Yesterday, PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk turned 60! (Can you believe it? She says, "Yes, count the crow's feet!") Our staff asked supporters who wanted to wish Ingrid a happy birthday to send a donation to one of her favorite programs, Animal Rahat. And boy, did you come through. So far, birthday well-wishers have donated more than $12,000 to Animal Rahat, and that means the world to all those bulls and donkeys!

The folks at Animal Rahat were tickled to be the recipients of such generous gifts, so they made a birthday cake and gave out celebratory fresh grass (a big treat for the animals) and vital nutrition packs along the village roadways. Here are some photos of the big shindig:

Too pretty to eat? Naahh.

Animal Rahat staffers dig into the cake.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Animal Rahat's work, it provides desperately needed relief—such as food, veterinary care, water stations, and portable sunshades—to working animals in India. It also runs relief camps where injured, sick, and debilitated animals can recuperate as well as a retirement center where elderly animals can live out their golden years in comfort. Check out these photos of Animal Rahat in action:

Thank you all for helping to improve the lives of these working animals.

Posted by Alisa Mullins

Do you ever think to yourself, "I wish I could do more to help animals, but I'm flat broke"? Yeah, we've all been there. Lucky for the animals (and our wallets), SocialVibe.com and peta2 have teamed up to give you an easy way to donate without spending a dime! All you have to do is post a badge on your site. Really. That's it.

Here's how to get started:

1. Sign up here. If you're already signed up, you can just switch your cause to peta2.
2. Pick a sponsor. Choose your favorite company from the list (M.A.C. Cosmetics, American Apparel, etc.).
3. Create your own custom badge. You can put it on your MySpace page, Facebook profile, personal Web site, or blog.
4. Post the badge. As long as you post the badge, you will be earning money to support our work.
5. Invite some friends. The more friends you invite, the more points you accumulate—which means more money donated to your cause!

We're encouraging people to have a heart for neglected animals before Valentine's Day, and your support will help us reach our goal.

Piece of cake, right? You can effect change without affecting your bank account.

Posted by Lianne Turner