are made to suffer by this money-hungry industry. Steroids, painkillers, and injuries because of underdeveloped bones—if this is the good life, then I really don't want to see the bad. Take action to help horses here.

*The other reasons are the more than 5,000 horses that have died on racetracks since 2003.

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

Wintour will receive further recognition from PETA for her tireless work promoting an industry in which foxes, minks, and chinchillas are confined for months to crowded, filthy cages before being suffocated, gassed, or genitally electrocuted. We are sending Wintour a certificate entitling her to a brain scan to identify the arrested development of her mirror neuron, the part of the cerebral cortex that allows a person to experience empathy—or not.

Posted by Ingrid E. Newkirk

scienceblogs / CC

The solution is as simple as a CD recording of birdsong and a small boombox. The babies learn to mimic the songs that they hear in the center, which are real recordings from the wild—exactly what they're supposed to be learning. Upon completed treatment and release (read: graduation from Songbird U.), they're ready to go chat it up with friends and family outside the center, saying such cute things as "Food? Now?" and "Mate? Now?"

I always find it heartwarming to come across very elaborate efforts to care for some wild species, which, for some reason or another, ends up at rehabilitation centers. As contradictory as it may seem given the huge animal industries that exist today, rescue and rehabilitation efforts demonstrate just how much humans are capable of caring for animals—both as individuals and as species.

Posted by Sean Conner

It's a great day when the American Public Media radio show Marketplace diverts its gaze from the stock market to notice things like the food crisis—and an even better day when it invites Princeton University bioethicist Peter Singer to talk about something other than whether the Machiavellians among us should invest in corn futures.

Earlier this week, the man who is considered by many to be the father of the modern-day animal liberation movement (and author of Animal Liberation) argued that the solution to the food crisis is as close as our dinner plates. Giving props to PETA's in vitro meat contest, Singer pointed out that environmental realities would force a change in the wasteful and inefficient meat-centered diet, whether we like it or not.

Listen to or read Singer's commentary here.

Posted by Grace Freidan

On behalf of thoroughbreds everywhere, a congressional hearing was held today to discuss horseracing—just weeks after PETA and tens of thousands of our members and supporters called for it. You can get a pretty cool play-by-play of the meeting here, but basically, the primary message was that the drugs are the problem—not just steroids but all drugs. Person after person said in testimony that if you get rid of the drugs, you get rid of a lot of problems in racing because horses who don't have the strength to run won't run and then won't be bred. What we need is a zero-tolerance policy!

The hearing was full of moving testimony, including comments from a woman who runs CANTER, a thoroughbred rescue. She gets the horses who have been on all kinds of drugs their whole lives and said that when they go off drugs, they go through withdrawal periods that include hair loss, weight loss, and depression. One of my favorite quotes from the afternoon came from Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who said, "Greed has trumped the health of horses." One person who was not so surprisingly absent was Big Brown's trainer, Richard Dutrow. Given his rap sheet of drug infractions, I can't say I was terribly surprised.

There will be at least one more hearing, possibly looking to consider legislation to appoint a federal racing commissioner so that all laws pertaining to racing will be uniform. The congressional committee also voted to admit PETA's written testimony—which you can read here—into record.

You can respond to our latest horseracing action alert to let Congress know that you care about Eight Belles and all the less famous horses who face death on the track and get your voice heard! These hearings are a wonderful step in the right direction, and we need to continue pushing for progress.

Posted by Christine Dore

Photo Credit: Patricia Schlein

Says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk of the documentary, "From the stench inside the horses' minuscule stalls, where horses sleep standing up in piles of their own waste, to the hostile streets of Manhattan, where horses live a nose-to-tailpipe existence, Moss doesn't blink in documenting how horses live long after tourists' 30-minute rides are over."

Chrissie Hynde, Pink, and Lea Michele have all thrown their support behind a carriage-horse-free NYC; now it's your turn. Throw your blinders in the trash and jump on the bandwagon ... so to speak, of course.

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

An open letter to the citizens of Iowa:

It's too late to save the poor pigs who were killed after they escaped a flooded southeastern Iowa farm after being left to drown, swam several miles through raging floodwaters, and scrambled atop a sandbag levee, where sheriff's officials shot them for fear that they would weaken it, but as citizens of Iowa, you can all do something in solidarity to save other clever, charismatic pigs: Go vegetarian.

Millions of pigs are hung upside-down, scalded, and bled to death, often while they're still conscious, in slaughterhouses every year. Pigs feel pain every bit as much as we do, are horrified at the sight and smells of the slaughterhouse, and are afraid to die. Like us, they fight for their lives and struggle to avoid suffering.

There is no reason for any pigs to die such tragic, violent deaths—ever. Tasty, healthy, and humane mock meats—including Tofurky sweet Italian sausages, Morningstar Farms veggie dogs, Yves Veggie Cuisine's Canadian veggie bacon and deli slices, and other faux-pork products—are available in many supermarkets and health-food stores.

By choosing vegetarian foods instead of animal flesh, each one of us can save more than 100 animals every year. See GoVeg.com for more information, and click here to get a free "Vegetarian Starter Kit."

Sincerely,

PETA

Posted by Christine Dore

Love it!

Click for a larger version

To check out the archives of past strips, click here.

You know, very few things will bother vegetarians like assuming that we eat fish. Um, so, like, what plant is it exactly that you think fish grow on?

By saying "you," I don't mean you, of course. After all, you already understand that fishing hurts, and you're totally down with lobster liberation, right? And you've made it clear to your friends and family where you stand. But they still guilt you into going along to that seafood place they like, saying, "OK, you don't eat fish or lobster, but why can't you have the calamari?"

First of all, "calamari" is one of those nice-sounding words that restaurants use to sell something not so nice—in this case, chopped-up and baby squid. But it can be hard for people to feel a lot of affection for a squid. They live way down underwater, and even baby squid—unlike, say, chicks or piglets—aren't all that cute, to put it mildly. But what they lack in looks is more than compensated for in fascinating ways. If you don't believe me, check out this video:

Anyone who has ever tried to chat up someone in a bar has to stand in awe of the squid's smooth seduction technique, which simultaneously warns rivals to stay away. Not to mention the deep-sea light shows and color-changing camo effects of the jellyfish, octopuses, and cuttlefish that put Industrial Light & Magic to shame. In fact, this stuff is so amazing that you can easily get your friends and family to watch it just for its entertainment value—and then remind them of it the next time you join them for dinner as you explain why you'll all be going to your favorite restaurant instead.

—Jeff

Posted by Jeff Mackey

So did y'all see the game last night? The one where my Boston Celtics took apart the Los Angeles Lakers like they were made out of Legos and won their first NBA title since 1986? If you did, you might have caught an interview where my man Kevin Garnett talked about how he transferred (he actually said "transcended," which was awesome) his tradition of eating a whole mess of PB&Js before every game over to his Celtic teammates when he was traded there in the offseason.

Professional athletes? Eating peanut butter & jelly sandwiches?

[Wait for it …]

WHERE DO THEY GET THEIR PROTEIN!?!?!?!?!?!?!?1/1/1

themikelee / CC
getwiththeprogram / CC

I found this fascinating. The reaction to the interview was pretty much: "Look at KG and his wholesome, nutritious pre-game snack. It's so wholesome! And nutritious!" But PB&J is as much of a vegetarian staple as the Boca burger—I think I ate it for lunch every day for my first eight years as a vegan. So why do I feel that if KG had said, "I eat a vegan meal before every big game," the reaction would have been … different? It's like everyone is cool with eating healthy, but for some reason, eating vegan has this whole different connotation for some people—even though it's exactly the same thing.

I read an article on ESPN.com yesterday (while I was, uh, totally working hard and not on the interwebs), where Prince Fielder, Tony Gonzalez, Mac Danzig, and a bunch of other vegetarian athletes were talking about how being vegetarian has affected their game. No surprises: Gonzalez talks about having more energy in the fourth quarter of games and being able to blow by tired, meat-eating defenders, and Danzig talks about recovering faster from workouts. You can't argue with results. I figure that if a vegetarian diet is good enough for some of the top athletes on the planet, it's good enough for everyone.

So, note to the Lakers: Maybe some PB&J will help next time. Although grabbing a few offensive boards wouldn't hurt either. Just sayin'.

—Dan

Posted by Dan Shannon

Last week marked the one-year anniversary of baby elephant Hansa's death from herpes at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. Activists braved the wind and rain to commemorate Hansa's brief life and demand an end to breeding at the zoo. The zoo, on the other hand, is preparing to artificially impregnate Chai, Hansa's mother, for about the 50th time.

Bruce Bohmke, the deputy director of the zoo, said, "She's fine. After a couple of days, from what I've read, they move on." Oh, really? Because from what I've read, an elephant never forgets.

—Joel

Posted by Joel Bartlett

Few things in life go together as perfectly as peanut butter and jelly or pigs and mud, but music and animal rights is definitely one of those perfect pairs.

