Written by PETA
PETA's recent undercover investigation of the largest slaughterhouse in Uruguay exposed that the facility was using the primitive and cruel "shackle and hoist" method for kosher slaughter.
This slaughterhouse is the largest foreign supplier of kosher meat to the U.S. and a major kosher meat exporter to Israel. Thanks to the PETA investigation, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel has just announced that by 2011 it will no longer certify meat as kosher if it's from a slaughterhouse that use "shackle and hoist"—that's about 80 percent of the meat imported into Israel, so we're not talking small potatoes!
This is a great step. Of course, the only way to know for sure that you are not supporting slaughterhouse cruelty is to go vegan. Plant-based foods are naturally kosher, and a vegan diet is in keeping with Jewish laws mandating that animals be treated with compassion and respect.
Written by Heather Moore
Some people in Barre, Vermont, are in a tizzy over a recently rediscovered (but never enforced) 1973 ordinance that bans residents from allowing their cats to roam unattended. I say that this 37-year-old law is smart, kind, and ahead of its time, because allowing cats to prowl the suburban jungle unattended isn't doing them any favors. This cat, who was rescued by fieldworkers with PETA's Community Animal Project, is a heartbreaking example of why:
Every day, cats whose guardians see no harm in letting them roam are injured or killed by vehicles, shot by cruel neighbors who don't want them using their gardens as litter boxes, poisoned, stolen to be used in experiments or as bait in dogfighting, and worse. Cats also instinctively terrorize, maim, and kill countless native birds and other wildlife who are already struggling to survive challenges such as habitat loss and who aren't equipped to deal with such predators.
Protecting cats and wildlife doesn't have to mean making Kitty a full-time housecat. Many cats quickly become comfortable with wearing a harness and enjoy leisurely leashed excursions around the yard with their guardians. And then there are "catios"—cat patios that clever and compassionate people build so that their feline friends can safely enjoy the great outdoors. Whatever we do, if we love our cats, we must never let them roam out of our sight.
Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post
Sue Sylvester, the sardonic cheerleading coach on the breakout TV hit Glee, is a pretty ruthless character, but thanks to the fabulous actor who plays her, Jane Lynch, there's at least one thing that Sue will never resort to: Violence against animals.
When a script called for Sue to intimidate her nemesis, show-choir director Will Schuester, by threatening to give him an adorable cat and then kill him or her, Jane balked, reportedly saying, "I'm not going to say that. I work for PETA. I can't say kill the cat." So, instead, Sue said:
"I'll need to see that set list for sectionals, after all. I want it on my desk warm from the laminator at 5 p.m., and if it is one minute late, I will go to the animal shelter and get you a kitty cat. I will let you fall in love with that kitty cat. And then on some dark, cold night, I will steal away into your home and punch you in the face."
Go, Jane! Not only is this line funnier (it's so Sue Sylvester), it also avoids the very unfunny consequences that occur much too often when sick individuals emulate acts of violence against animals when they see or hear about them in the media—acts that often escalate into attacks on other humans.
This story also offers more proof, if any is needed, that the famous faces who help with PETA's campaigns are walking the walk, even outside the public eye!
Written by Jeff Mackey
And we mean that literally. The late heir Gail Posner apparently took to heart PETA's advice that we must be sure to provide for our animal companions after we are gone: She left a $3 million trust fund and her $8.3 million Miami Beach mansion to her three dogs. Another $26 million goes to a group of staffers, and a housekeeper/personal assistant will be allowed to live in the mansion, rent free, to take care of the animals for the rest of their very comfortable lives. Let's hope that the housekeeper is a kind person.
In comparison, Posner's son's take of $1 million seems pretty measly—at least according to him. Think of what neglected animals and struggling animal shelters could do with that money!
They say that all dogs will have their day, but in the case of Conchita, Posner's beloved Chihuahua, they sometimes get a payday too (although dogs don't need anything more than food, water, shelter, a comfy bed, walks, veterinary care, and love). What do you think about Gail's last wishes? Have you included your companion animals in your will?
