Before there was Gaga, Eva, or Natalie, there was Twiggy. From her groundbreaking debut in the '60s to her insightful (and compassionate) presence on America's Next Top Model, Twiggy is always in style—so it's no surprise that the eternally vogue icon shuns fur. Elegant and wise, Twiggy knows that faux is forever trendy, which is why she and a rescue pooch named Jasmine posed in this adorable new ad from PETA U.K.:

There is no difference between companion animals and those who are tormented and killed on fur farms. Dogs are among the many animals—including cats, rabbits, foxes, and minks—who are starved and left in extremely crowded wire cages to suffer the blazing summer heat and the unbearable winter cold. After miserable lives filled with neglect and abuse, animals on fur farms are slammed to the ground or electrocuted in an effort to kill them. Those attempts often fail, and then the animals suffer the agony of having the skin stripped from their bodies while they are still able to feel pain. Follow Twiggy's timelessly humane lead and take our pledge to go fur-free.

Posted by Logan Scherer

farm3.static.flickr / CC

Two years ago, PETA UK began urging Selfridges to drop foie gras from its shelves so that it would stop contributing to the fatal force-feeding of ducks and geese. PETA UK and its supporters dauntlessly demonstrated, sent more than 5,000 e-mails to Selfridges, and placed thousands of phone calls to the retailer. We are thrilled to announce that all this hard work has paid off: Selfridges has pledged to stop selling foie gras forever.

The splendid news comes from Sir Roger Moore, PETA UK's committed celebrity spokesperson, who received the call directly from Selfridges. Moore's unwavering dedication, along with the inspiring passion of PETA UK's campaigners, attracted endless attention on television, in newspapers, and around the Internet—wherever you turned, PETA UK was there, spreading the message to give up foie gras.

This towering triumph is proof that every e-mail, phone call, and letter matters. Please help spread the success by writing to managers of local restaurants that still sell the vile food. Alert them to the gross cruelty behind foie gras, and ask them to remove it from their menus.

Posted by Logan Scherer

Update: After receiving a complaint from Leslie Franks Solicitors that the description of its client hadn't made the distinction that Barker was not convicted of murder but rather of "causing or allowing" the death of Baby P, PETA U.K. redesigned this billboard. Convicted child abusers' violent acts send just as clear a warning to anyone who might overlook animal abuse.

It's been shown many times that those who abuse animals often go on to commit violence against human beings. (Remember what Eli Roth said?)

With that in mind, our friends at PETA UK have just placed a billboard in Haringey, the North London borough that is now infamous for being the location of the horrific abuse of "Baby P," a 17-month old boy who was found dead in his bed with a broken back, his fingertips sliced off, and his fingernails pulled out with pliers. He was also punched so hard in the face that he swallowed a tooth.

As a child, Baby P's abuser, Steven Barker, tortured animals, including frogs, whom he would skin before breaking their legs. How much suffering could have been prevented if Barker's fascination with inflicting torture on animals had been taken more seriously?

Baby P's case is a chilling reminder that cruelty-to-animals cases must be reported and aggressively prosecuted in order to protect helpless victims of all species.

Posted by Amanda Schinke

On Saturday, dozens of PETA UK members in duck masks descended on the Oxford Street Selfridge's for a flash mob–style protest. The "ducks" converged on the storefront, did a few rounds of the "birdie dance" (affectionately referred to as the "chicken dance" on this side of the pond), and dispersed.

The action was part of PETA UK's campaign against foie gras—and against Selfridge's for its refusal to stop selling the cruelly produced, diseased, fatty liver.

Oh, and they were led by the most adorable duck costume I've seen yet.

Are there words to the chicken dance? No one seems to know for sure.

Posted by Amanda Schinke

dailymail / CC

British artist Damien Hirst—known for his series of "art" installations featuring dead (and yes, sometimes dissected) animals preserved in formaldehyde—has reportedly hung up his canning supplies in favor of a paintbrush.

Apparently Hirst has spent the last three years painting in a shed behind his house. He says he had to relearn to paint for the first time since he was an art student, and the paintings were, at first, "embarrassing," and he "didn't want anyone to come in."

It looks like reconnecting with art in its pure form, instead of focusing on shock art that exploits animals and treats their bodies as amusements, has made Damien rethink the direction his career has taken. You've got to wonder why the man wasn't as embarrassed by his past work …

Here's hoping that Damien will stick to this new oeuvre.

Posted by Amanda Schinke