It's been a sad few years since a little band by the name of Weezer—you may have heard of them—have had any new tunes. Well, the boys with those oh-so-catchy-lyrics are back with a brilliant self-titled album (a.k.a. The Red Album), which was just released on June 3. And here's the really terrific part: The bonus track, "Pig," contains a great animal rights message. Here's an excerpt:

But now, I've got to die
I've lived a good life
I've got no complaints
I'd like to thank farmer keep
For bringin' me scraps of food that I could eat
He always had a smile on his face
He didn't want to think of this day
It's finally here
It's finally here

They called me pig
They called me pig

When I was a baby, I was so happy
I played with my friends in the mud

Now promise me you'll go out and buy a copy of The Red Album in support of Weezer's animal-friendly lyrics (and their two vegetarian band mates). Thanks, Weezer, for taking on the plight of animals through your songs.

—Jen

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

Well, if you missed 30 Days on FX last night, don't say we didn't remind you. Fortunately for everyone, George Snedeker—the hunter (and incredibly good sport) who agreed to spend a month with a family of animal rights activists, including PETA's very own Melissa Karpel—has taken some time to answer a few questions about his experience. To watch this episode in its entirety, please click here. Check our the interview below ...

1. When you were first selected to participate in this show, what did you expect the experience to be like?
I was pretty scared. I expected to be surrounded by people that just wanted to argue for a whole month. I'm not afraid of an argument, but I thought the numbers were stacked against me. All I was told was that I would be totally immersed in the animal rights movement. As far as the people I would meet, I expected a lot of angry people that yelled a lot. I figured girls and guys alike would be hairy-legged sandal-wearing hippies. For the most part, I was mistaken.

2. How did your opinion of animal rights activists change after your 30 days with the Karpels?
I realized almost immediately that animal rights activists, PETA members specifically, were very normal folks. That being said, there are some out there—just as with the factory farms—that give everyone involved a bad name. I learned about several examples of the abuse, neglect, and suffering that occur in factory farming. It's not a pretty industry, and if people were able to experience what I did, you might see a major change.

3. What were your best, and worst, experiences during the 30 days?
Living with Melissa and her family as a vegan for the month was by far the most fun. It just took a few days for us to find common ground, and then we worked from that point in a nonjudgmental way. The Karpels are a wonderful family that I was proud to be a part of throughout my adventure. I have made great friends with them, and I miss them. I am a lucky man. It's not hard to find the worst experiences—there were two. First was the initial time I spent at Animal Acres, and second was the time I spent at the UCLA protest. Without getting into specifics, I can just say that being the loudest is not always the best way to be heard. These people were deliberately offensive and were the most close-minded individuals I have ever met. On several occasions, I was verbally abused. I traveled 3,500 miles with an open mind to learn, not to be judged.

4. Are there any animal rights issues that are particularly important to you now that you hadn't thought about before staying with Melissa and her family?
I am aware that there need to be changes in factory farming, but aside from veganism, I haven't heard about a practical alternative. I personally prefer to buy my meat and produce from grocers that support the smaller local farms. The Burberry demonstration was hard-hitting, but we don't have very many fur coats in North Carolina. The one subject that I find the most offensive is vivisection. I can't give away anything about the show, but I had no idea how unnecessary it was. Tissue samples are infinitely more effective. For the sake of money, it seems people are abusing animals just because they can. They should be ashamed of themselves and pray that they never have to answer for their actions.

5. What are your views on the tactics that PETA uses to draw attention to the suffering of animals?
One area where I think PETA could use some P.R. work is separating themselves from some of the other animal rights groups out there. The term most people relate to animal rights is PETA. Anything that happens for the sake of animals, regardless of how offensive it is, gets hung on the neck of PETA. Consequently, most people think PETA people are nuts. I believe PETA does it the right way: education. ... They keep it fun and provide people with information.

6. If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?
I can't imagine changing a thing. Our director, Jay Blumke, and producer, Matt Hobin, did their homework. It would take years for anyone else to get the entire experience that I had. I had total access. It is amazing what can happen if you walk into something with an open mind, even if it is against everything you know already. You might think you are 100 percent right on a particular subject. Here's a news flash: You don't know everything. Just watch, listen, and learn. I still can't get a hold of "bugs." Is it against the PETA tenet not to like them? I have about 1,000 red bugs (chiggers) that hate me. They're trying to eat my legs clean off. Is it OK to hate them back?

And here are some photos of George and Melissa delivering doghouses that didn't make the final cut of the episode:

Before the doghouse delivery

George and Melissa after the doghouse had been delivered

—Christine

Posted by Christine Dore

Without letting even the tiniest opportunity to help nonhuman animals swim by, my inventive comrades have devised a delightful new stratagem to help free some of our sea-dwelling sisters and brothers.

The Pitch: To open the world's fist-ever Lobster Empathy Center in the lobster-execution capital of the world (Creative, yes?)
The Setting: A prison (Bloody genius!)

mikefeeney / CC

The proposed attraction would include wrapping visitors' hands in giant rubber bands for the duration of their stay, serving faux-lobster treats, and giving kiddies free stuffed toy lobsters labeled "Lobsters Are Friends, Not Food."

Can't wait to go, right? I know, me neither! Sadly, our dreams will have to be put on hold for a bit, as the prison was just sold to the highest bidder. But do keep us in mind if you hear of any sweet oceanfront prison property up for grabs!

Now if all this talk has given you a hankering for some vegan lobster tail, here's a recipe to satisfy your urgings.

—Missy

Posted by Missy Lane

Killer birds from PetSmart. It sounds like a reimagined version of Hitchcock's The Birds or maybe Troma's follow-up film to Poultrygeist, but it's a true, tragic story. A bird-loving family from Corpus Christi, Texas, reportedly lost their beloved father—and the daughter almost lost her life—after they both contracted psittacosis from a cockatiel whom they had purchased at PetSmart and named Peachy. Check out the Associated Press Article here if you don't want to take my word for it.

Peachy, who also died, allegedly from this "parrot fever," was bred at Rainbow World Exotics, a breeding mill that PETA recently investigated, where we found rampant abuse and neglect of small animals and exotic birds. Bird-breeding facilities such as Rainbow World Exotics are no different than puppy mills—they're massive animal factories that crank out birds with no regard for their health, happiness, or individual best interests. It doesn't just hurt the birds when unsanitary, inhumane conditions are the norm.

The good news is that this heroic and forever scarred family is now standing up to PetSmart and demanding an end to the sale of all birds. And you can help them succeed!

And please read this important info about how to keep you and your bird safe.

—Joel

Posted by Joel Bartlett

The following open letter is a response to this letter.

Dear Best Week Ever,

We really appreciate that you shared your suggestion with us about tiny footwear being the key to convincing people not to eat animals anymore. I don't know why we didn't think of this sooner. Your idea is genius.

B.W.E., we couldn't agree more that upping the cute factor to nearly vomit-inducing levels is a tactic that perhaps we should try more often in order to dissuade people from eating animals. And we're going to start now.

We are adding "provide boots to all chickens" to our list of demands for KFC. Sure, it might not be the most pressing issue the twisted corporation needs to address (they should probably focus on fixing the whole scalding birds alive thing and preventing future rat infestations), but every little bit helps!

In addition to cuteness, there's also the practical value of wearing boots while crammed in pens or sheds with zillions of other animals. Unsurprisingly, those floors aren't too clean and even Britney Spears wouldn't be caught barefoot in a factory farm. OK, maybe she would, but little chicks shouldn't be. Not to mention that the boots will provide extra ankle support for chicks and make it harder to hang them upside-down in shackles.

Again, thanks for the great suggestion and we'll be sure to keep you posted on the status of our new "Chicks for Boots" campaign.

Regards,

The PETA Staff

—Jeff

Posted by Jeff Mackey

She's blue about being pimped out to a circus and a zoo! Meet Sydney—the pachyderm protagonist in Sanctuary Song, a new opera opening this summer in Toronto. A dynamic combination of song, dance, and theater, this ele-friendly opera follows Sydney as she recounts her life during a journey to a sanctuary in Tennessee. Discussing her abduction by poachers and her years spent in a circus and a zoo, she relives the fond memories of her friends and family as well as the fearful memories of captivity. Will Sydney be reunited with her childhood friend in the last act? No spoiler alert here! Like they say, it's not over until the elephant sings.

cityparent / CC

Can't make it to Toronto to see Sanctuary Song? Put on your favorite aria, and check out the lovely ladies at this real-life Tennessee sanctuary.

─Jen

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

The USDA just completed an investigation of a Butterball turkey slaughterhouse in Arkansas that confirmed PETA's findings of intentional cruelty to animals, including punching, kicking, and tormenting turkeys destined for slaughter. So what happens next? Well, not much, as far as the law’s concerned: Because there simply aren’t any federal legal protections for chickens and turkeys. None. The only thing that can be done is to take matters into our own hands and put pressure on places like Butterball to make changes that will benefit the animals they profit from. And, more importantly, boycott these companies by going vegetarian. Here’s the video of the Butterball supplier’s abuses:

Posted by Christine Dore

The photo speaks for itself. OK, OK, I may have doctored it a bit to get the point across, but COME ON! As you can see, Jessica Simpson was recently caught wearing a "Real Girls Eat Meat" T-shirt. Puhleeze!

For a gal who's best known for her less-than-stellar brains (Chicken of the Sea, anyone?) and her ability to proportionately fill out daisy dukes, I'm gonna go on record saying that if anyone had to wear a ridiculous shirt like this, I'm glad it was Jessica—as people are more likely to follow the opposite of her lead ... ya know, since she's so well respected and all (yes, that was difficult to type without tossing in a hefty LOL). Maybe the meat-eaters of the world will be embarrassed to be categorized in the same field as Jessica Simpson. Ecorazzi has more on the story.