Written by Alisa Mullins
If you are one of the millions of eligible ladies dreaming of landing a date with country hunk Jake Owen, you need to set an appointment with his matchmaker and canine companion, Vern. The Grammy-nominated artist consults his dog about all potential dates. Jake says, "Vern's a pretty good judge of character when it comes to girls," adding that he can tell which ladies Vern prefers. "You've got to like my dog if you're going to be with me."
Dogs can detect cancerous tumors, alert epileptics to impending seizures, and perform many other amazing feats, so it's no surprise that they can also tell a "keeper" from a lemon. So, single folks, take a tip from Jake: If your dog, cat, or hamster doesn't like your date, take the hint and ditch the dud.
A day in the life of PETA's lovable day tripper involves going here, there, and everywhere, eight days a week, to plead with caring people to come together and stop Canada's shameful seal slaughter.
While en route to Parliament Hill in Ottawa yesterday, our seal was glad all over to pose with members of a Beatles cover band, With the Beatles, who maintain that all you need is love—not clubs, hakapiks, or seal fur.
This year's seal-bashing season concluded earlier this week, but seals in Canada still need your help to ensure the end of the seal slaughter, permanently.
Written by Karin Bennett
P.S. I've snuck the names of 11 different Beatles tunes (I couldn't resist) into the blog. Which ones can you find?
Anyone who has ever watched a rerun of the '70's game show Let's Make a Deal knows that women can pack some pretty weird stuff into their pocketbooks, but I've never seen anyone pull animal entrails out of her purse. Until now:
Along the same lines as one of our hard-hitting—or, um, creative—anti-fur TV spots, this video from the International Anti-Fur Coalition should make you want to walk up to every fur-wearer you see and say, "Let's make a deal": Pledge to ditch all animal skins and pick something from behind curtain number one instead.
Written by Amy Skylark Elizabeth
Ron Artest has been sporting his heart of gold for quite some time thanks to his efforts to assist with PETA's lifesaving spay and neuter campaign. Now he's going to be sporting NBA gold on his finger after a spectacular win in last night's Finals game!
Owing to Ron's calm and cool demeanor (and, according to him, his psychiatrist!)—plus numerous steals and a crucial three-pointer late in the game—the LA Lakers clinched the NBA championship and proved that Ron is a force to be reckoned with on the court.
Congratulations, Ron!
We're always super chuffed to hear what our supporters are doing to help animals (hey, we can't do it all ourselves!), so please, let us brag on one of our star members:
It was next to the last minute, when Anna Ware—a member of both PETA's Executive Committee and our Vanguard Society—discovered that the notoriously cruel Carson & Barnes Circus would be arriving in her community. Undeterred, she pulled together a great demonstration in less than 24 hours. Calling her friends to call their friends and calling us to call everyone we know, she let circus attendees know that they'd best turn around or they would be contributing to the suffering of animals. Anna went to Kinko's and printed out posters that detailed how camels and other animals are denied basic comforts such as shade and water, and she and the other demonstrators educated anyone within earshot:
No matter which circus may be coming to your town—or how last-minute it may be—you can follow Anna's example and put together an effective demonstration on the fly. For more ideas about how you can speak out for animals, check this out!
Live from the PETA Files, its SNL's "Clucky the Cluckin' Chicken" commercial!
Hmm, I'm kind of lovin' the idea of turning this into a spoof of McDonald's. What do you think? Would you like to see Clucky take on the killer clown?
If you have a general question for PETA and would like a response, please e-mail Info@peta.org. If you need to report cruelty to an animal, please click here. If you are reporting an animal in imminent danger and know where to find the animal and if the abuse is taking place right now, please call your local police department. If the police are unresponsive, please call PETA immediately at 757-622-7382 and press 2.
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