Just for funsies, here are the top five reasons that only stupid girls brag about eating meat:

1. Meat increases the risk of breast cancer. A 2007 study of 35,000 women published in the British Journal of Cancer found that women who ate meat were far more likely to develop breast cancer than women who consumed none. Will Jessica's next t-shirt will say, "Real Girls Smoke 3 Packs a Day"?

2. Real girls don't support animal abuse. Compassion is super sexy, if the huge number of hot celebs ditching meat is any indication. Young women turn vegetarian in droves when they learn that the meat industry cuts the sensitive beaks off newborn chicks and cuts off the tails of baby piglets.

3. The meat industry is destroying the Earth. The only thing that's hot about the meat industry is that it's toasting the planet. According to the United Nations, raising animals for food causes more greenhouse-gas emissions than all the cars, trucks, SUVs, planes, and ships in the world combined.

4. Meat will make you fat. All the saturated fat and cholesterol in chicken wings, pork chops, and steak eventually leads to flabby thighs and love handles. I hope the upcoming "Jessica Simpson's Intimates" line comes in plus sizes! Going vegetarian is the best way to get slim and stay that way.

5. Eating meat steals food from starving kids. Jessica's trip to help kids in Africa got a lot of media buzz, but by gnawing on meat, she's essentially stealing food from the mouths of starving children since it takes up to 16 pounds of grain to produce just 1 pound of meat. If more people went vegetarian, we'd free up enough grain to feed every person in the world.

—Christine

Posted by Christine Dore

Today Canada, tomorrow the world (insert maniacal laughter here). We were totally spent from doing a victory dance over our recent KFC campaign triumph in Canada, but we've rested up and now we're ready to get back to kicking the Colonel's bucket. Continuing our Kentucky Fried Cruelty campaign in other countries, including the U.S., we're not going to let up until KFC cries uncle and agrees to make some serious changes to the way its suppliers treat chickens.

Speaking of our campaign, we were recently reminiscing—while recovering from our V dance—about all the actions we've taken against KFC. We couldn't decide which one was our fave, so we thought we'd ask for your input. I'm partial to the completely unappetizing but utterly inspiring, demo-licious Bucket of Blood. Then again, Pam Anderson's video is pretty cool. See why we need your help? Check out our list below, and vote for your favorite by leaving us a comment.

1. PETA staffer changes his name to KentuckyFriedCruelty.com

2. Pam Anderson video

3. Super Chick Sisters video game

4. The Rev. Al Sharpton's video

5. Bucket of Blood

6. 'Crippled Chicken Crosses the Road' demos

7. KFC sign generator

8. Kentucky Fried Cruelty: The Movie

9. Colonel Sanders headstone

10. Kentucky Fried Cruelty HQ

—Amy

Posted by Amy Elizabeth

If you have plans that don’t involve watching 30 Days, first of all, how dare you? I told you it was going to be on. And second of all, you should immediately cancel them. ‘Cuz the show’s going to be really interesting, and it has my friend Melissa in it. And a very funny hunter dude named George.

For those of you who were already planning to watch the show, well, I’m glad that some people are listening to me. You guys get a gold star. To recap:

1.) Cancel plans

2.) Watch 30 Days on FX at 10:00pm on June 17

3.) Give self gold star.

Cool?

--Christine

Posted by Christine Dore

Since 2001, PETA's mobile "Spay and Neuter Immediately, Please" (SNIP) clinic has been providing free and low-cost spay-and-neuter surgeries (nearly 45,000!) in Virginia's Hampton Roads area, where PETA is located. Earlier this week, we doubled the size of our lifesaving fleet, rolling out a second animal birth control mobile clinic.

Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim, who was on hand to cut the ribbon during the official unveiling of the clinic, praised PETA's approach to the companion animal overpopulation crisis as intelligent and humane. That's right—we've got smarts!

Check out these pictures of the new lifesaving clinic!

Simon says…we're sorry we couldn't resist the clichéd reference to a certain kids' game.

Ingrid is especially happy because the unveiling was on her birthday. What a wonderful present!

Check out the size of those scissors! They're HUGE! Was Mayor Fraim expecting the clinic to be wrapped in steel? Really, it's a bit much—my toenail clippers could have finished off this ribbon!

Kimora will be stunning people with her beauty wherever the clinic travels.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that a boatload of cats and dogs (4 million) are killed every year in the U.S. because there just aren't homes for these animals. And you also know that when people don't sterilize their animals, that contributes to the problem.

We've all seen the population pyramids: one fertile cat can produce 12 to 18 kittens every year, and one fertile dog can produce 12 to 20 puppies every year (not doing it together, of course). When you do the math, that can translate to more than 11,000 cats and more than 12,000 dogs in five years. The flipside of these overwhelming numbers is that we can stop a lot of suffering just by spaying or neutering one animal. And when we spay or neuter more animals, the savings multiply.

—Grace

Posted by Grace Friedan

Every once in a while, someone notices that women are featured in PETA's provocative ads and demonstrations more often than men are. It's not that PETA, as an organization, doesn't appreciate animal-loving, nearly naked men—it's just that usually the ads and demonstrations make more sense or will garner more attention to animal rights issues with women as the stars.

For instance, if young chickens were called "dudes," "guys," or "homeboys," I personally assure you that we would have called out the Broccoli Boys and there would have been a couple of male PETA volunteers at our recent scalding-tank reenactment demos (photos below). Alas, young chickens (the chickens killed for KFC are only about 45 days old when they are slaughtered) are called chicks. As are women. Global conspiracy or convenient protest idea? I can't say—but it is one thing we have to work with in the battle against KFC.

PETA's latest demonstration highlights that while chickens killed for KFCs in Canada will soon be killed using the least cruel slaughter method available, birds killed for KFC in the U.S. are still scalded to death. It costs KFC more money, and it's just plain cruel.

Here are some details from our news release (it's not that I'm lazy—I just thought it was already well explained):

Because the voltage levels of electric stun tanks in U.S. slaughterhouses are kept at only a fraction of the level needed to render chickens insensible to pain, birds are usually paralyzed but still conscious when their throats are cut. Government studies show that birds feel pain after being shocked, even if they can't move. According to the USDA, every year, millions of birds—who are conscious and able to feel pain—enter tanks of hot water that are intended to remove their feathers after the birds are dead.

Great demo, Colleen and Shawn. And happy birthday, Colleen! I'm sorry you share it with the gruesome twosome.

More photos, wonderful photos:

—Joel Bartlett

Here at PETA, we get undeniably excited when we receive new costumes in the mail. It virtually turns into a reenactment of little kids on their birthdays—without all the "gimme gimmes" and grabbing fingers. Well, maybe. Anyway, the point is we were very excited when our new nugget costume arrived. Now, if you don't know who Nugget is, check this out. But all you really need to know is that Nugget is ruler of the "I Am Not a Nugget" campaign and an ally of our good buddies over at peta2.

Well, the costume was glorious! But before we tried it on, we found an extra surprise at the bottom of the box: instructions!

These instructions were especially amusing to us given that the costume consists of four parts: the main body, tights, and two feet. Now, I know that I, too, put my shoes on the wrong feet sometimes—but in my defense, this is usually before my morning cup of tea—and this really shouldn't be so difficult! Alas, we couldn't contain our curiosity and checked them over:

• The wearer should be of average build and approximately 5'4" to 5'8" tall.
• The wearer should be of reasonable strength and stamina. The costume is bulky and will get very warm while worn.
• It's best to wear a T-shirt under the costume. The wearer should drink plenty of liquids before and after the event.
• The costume should be worn without shoes.
• Be sure to have a dress rehearsal. It takes two people about 10 to 15 minutes to put on the costume. Becoming comfortable before the event will ensure the best performance.

And the finished result? So gosh darn adorable you almost can't take it, right? Well, Nugget is a tough warrior for animal rights. After all, it's a tough job when you've got 9 billion chickens to speak up for. Thank you, Nugget!

-Jen

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky

The next time someone tries to tell you that a vegan diet isn't healthy, just mention Mary Bukowiec to them. Who is she? Ms. Bukowiec is a breast cancer survivor who credits her change to a vegan diet with the complete disappearance of her cancer. Following an earlier diagnosis, she had followed the conventional course of treatment. But when the cancer reappeared, she decided that a different approach was called for. Michigan's Morning Sun reports:

"I had to change my mind about that," Bukowiec said. "I started reading scientific journals, and literature on diet and lifestyle. And the effects of a plant based diet and how it can help you from getting cancer." She said that everything she read about alternative treatments hinted to plant based diets.

Of course, eating meat, dairy products, and other food from dead, tortured animals is clearly linked to a higher risk of cancer as well as heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and lots of other things you don't want to get in the first place. So if you haven't done the vegan thing yet, it's time to get with it already—it could even keep you from developing a certain condition (wink, wink) that isn't life-threatening but might ruin a guy's social life!

-Jeff

Posted by Jeff Mackey

An early version of the “Meet Jack” picture for the PETA Files had more of a “getting things done!” feel to it. In the end, we decided to go with “simpering idiot” instead.

For everyone else, I wanted to take a very few minutes of your time to say thanks for sticking around during the last year or so. It’s been a fantastic experience being a writer for the PETA Files, and I’m very much looking forward to settling into being a reader. In fact, I have every intention of leaving longwinded, self-important comments on every post until Christine (who, bless her heart, has taken over moderating duties) politely begs me to stop.

While I still have a soapbox, I figured this would be a good time for a quick retrospective in the form of my Top 5 moments working at this amazing organization, so here goes:

Since coming to PETA four years ago, I have:

• Performed search-and-rescue operations for abandoned animals in post-Katrina New Orleans.
• Stood, naked, painted like a Union Jack, in front of the British embassy in DC to protest the Queen’s Guards’ bearskin hats.
• Toured the country with The Alkaline Trio on behalf of peta2.
• Starred in a special “episode” of Full House that was featured on The O’Reilly Factor.
• Written (roughly) 1,200 entries and approved more than 30,000 comments for this blog. Thank you to everyone who’s been a part of that.

The good news is that this is the last week that any of us will have to put up with that nauseatingly smug version of me quite clearly sleeping on the job up in this blog’s banner. Word on the street is that (fittingly enough) I am being replaced by a chicken.

And I’ll leave you with that thought. See you in the comments!

-Jack

In March, a video surfaced on online showing a smiling Marine throwing a live puppy off a cliff while another Marine laughs. People everywhere were outraged, PETA was immediately flooded with calls and e-mails from people who wanted to know how they could help get justice for the puppy.

PETA's Emergency Response Division immediately contacted the Commanding Officer at Marine Corps Base Hawaii urging strong action on this case. In addition, we launched an online action alert, which allowed tens of thousands of outraged people to share their feelings with Marine Corps officials and ask for court-martials and severe penalties for those involved.

Today, we received the long-awaited results of the Marine Corps' investigation. According to news sources, the soldier shown tossing the puppy has been expelled, and another Marine in the video apparently faces disciplinary action. A big, big thanks to everyone who took action and let the Marine Corps know that cruelty to animals is never acceptable—no matter who the abuser is.

PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch has these strong words on this matter:

The Marine Corps is right to expel David Mortari and discipline the other Marine who was involved in videotaping the pitching of a tiny puppy off a cliff in Iraq. We only wish that Mortari could face a proper trial; courts all over the U.S. sentence animal abusers to jail time nowadays—and such a punishment would certainly be in order here. Mortari embarrassed the U.S. and its military, and we hope to see his dismissal send a strong message that cruelty to animals simply will not be tolerated in our military ranks.

And here are my words:

Puppy torturers and people who perpetuate the torture of animals deserve to rot in prison.

- Joel Bartlett

If you've idly tossed around the idea of expatriation, this news item will surely send you packing—and practicing your Italian. We've received news that the independent state of San Marino, located entirely within Northeastern Italy, has formally abolished all animal experimentation within its borders. The bill, supported by citizens' signatures and a local animal protection group, was presented in February of this year and has now been signed into law.

Although San Marino is a small state, this is a historic event: San Marino is the very first nation to make all animal testing illegal. Clearly, people (in San Marino and elsewhere) want more sophisticated non-animal methods to be used and find that vivisection is generally abhorrent. In addition to being compassionate for passing this most progressive law, San Marino doesn't have to worry about having an animal-torturing preclinical racket come to town and wreck its local water supply or snatch up its citizens' loved ones.

On behalf of the cats, dogs, guinea pigs, hamsters, monkeys, chimpanzees, pigs, rabbits, sheep, rats, mice, birds, fish, and all other species that are commonly used for research, thank you, San Marino!

-Sean

Posted by Sean Conner

‘Cuz why not? Here they are – the top 10 films that’ll inspire you to go vegetarian. Let us know which ones you like best, or feel free to add to the list in the comments.

• Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead (2008). See the KFC-esque "American Chicken Bunker" get skewered in this film about chickens who return from the grave to seek revenge against their killers. Throw in a few lesbian protesters, musical numbers about Native American burial grounds, and fry-o-lators, and you've got yourself a vegetarian-manifesto masterpiece.
• Soylent Green (1973). Overpopulation and environmental devastation have led to a world where food is scarce and prices have sky-rocketed (sound familiar?), and the only way to survive is by eating a mysterious food called "Soylent Green." But the real food for thought is when Chuck Heston discovers that "Soylent Green is people!" (Please, pass the veggies!)
• Babe (1995). This film has turned legions of people into vegetarians—including its star, James Cromwell—because who could "pig out" again after watching that cute little piglet charm Farmer Hogett?
• Delicatessen (1991). As if foie gras weren't disgusting enough, this post-apocalyptic comedy gives new meaning to "French cuisine" when a landlord serves cannibalistic meals to his tenants.
• Fast Food Nation (2006). This film takes a compelling look at the destructive impact that eating meat has on animals, people's health, and the environment. Bruce Willis' "tough talk" scene about the suspect ingredients found in meat—while chomping on a huge burger—is priceless.
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974). Leatherface and his family members really know how to throw a dinner party: blood, gore, and all the human flesh that you can eat. Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons calls The Texas Chainsaw Massacre a "vegetarian" movie. "The way that woman was screaming, 'Aaaahhh,' and she's running away—that's how every animal you eat is running for his or her life," he says.
• Super Size Me (2004). Morgan Spurlock documents the ill effects that his 30-day, McDonald's-only diet has on his body, giving new meaning to the phrase "Big Mac attack."
• Chicken Run (2000). That's right: Laying hens don't "retire"—they get turned into "Mrs. Tweedy's Homemade Chicken Pies." This movie is the best that celluloid (and clay) has to offer in making the case for scrambled tofu.
• Sweeney Todd (2007). This tells the story of a demon barber who conspires with a woman who uses human flesh in her meat pies. The only thing yummy in this blood-splattered spectacle is Johnny Depp.
• I Am an Animal (2007). Showing everything from undercover video footage shot inside a turkey slaughterhouse to a rescued turkey singing along to classical music, this documentary about PETA founder Ingrid E. Newkirk is one of the best cases for a Tofurky Thanksgiving.

As Ingrid Newkirk puts it, "Picking up the remote can become a life-changing act when you watch one of these movies. If animals wrote movie reviews, they'd give these films two paws up."

Two-time-Grammy-nominated songwriter KT Tunstall has just lent her voice to the campaign against KFC, firing off a letter to the managers of every KFC in Scotland encouraging them to pressure the company to stop its suppliers' worst abuses of chickens. You can read the full letter here. For the full experience, I highly recommend that you do it while listening to KT Tunstall’s latest smash hit, “If Only.” I’ve provided a video for you below so you can get the multimedia.

Thanks for taking a stand, KT. We really appreciate it.

-Jack

It's not too often that you hear about a chicken who is the center of attention rather than the center of a dinner plate. That's why I was so psyched to run across this article about Mr. Joy. A therapy chicken who visits assisted-living centers around Charlotte, North Carolina, Mr. Joy totally digs it when people pet and coo over him. And from the sound of it, people totally dig this cock-a-doodle dude too!

Also a patron of the arts and an animal rights activist (I kid you not), Mr. Joy and his adopted mom, Alisha Tomlinson, are on a mission not only to spread cheer but also to spread the message that chickens are smart, interesting animals who don't deserve to be turned into nuggets.

In fact, when he's not working the rest-home circuit or kicking it with his two wives in their spacious coop condo; he can usually be found in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant. Sticking up for all his fallen peeps who have been abused, butchered, battered, and thrown into buckets, Mr. Joy charms the crowd from the safety of the car while his mom hands out leaflets about factory farming.

Want more Joy? Check out his Web site here. On a more comical note, check out a video showing Mr. Joy getting the beauty-shop treatment below:

-Amy

Posted by Amy Elizabeth

Father's Day is this coming Sunday, and I am absolutely certain that most people reading this are still procrastinating about buying their gift or planning their day. The good people at PETA (read: I) put together this list of some of the best things to do with or for Dad this year, so you really have no excuse to just buy a card or issue a pile of IOUs for mowing the lawn.

10. Get Dad a nonleather belt or wallet. You can find great alternatives at Eddie Bauer, Timberland, Vans, or just about any other retailer or online shopping site imaginable.

9. Clean up Dad's home office or the garage. He's got more important things to do on Father's Day than stand among his clutter and play "find the floor." For advice on what your weapons of choice in this endeavor should be, go through our list of cruelty-free companies.

8. Put together a gift basket full of small treats for Dad. Consider throwing in some homemade or store-bought vegan cookies, meat-free jerky strips, and a new coffee mug (I'm partial to this one) filled with a bag of shade-grown coffee. The best thing about gift baskets is that they're very do-it-yourself, so get creative!

7. Go back to basics and get Dad a nice, silk-free tie: the staple of Father's Day gifts. You can find polyester or other synthetic fibers everywhere, so get Dad an accessory not made from insect cocoons (barf!).

6. Dog lovers can go grab a picnic lunch and a few four-legged friends and head to the dog park. Although any safe spot with a patch of grass, water, and a Frisbee will do, you should check our list of the best dog parks in the country in case you're lucky enough to be within driving distance to any of them.

5. Help Dad fight the battle against scruff with a shaving kit from Jack Black. None of their products is tested on animals, and many are completely free of animal-derived ingredients. They've even put out an amazing shave brush made of synthetic materials for men who aren't fond of rubbing their faces on a big mound of badger hair.

4. Bust out the grill! There are a ton of animal-free grilling options that he'll happily devour. My Dad is crazy about mushrooms, but faux meats such as veggie burgers are a simple, foolproof fallback for the inexperienced chef.

3. If you're intimidated by open flames, propane, or the thought of expending effort, take Dad out to lunch or dinner. You can find vegetarian options at pretty much any chain restaurant. No muss, no fuss, and no second-degree burns.

2. Your dad should love absolutely anything made by Herban Cowboy. I found their all-natural soap at an organic grocer and spent a solid 10 minutes sniffing it through the packaging before employees started to stare. Guys, be sure to buy one for yourself too.

1. Sports fans can head to the ballpark. More and more baseball stadiums (and other venues) are carrying veggie dogs so that you can go enjoy the traditional pastime without all the cholesterol and general nastiness of eating a tube of flesh of unknown origin.

-Sean

Posted by Sean Conner

I love this.

There’s more info on the exotic skins industry here.

Click to see Joel’s OMMA Bio

Joel, whom regular readers will know from his often rather lowbrow but occasionally inspired posts on this very blog, is the brains behind PETA’s online marketing strategy, and—to be fair—OMMA (which stands for Online Media Marketing and Advertising) magazine were right on in recognizing him for his work. Because he really is infuriatingly talented. Here’s what they said:

"In his five years at PETA, Joel has used his online marketing savvy to throw haterade on the Olsen twins, flaunt some sexy vegetarians and boost PETA's advocacy campaign participation by 90 percent last year alone. But he's particularly fond of "Super Chick Sisters," PETA's online video game spoof, for "calling kfc out for the company's abusive practices, like cutting off chickens' sensitive beaks, all while staying fun."

It takes a few seconds to fill out their webform, but the full OMMA article is definitely worth checking out if you’re interested in marketing, PETA, Joel, or all of the above. In the meantime, since this post is rapidly degenerating into a Joel Bartlett lovefest, I figured I’d just give in and congratulate him myself. He may never be quite as skilled as I am at medicine-themed, 8-bit Nintendo games, but the guy is unbelievably good at what he does, and he deserves the hell out of this recognition. Nice work, JB.

-Jack

Last fall, PETA announced a partnership with Helium.com, a site that promotes the open exchange of ideas—something we're all for.

Now we're taking it to a new level. Announcing—drum roll please—the PETA Citizen Journalism Award! Each month, we'll name a title. All you have to do is write an article based on that title. If we think yours makes the best case, not only will you win a customized award plus a $50 gift certificate that you can use to snag swag from the PETA catalog but we'll also feature your article right here on The PETA Files. That's a pretty big deal, right? (Please say yes—those of us who post here have such fragile egos!)

To give you a head start, this month's title is "Would you eat animal-stem-cell–grown 'clean meat' to protect animals and the environment?" If you don't quite get what that's about, be sure to read about our $1 million challenge first. If you need more information to help you write your article, there's a ton of useful, fascinating stuff on GoVeg.com.

-Jeff Mackey

Today is PETA President Ingrid Newkirk’s birthday. She will be turning … *muffled screams as blogger is pulled away from the computer by the hair*

Ahem. She will be turning a year older. Please join me in wishing her a very, very happy birthday. I’ll pick one commenter over the next two weeks to give away a free copy of the I Am an Animal DVD to. ‘Cuz birthdays make me feel generous like that. Happy birthday, Ingrid!

especially-balloons / CC

P.S. What? Come on, people. Like you guys have never kissed up to your boss? Give me a break.

P.P.S. Click here to read the terms and conditions of this contest. You’ll never guess who made me say that.

-Jack

It's official in Switzerland at least, where, under a new federal law, failure to provide any "social" animals contact with others of their own kind will be legally defined as abuse. Better yet, the law requires training for prospective dog guardians and sets some common-sense guidelines regarding living conditions for many other animals, including animals on farms.

Of course, there's still room for improvement. No word yet on how the Swiss are going to square this law with the country's appalling cat-skinning trade, which has largely been ignored by authorities. The new regulations also require anglers to learn how to kill fish humanely. While it's encouraging that they're recognizing that fish are social animals, as a former fishing-contest winner, I know that the chances of finding a "humane" way to violently rip these animals from their environment to suffocate to death isn't bloody likely (though it is likely bloody).

Still, this new law is definitely a step in the right direction. It should be recognized and applauded, even while we keep up our efforts to bring about further reforms. Swiss chard for everyone!

—Jeff

Posted by Jeff Mackey

OK, so puppies and kittens are awfully cute. But piglets can give them a run for their money—as in the case of the seriously adorable Bella, a rescued piglet who is now the face (and curly tail) of Animals Australia's pig advocacy campaign, SaveBabe.com.

This video provides a useful reminder that pigs are smart, social, and even heroic, much like the dogs and cats many of us share our homes with—and we would never even dream of eating them, right? Pigs on factory farms will never enjoy romps and belly rubs as Bella does. Instead, they'll be subjected to constant stress and denied everything that is natural and important to them—or even worse.

So since we're heading into prime cookout season, be sure to cool it with the hot dogs and spare the spare ribs. Check out these great grilling recipes for a sizzling summer barbecue that won't cause any pigs to suffer, even from hurt feelings (unless, of course, you fail to share with them).

P.S. If you watched the video closely, you may have noticed an appearance by James Cromwell, the star of Babe and a longtime friend of PETA and animals. If someone you know doesn't quite "get it" about pigs, you may want to pass along this wonderful pro-pig ad he did for us a while back.

—Jeff

Posted by Jeff Mackey

When my friend Marta sent me an email last week asking me if she could have some of my hair, I didn’t even blink. Marta is one weird chick, and I’ve come to expect stuff like that from her.* But it turns out she actually had a logical (albeit somewhat disturbing) reason for the request: Those convention-flaunting pranksters over at peta2 have arranged for a very, very special birthday gift for our old arch nemeses the Olsen Twins.

And this isn’t one of those token gifts that just adds to the clutter—it’s something they can really use! Thanks to my colleagues at peta2, and the hundreds of peta2 Street Teamers who are chipping in to donate their hair, the Olsens will have enough genuine, certified “people fur” on their birthday to make their own fur coats for the rest of the year! And they won’t have to harm a single animal in the process.

If you want to get involved, you can check out our Trollsen Twins site for more information. And while you’re at it, take some time to watch Full House of Horrors again. Just because.

PopCrunch has the story.

*That’s what you get for refusing to take a tea break with me this morning, Marta.

--Jack

Posted by Jack Shepherd

In the '80s, when PETA began pushing cosmetics companies to stop testing their products on animals, those companies insisted that there were no alternatives to dripping mascara into rabbits' eyes and pumping copious quantities of lip gloss into the stomachs of guinea pigs. Miraculously, when consumers began sending cruelly tested products back to the companies and demanding their money back, the giants of the cosmetics industry—Avon, Mary Kay, Revlon, and others—found alternatives. Ah, what a difference a little incentive makes!

For years, PETA has been saying that non-animal alternatives are faster, cheaper, and more effective than animal tests, and just last summer, a report published by the not-so-shabby National Academy of Sciences said much the same thing. But as long as the federal government continues to pour money into cruel and pointless animal tests—and as long as vivisectors can map out a tenured career for themselves feeding at the government trough—animal experiments will continue. And even as we work to hold up a mirror to the evil that is vivisection, we need more incentives for non-animal research.

World-famous primate expert Dr. Jane Goodall hit the nail on the head last week when she appealed to the European Union to end the use of animals in experimentation, suggesting that a Nobel Prize be conferred for scientific breakthroughs that use "new ways of testing and experimenting that will not involve the use of live, sentient beings." She added, "We need to recognize at the outset that what we do to animals from their perspective certainly, and probably from ours, is morally wrong and unacceptable."

It's not the first time that Dr. Goodall has ignited a firestorm of controversy, throwing monkey wrenches into conventionally held prejudices and preconceptions. In 1960, Dr. Goodall shook the world by documenting tool use in chimpanzees, an ability that was believed to be uniquely human. Her mentor famously commented, "Now we must redefine tool, redefine Man, or accept chimpanzees as humans."

Forty-eight years later, Dr. Goodall continues to turn conventional thinking on its head, and our guess is that she's right once again!

—Grace

Posted by Grace Friedan

That's right! Just when you were wondering if she could be any more fabulous, actor and devoted PETA supporter Pamela Anderson continues to set the bar high when it comes to helping animals. She recently announced that she'll be selling her 2000 Dodge Viper (customized with white racing stripes and the whole shebang) along with other personal items at Julien's Auctions' Summer Entertainment Sale of Hollywood Memorabilia and handing profits over to PETA. "I've been working with PETA for 15 years," Pam said to the Associated Press. "They're kind of my ethical advisers. With them, I see actual results."

Pam told the media that she attends charity auctions on a regular basis but doesn't do much collecting herself. "I get sports stuff for my kids," she said. "But me? I, just on a whim, give everything away. This is another one of those opportunities, but it's specific. It goes to the cause."

Whether it comes to talking politics in D.C., hosting news conferences in Paris, doing charity work, speaking out against KFC, and narrating videos, Ms. Anderson has always been a true hero for animals.

You can check out Pam's upcoming new series on E!, Pam: Girl on the Loose, to see scenes from the auction.

—Christine

Posted by Christine Dore, Marketing Special Projects Coordinator

The legendary gore director Lloyd Kaufman on Troma Studios’ latest psychotronic flick, which opens in Los Angeles on June 12:

“Poultrygeist concerns a fast-food chicken establishment built on an ancient Indian graveyard. And since the Indians were also exterminated, and billions and billions of chickens were exterminated, the Indian spirits and the chicken spirits merge underground and come up into the fast-food establishment ... and Poultrygeist ensues.”

The man is quite clearly a genius. Is all I can say. But here’s Lloyd himself with more:

Shortly after Eight Belles’ death, I wrote something of a dissertation in response to some folks who had taken the opportunity to claim that horses love racing because they’re, like, “born to run” or whatever. But here’s a little visual aid for anyone who remains unconvinced. This clip is from the Brooklyn Handicap stakes race that took place on June 6 at Belmont. The jockey is John Velazquez, and the horse is Nite Light—who, as far as I can tell, likes horse racing about as much as I do.

If you were watching the news last week, you probably caught the story about vivisectors at the University of Pittsburgh who—to hear the media report it—have performed "groundbreaking" work that will help people with paralyzing conditions gain more control over their lives.

So what did these miracle workers do? They sawed into the skulls of monkeys, implanted tiny electrodes in the monkeys' brains, and trained the monkeys to perform certain tasks. In similar studies, experimenters "train" monkeys by depriving them of water for extended periods of time so that out of thirsty desperation, the monkeys will comply.

The electrodes in the monkeys' brains were attached to a computer, and the computer was attached to a robotic arm. The vivisectors restrained the monkeys' arms and had the animals use their thoughts to move the robotic arm to their mouths so that they could get the food.

Now, this may sound pretty extraordinary. The thing is that the experiments had already been performed on humans by researchers at Brown University nearly two years ago! Of course, in the case of the human studies, the people weren't taken from their families and imprisoned alone in tiny metal and concrete cages, where they could only take a single step in any direction; they weren't kept thirsty and hungry so that they could be "trained"; and they weren't deprived of the feeling of the ground beneath their feet, the warmth of the sun on their backs, the wind in their faces, and everything else that is natural and important to them.

It would seem that the lives of the monkeys used in the University of Pittsburgh's experiments are worth so little to the vivisectors that they continue to abuse and torment them, just to duplicate concepts already proved using humans.

PETA primate specialist Dr. Debra Durham, who has worked in primate labs and knows firsthand how ugly these places are, minces no words when describing what happens to monkeys in these hellholes:

It probably comes as no surprise that monkeys traumatized in labs suffer physically and psychologically. Studies have shown that roughly 90 percent of monkeys in labs have serious psychological symptoms, while another 15 to 25 percent engage in some form of self-mutilation. … For monkeys, laboratories are their Guantanamo.

—Grace

Posted by Grace Freidan, Researcher

You’d be surprised, actually. I know that my friend Melissa Karpel and her family (who were the activists in this case) certainly weren’t expecting things to turn out the way they did. The reason this all came about was for Morgan Spurlock’s series, 30 Days, in which people from opposite sides of an issue spend a month together to see what will happen (in one of the episodes, for instance, a woman who believes homosexuality is a sin moves in with a gay couple raising a family).

But what I like best about this show is that it’s not one of these cheap reality TV stunts that are designed to have people at each other’s throats—it’s a very thoughtful look at how reasonable people with strong convictions on opposite sides of an ideal adjust to spending time with each other. And the upcoming show, starring George Snedeker and the Karpels, is a wonderful example of the philosophy behind 30 Days in action.

You don’t see them, because I don’t publish them, but I get a number of fairly abusive comments on this blog from people who have decided that they think animal rights is a waste of time, and feel the need to try and insult and belittle people who have devoted their lives to helping animals—but for every ignorant person like that, there’s a George Snedeker, who, while he may not share our convictions, is willing to listen with an open mind and engage in a genuine discussion about the issues. I won’t spoil the show for you by telling you how it turns out, but you should definitely check it out if you get the opportunity. It’s on FX on June 17 at 10:00pm. I’ll post again when it’s airing as a reminder. In the meantime, here are some pics:

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After much hype around Big Brown's quarter hoof split, with the spotlight on the trainer and the owner and everyone else surrounding this “pushed” horse, it seems that he was finally allowed to run what may well have been the first natural race of his life. And the result is he showed how he really feels: tired and lame. Big Brown’s jockey did the right thing and pulled him up, sensing that the horse just didn’t have it in him. History has been made.

Ten states already ban steroids, and the rest need to follow suit. PETA will be pushing for illegal and legal drug use to end and for horses to be allowed to be themselves. If money can’t be made honestly and comes at the expense of breaking animals' bodies and souls, then it shouldn’t be made at all. Please join us in urging Congress to properly investigate horse-racing cruelty by using this web form.

PETA demonstrators flooded the Belmont yesterday in huge numbers. Here are some pictures:

It’s kinda like when someone asks you to do a project for them at the office, and you forward it on to a colleague in the hopes that you can get out of doing the work yourself. Except when most people do that, it means that, like, a report doesn’t get written or something. When a State’s Attorney tries to do it with a high-profile case, that can be a little bit more of a big deal.

A few days ago, PETA called on Kentucky's Commonwealth Attorney Dave Stengel to investigate criminal charges in the Eight Belles case under the state's cruelty-to-animals statute, but we’ve just learned that Mr. Stengel has denied jurisdiction (i.e., he’s trying to wiggle out of it). So we urgently need to put pressure on the governor to tell Dave Stengel to do his job. You can help us out by writing to Governor Steve Beshear through our online form.

The horseracing industry would like nothing better than to see this story go away, and it’s absolutely imperative that we find out the full details surrounding Eight Belles’ death while we still can.

--Jack

Posted by Jack Shepherd, Marketing Coordinator

Yes, yes, y’all. It’s soup time. By which I mean, it’s Friday afternoon, and I’ve more or less run out of coherent things to say and am reduced to starting units of thought with phrases like “Yes, yes, y’all”. For which I apologize from the bottom of my heart.

But back to the task at hand. I’d like to offer you my personal guarantee that all of the links below have been given the official PETA Files Seal of Approval. This means that every video, article, or other webpage contained therein has at some point or other been deemed by me or someone I know to be at least mildly interesting, amusing, or otherwise edifying. Or, translated into plain English, “Click at your own risk.” Here goes:

1. Henri is a haunted cat.
2. “You’re probably having a lot of new feelings, and … urges. And that’s … normal.”
3. There was some debate in the office about whether this one was brilliant or heavyhanded. I imagine it’s a bit of both.
4. If real life were more like Facebook, there would be a good deal more poking. Which would work out quite well for us in Sweden.
5. One more reason to love Deadspin. The apropros-of-nothing Lettuce Lady shots during NHL commentary.
6. Superfans of Sir Paul can feel free to sign this petition someone sent me.
7. Not to be a downer all of a sudden, but this was seriously the most depressing thing I’ve read all week.
8. Gold star to those smooth-talking scholars over at peta2 for sponsoring a sorority formal. I guess my invite got lost in the intra-office mail?
9. Thanks to Copyranter for emblazoning this image on my mind. As he points out, some people just do our job for us.
10. Famous PETA anti-fur ads, um, reenvisioned.
11. And finally, I’ve had this BBC article in my Inbox for almost a full year now, and I may even have linked to it before, but for some reason I’m completely in love with the scientist’s quote about the origins of the domestic cat. There’s just something so beautifully absurd about it (for best results, try reading in a British accent).

    "The Felidae family is well known as a successful predator - very deadly, very ferocious, very threatening to all species including humankind," said co-author Stephen O'Brien, of the US National Cancer Institute. "But this little guy actually chose not to be that," he said. "He actually chose to be a little bit friendly and also was a very good mouser."

Thank you, Stephen O’Brien. And with that, this week’s edition of Internet Soup comes to an end. For those of you who are still casting about for utterly inane things to do on the Web, perhaps you’d like to join my ill-fated and ill-thought-out campaign to save the subjunctive. Any takers?

-Jack

Well hello there, ladies and gents!

Awww! Aren't you sweet tryin' to give your love something special? Well, if you've been stressed about how to get the attention of the cute veg girl at your job or just need some fresh ideas for the hot vegan you've already scored, look no further!

From ritzy getaways to love on the cheap, there's something for everyone in here. I've compiled this list by scouring the Earth (well, the Web) and interviewing countless awesome vegan couples. As you can imagine, there's no shortage of those around this here campfire.

Let's get this party started!

NUMBER 10!
This one's for the big spenders. Take that dime piece of yours (that's slang for calling them a "10") to a vegan bed and breakfast in the country of their choosing.

NUMBER 9!
Switch out the household cleaning products in your house with cruelty-free options. So selfless. So precious. Big brownie points coming your way!

NUMBER 8!
Have a picnic! Cook for them—the most important ingredient is love. It doesn't matter if it's lopsided and slightly burnt—you made it, and that means the world to your loved one. Of course, if you're quite adventurous, you may peruse VegCooking.com for amazing recipes at the click of a mouse.

NUMBER 7!
Have a vegan potluck/dinner party. Encourage your new flame by gathering his or her friends around in yummy support. Whether or not your friends are veg yet, it's an awesome opportunity to put animal rights into focus in a positive way while creating a supportive environment for veggieness to flourish. And of course, there's the free food factor :-)

NUMBER 6!
Feeling a little more frisky? You can give a box o' cruelty-free love containing vegan chocolate syrup, vegan whipped cream, vegan high heels, and edible undies.

NUMBER 5!
Cruelty-free makeup is always a good choice! You may peruse this classy site for options. Though I would strongly recommend a gift certificate, as trying to guess at a thing like foundation shade can get messy.

NUMBER 4!
Take her on a shopping spree! I mean, really. This is easy-peasy. :-)
www.petacatalog.org <-- get at that. Buy her flowers, chocolates, clothes ... the options are endless!

NUMBER 3!
Take him on a shopping spree! Get that man a snazzy leather-free wallet. If that's a little too pricey, you can try one made of duct tape. You can also go classic with a nice pair of kicks or a belt.

NUMBER 2!
Volunteer at an animal sanctuary together. Oh my word! Can you hear my heart pitter-patter? My personal favorite is The Elephant Sanctuary. It's probably the greatest thing I can think of. If you have no idea of the torturous conditions from which some of these magnificent creatures are rescued, look here and then here. Now that you are rightfully enraged, go here. (You see?! The greatest thing EVER!) As you sop away the tears—or simmer down your desire to tase a circus "trainer"—consider a peaceful getaway to Tennessee.

NUMBER 1!
GO VEGAN! Oh, come on, now. Like you didn't see this one coming! Honestly, you adore the one you're with, and since they're with you, it clearly proves their discriminating taste. So why not explore what else touches their heart? Even Oprah's trying veganism out for a whole 21 days. Surely you could give it a little go?

Well, there you have it—the latest installment of ways to wow your vegan honey. I hope you are inspired to great feats of animal-friendly love.

--Missy

Posted by Missy Lane, Public Information Specialist

After covering the zoo-prison connection just recently, the folks at The Onion have put together a spoof news story highlighting how absolutely ridiculous (and—dare I say—lowbrow) "donkey basketball" is.

It's worth noting the newscasters' description of Nubbins, who drops in weight and perceived value as he stops performing for the crowd: He ends up "tethered to a trailer out back" and dumped at a roadside petting zoo. Surely, high school and community fundraisers could come up with more compassionate and less absolutely weird sporting events than these. I mean, we've established that people often play basketball without donkeys, right?

--Sean

Posted by Sean Conner, Laboratory Investigations Special Projects Coordinator

OK, here's the thing: You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand the handful of regulations that govern the treatment of animals in laboratories. What's required of folks who use animals in laboratories is so embarrassingly obvious—animals who are sick or injured need veterinary care, animals who are too ill to be treated should be euthanized, dogs should be exercised, cages should be cleaned, and so on. And yet, vivisectors in labs across the country violate federal law every single day.

Take this situation at Pierce College: A whistleblower has informed PETA that animals are being abused and killed in classroom laboratories by an instructor (Christa Slattery) and her students, in apparent violation of federal animal welfare regulations. The whistleblower told us that Slattery operates her classes like a "free for all," allowing students to poke, prod, bleed, and inject animals with minimum guidance or instruction. And reportedly, when Slattery gets to the animals, it seems that she barely knows what she's doing! The whistleblower told PETA that Slattery tried to push a large mouse into a small tube to restrain the mouse; she wondered whether the tube was too small but just shrugged her shoulders and continued to force the mouse into the tube. Minutes later, the mouse was dead.

Here's what the whistleblower had to say about the matter:

Ms. Slattery's failure to provide detailed guidance in the form of thorough instruction, science-based guidelines, and careful supervision deprives the students in her class of an opportunity to receive adequate training in animal care procedures and leaves the animals used in demonstrations open to neglect, mistreatment, and abuse.

And here's what PETA's director of laboratory investigations told the media today:

Pierce College's veterinary technician program appears to be teaching students that animals' lives don't matter. Slattery's laboratory is apparently in violation of a host of federal regulations, and we're urging the USDA to investigate and force Pierce to comply with animal protection regulations.

If you'd like to write to the veterinary school about this issue, you can do so through the handy Web form here.

—Grace

Posted by Grace Freidan, Researcher

Sounds like some sketchy-ass cult from a second-rate slasher flick, and, honestly, this recent segment on HBO about these shadowy figures in the horse racing industry kinda reinforces that impression. My favorite part in the video is the dude at the beginning of the second segment who’s all, “Yeah, I sold my horse to The Meat Men, but I didn’t ask where the horse was going, ‘cuz I didn’t want to know.” I imagine he’s the sort of guy who would hand his kids over to a babysitting service called The Black Market Organ Dealers, and then be all surprised when they came back without any kidneys.

Check the two parts of the segment out here and here, then let me know what you think—it’s pretty well-known that the horse racing industry and the horse slaughter industry are more or less BFFs, but this footage really drives the point home in a powerful and (fair warning) pretty disturbing way.

While we’re on the topic of horse racing, a bit of house cleaning: First, and most importantly, my colleague Jeff Kerr is giving a press conference in Louisville this morning to renew PETA’s call for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Eight Belles’ death, following the admission by Eight Belles' trainer that the filly was given a powerful anti-inflammatory drug just hours before her catastrophic breakdown. More on that as it develops. Secondly, since we’re talking about breakdowns, here’s a list of all the thoroughbred deaths that have taken place since the Eight Belles incident on May 3. More than a dozen so far, and counting. And finally, here’s The New York Times on the widespread use of steroids in the horse racing business.

So there you have it, Meat Men, high on-track death rates, and widespread steroid abuse. Classy stuff, horse racing industry. You guys are real winners.

--Jack

Posted by Jack Shepherd, Marketing Coordinator

This little logo—which PETA is using in our efforts to urge Lowe's to stop selling cruel glue traps (archaic torture devices that trap small animals, causing them to suffer from suffocation, starvation, and mutilation)—is apparently causing big headaches for the company:

Last week, the company that manages Lowe's trademarks sent the head legal counsel for PETA a letter claiming that our logo parody infringes on their trademark rights and demanding that we stop using it.

Our legal eagles fired back with a letter saying, in short, "Umm, not quite." (Though, as lawyers always tend to be, they were a bit more technical than that.) In the letter—sent to LF LLC (which has the most generic, nondescript corporate name EVER)—our corporate counsel wrote:

[PETA's parody of Lowe's logo] is entirely consistent with the Lanham Act and no reasonable consumer could confuse any of these items as originating from or belonging to Lowe's. We do not believe that LF seriously contends than an appreciable number of consumers who see an image of a bloodied dead mouse slouching across the top of a slogan that reads "Lowe'st of the Low: Torture for Sale" would be confused into thinking that Lowe's is the source of the publication. If Lowe's is truly concerned about its goodwill, we recommend that it end its sale of cruel glue traps.

Pow! That's gotta hurt—though not nearly as much as being caught in one of Lowe's glue traps.

More genius from our good friend Jeff C. Incidentally, we have tons of info available on where to find cruelty-free cosmetics.

Click for a larger version

To check out the archives of past strips, click here.

Adidas—the second-largest sporting-goods manufacturer in the world—has just taken steps to reduce the suffering of sheep in its supply chain.

Following nearly four months of discussions with PETA, Adidas has now decided to boycott all wool from mulesed lambs—including those mulesed using clips.

Frank Henke, Global Director of Social and Environmental Affairs for Adidas, told PETA: "Adidas has given a clear briefing to its development and sourcing teams to not use merino wool from sources where mulesing practices are applied. Clip-mulesing is also rejected by our internal policy. … [W]e would select another material unless we obtain clear confirmation from the source that mulesing practices were stopped."

As some readers might know, mulesing is a standard mutilation used by Australian woolgrowers in which lambs have huge chunks of skin and flesh carved from their backsides with big, metal shears (like gardening shears). This gruesome procedure is used in a misguided attempt to protect sheep from maggot infestation, despite the fact that humane methods (e.g., in which animals’ skin isn’t removed) exist.

In an attempt to win back clothing retailers that are boycotting Australian wool over this issue, some farmers have started using clips to mules their animals. Clip mulesing involves clamping clips onto the animals' skin so tightly that the skin dies and falls off. This method still causes pain, but is not bloody (and therefore less visually shocking), which lead the Australian wool industry to hope that it would be acceptable to clothing retailers. But Adidas—like HUGO BOSS, Perry Ellis, H&M, and many other companies—is not buying this new mutilation … which is great news, since it will help animals today and push the Australian wool industry to stop all forms of mulesing once and for all.

This decision by Adidas comes just one week after Australia’s Federal Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, wrote a publicized letter to Adidas thanking it for supporting Australian wool and trying to justify the mulesing mutilation to them. Bad timing, Mr. Burke.

Three cheers for Adidas for refusing to support unnecessary and cruel lamb mutilations down under!

You can help! Take a few seconds to sign our petition urging the Australian Prime Minister to help put an end to mulesing immediately.

--Matt

Posted by Matt Prescott, Assistant Director of Corporate Affairs

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has found a new hotbed of activist networking to infiltrate: vegan potlucks.

From this City Pages article, it seems that the FBI has taken particular interest in finding informants to report back to them on potential protest activities regarding the upcoming Republican National Convention. In order to do so, they are trying to get moles to attend vegan potlucks in the Minneapolis area and keep tabs on any demonstration plans they may have.

Not one to be fooled into believing these elaborate conspiracy theories, I propose a simpler and much more believable reason for these suspicious activities: the FBI is finally gearing up its efforts to obtain my super-secret recipe for vegan apple turnovers with homemade icing. If you ever tasted one of these little pockets of soft and squishy apple goodness wrapped in a flaky, melt-in-your-mouth puff pastry, you would understand and wholeheartedly support their extreme efforts.

All this aside, try not to worry. Continue to welcome newbies to your potlucks and make only nominal efforts to check your friends for hidden recording, transmission, or other devices related to espionage. But if you do find yourself breaking bread with Mulder and Scully, let me know.

—Sean

Posted by Sean Conner, Laboratory Investigations Special Projects Coordinator

Beachgoers at Puri Beach in Orissa, India, were greeted by a little more than just sun and surf yesterday. PETA India recognized World Environmental Day with a giant sand sculpture of a polar bear crushed beneath a larger-than-life shoe and a sign that read, "Your carbon footprints have leather shoes." You can catch the full story here.

The 10-foot-tall sand sculpture coincided with PETA India's new environmental campaign, highlighting the harmful effects that the leather industry has on the environment. And given that India is one of the top producers of leather, the sculpture is perfectly fitting, I'd say.

Leather products full of chemicals, dyes, oils, and finishes cause irreversible devastation not only to the world's waterways and ecosystems but also to human health. And the cruelty involved with the leather industry isn't any better—since leather is the most important byproduct of the meat industry, leather production directly contributes to factory farms and slaughterhouses. And according to a 2006 United Nations report, raising animals for food creates more greenhouse gasses than all trucks, cars, planes, and ships in the world combined. The damage caused by India's leather industry makes the country a major contributor to global warming and the further endangerment of polar bears and their natural habitat.

I think PETA India's N.G. Jayasimha puts it best when he says, "Consumers can save polar bears and cows at the same time by giving leather products the boot." And well, we tend to agree.

--Jen

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky, Membership Correspondence Coordinator

Remember when your mom would tell you that you should finish your food because there were kids in China who were going to bed hungry? Well, it turns out that moms in the U.K. never told their kids that—or the kids just plain didn't listen. Earlier this month, the U.K.-based Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) reported that a lot of food—much of it unopened and not yet expired—gets tossed by U.K. consumers.

Perfectly good bread, potatoes, vegetables, baked goods, and packaged meals wind up in British landfills. Also on the list: 1.5 million (yes, million) single-serving containers of yogurt and 5,500 whole chickens (yes, five thousand and five hundred whole chickens on Styrofoam trays and wrapped in plastic) get discarded every single day in the U.K.

Now, I don't consider the corpse of an animal to be food. I don't want that suffering anywhere near my plate. But the fact that there are people who will unthinkingly buy what in essence is misery wrapped in plastic and then throw away that misery without a second thought pretty much makes me lose my lunch (and breakfast and dinner).

I remember reading once that in commercial egg operations, it can take a hen 34 hours to lay a single egg. I would see a plate of half-eaten scrambled eggs left by a diner in a restaurant or a recipe that called for just part of an egg with the rest presumably discarded, and I would wonder how many hours of suffering were represented in that waste.

There are oceans of misery and oceans of indifference, but with all our teaspoon acts of kindness and mercy, we might just be the change that this world needs.

—Grace

Posted by Grace Friedan, Researcher

So I told some of my animal buddies about the progress with the KFC campaign in regards to the animal welfare changes we secured for chickens killed for Canadian KFCs..

So we had a little celebration, as you can see here. They couldn't really wait for the grapes to ferment into wine and all that, so they just gobbled (no pun intended) them up.

Congrats to everyone for doing such a great job with the campaign so far! The chickens especially thank you for working to make their lives better.

—Pulin

Posted by Pulin Modi, Senior Street Team Coordinator, peta2

We frequently catch wind of some insightful satire from the folks over at The Onion, as their talent for drawing attention to ridiculous practices and pastimes deservedly focuses on animal issues from time to time.

In this very clever piece, the San Diego Zoo reportedly merges with the San Diego prison to boost tourism and cut costs (which is a common theme in animal industries). It's worth noting that they refer to the new facility as a zoo-prison, which is not exactly a new concept—"zoological park" is really just a kid-friendly way of saying zoological prison. The only difference between the medium-security inmates and the big cats, after all, is the inmates' right to a day in court before a life of imprisonment. The last quote in the article really says it all:

"To see all those poor souls forced to live in confined living quarters, with little to no sunlight, and no hope of freedom, it's just so inhumane," San Diego housewife Carol Wurster said. "Those otters deserve better."

—Sean

Posted by Sean Conner, Laboratory Investigations Special Projects Coordinator

Now that the warmer months are finally upon us, you're probably planning your summer getaway, right? C'mon, don't deny it—I know I am! I plan on spending a ridiculous amount of time at the beach this summer—relaxing on the sand, strolling the boardwalk, doing some kayaking in the ocean waves, probably falling out of the kayak in the ocean waves ....

What I'm getting at is whether you're headed to the beach, to the weekend bed and breakfast, or up the West Coast on a road trip, why not consider taking your furry companions with you? There are a number of activities that you can do together—you can take a walking tour of an old town, play Frisbee on the beach, or visit local dog parks for some R and R.

Most dogs love car rides, and let's face it, your pooch is probably your only friend who won't judge your off-beat, out-of-tune, don't-even-know-the-words singing. It's true. Plus, there are some great destinations out there that offer animal-friendly accommodations, and they won't cost you a fortune. Most rest stops along the main highways nowadays even have designated dog areas so that you can both get out and stretch your legs.

As far as your dog's safety is concerned, it's best to make sure your four-legged friend is up-to-date with all the appropriate tags. And don't forget to stick a recent photo of your dog in your wallet in case of an emergency.

There. You're all set. Now plan your vacation, pack the car, grab your pooch, and hit the open road! And do send all your envious friends postcards—they will surely thank you.

—Jen

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky, Membership Correspondence Coordinator

You might be surprised to learn about Switzerland's involvement in the cat-fur industry. Switzerland is the only country in Western Europe that still legally allows cats to be hunted for their fur. Swiss law even states that cats that wander 200 yards or more away from their homes can legally be killed—and their fur can be made into jackets, coats, and bed blankets.

It's really no coincidence that most people don't know about Switzerland's cat-fur trade. If you were to step inside a fur store in Switzerland and raise questions about cat fur, chances are the store would deny any involvement or pretend it does not know anything about the industry.

But undercover investigations conducted by television crews last year exposed Switzerland's cat-fur trade. And caught on film were the same tanners and furriers who, when questioned, denied any involvement. You can read the details here.

The footage caught on film from hidden cameras caused an uproar from Swiss citizens and animal rights groups. Longtime animal rights advocate Brigitte Bardot has thrown her support to the cause, and SOS Chats—Switzerland's pro-cat lobby—is now working to ban the cat-fur trade and cat hunting.

Ironically enough, Switzerland actually banned all cat-fur imports from other countries in 2006 because of concerns about the animals' treatment during slaughter—a move that is proving to be as useless as the cat- and dog-fur ban that the European Union will be adopting later this year.

It's a little hard to be neutral when you're contributing to this, Switzerland. Don't you think?

—Jen

Posted by Jennifer Cierlitsky, Membership Correspondence Coordinator

A frequent PETA Files pastime is to announce some of the country's most gruesome vivisectors. We have a solid lineup of monkey torturers this month, so please mull your choice over carefully. If you have trouble deciding, try to ask yourself: "Would I rather be raised without a mother and literally driven to alcoholism or die convulsing with a hole in my head?"

Stephen Suomi has been tormenting baby monkeys since the '70s. Working for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and living off our tax dollars, he has made a career out of tearing infants away from their mothers and letting them try to raise themselves among peers. Suomi tests the traumatized monkeys for such things as right- or left-handed preferences and tendencies to self-bite. Suomi has also done extensive work with getting motherless monkeys drunk to see how stress and deleterious rearing affects monkeys' desire to drown their sorrows. The connection in humans between early life trauma and an increased attraction to alcohol is also well-known.

Jason Cromer, currently a postdoc at MIT, is definitely a fledgling compared to Suomi, but he has been trained extensively in torturing and killing monkeys by his mentor, David Waitzman at the University of Connecticut, who is known for sticking coils into monkeys' eyes and surgically fixing them to head restraints. According to a cage log, one of Waitzman's monkeys, Cornelius, started convulsing in his restraints during an experiment performed by Cromer. He removed Cornelius' restraints and electrodes and proceeded to drug him as the convulsions developed into grand mal seizures and eventually death.

Who is our most vile vivisector this month—the tried and true NIH employee or the young blood from Connecticut? Leave a comment to let me know!

—Sean

Posted by Sean Conner, Laboratory Investigations Special Projects Coordinator