Digital Frog 2.5 Helps Kids Learn Without Hurting Animals

For Immediate Release:
January 14, 2013

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382

Hardwick, Vt. -- Students at Hazen Union High School in Hardwick are being taught animal anatomy with state-of-the-art software, thanks to a compassionate science teacher who won a PETA contest.

To mark "Cut Out Dissection" Month in October, TeachKind, PETA's humane-education arm, sponsored a contest in which teachers around the country were asked to list the reasons why their school deserved to win a state-of-the-art dissection simulation tool called Digital Frog 2.5.

Science teacher Teal Church wrote the winning essay, and Hazen Union High School students started using the interactive computer software this month.

Digital Frog 2.5 allows students to "cut" using a digital scalpel to explore animal anatomy, and unlike dead animals who are cut up for dissection, it teaches students about how frogs' living bodies work as well as about their natural habitats. Church doesn't use animals in her classes and wanted Digital Frog to provide students with a complete virtual anatomy experience.

"We're delighted to help Ms. Church and Hazen Union take the lead in teaching biology with humane, modern methods," says PETA Senior Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Kathy Guillermo. "Millions of frogs, pigs, cats, and other animals are still killed for dissection, even though non-animal methods for teaching biology are far superior."

The millions of animals who are used in school dissections come from biological supply houses, which breed some animals and obtain others from animal shelters or the wild. Comparative studies have repeatedly shown that non-animal teaching methods, such as interactive computer programs, are more effective at teaching biology than crude animal-based methods are. These programs also save time and money and increase student confidence and satisfaction.

The National Science Teachers Association endorses the use of modern non-animal methods as replacements for animal dissection.

For more information, please visit PETA.org/Dissection.

Suggesting That Killing Animals Is an Acceptable Form of Violence Hurts Animals and Children, Says Group

For Immediate Release:
January 14, 2013

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Washington -- As President Barack Obama prepares this week's statements on gun control, PETA has sent him a letter, copying Vice President Joe Biden, with a simple request: Stop pointing to hunting as an example of "responsible" gun ownership. As the group explains in its letter, hunting is cruel to the animals who die agonizing and, in many cases, prolonged deaths as well as detrimental to children, who should never be encouraged to hurt or kill animals since it hardens them to the suffering of others.

"As the mother of a child in elementary school, I cannot imagine telling my son that killing for fun is wrong when the victim is a human but perfectly acceptable when the target is a member of another species, say, a deer or a dove," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman in the letter. "Children must be taught that all gun violence is wrong, no matter how different from them the victim appears to be. … Either our country is against senseless violence and slaughter, or it isn't."

For more information, please visit PETA.org. 

PETA's letter to President Obama follows.

The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500-0049

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing on behalf of PETA and our more than 3 million members and supporters to ask you, as you prepare your statements this week on gun violence, to reconsider your defense of hunting and shooting animals for sport as a justification for gun ownership. In a news conference five days after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, you stated that “the vast majority of gun owners in America are responsible—they buy their guns legally, and they use them safely, whether for hunting or sport shooting, collection or protection.” Yet there is nothing “responsible” about making a sport out of killing, about hunting, or about teaching children to hunt. As the mother of a child in elementary school, I cannot imagine telling my son that killing for fun is wrong when the victim is a human but perfectly acceptable when the target is a member of another species, say, a deer or a dove. Children must be taught that all gun violence is wrong, no matter how different from them the victim appears to be.

This mixed message to children can result in deadly consequences for humans as well as for other living beings. Often, we hear of a killer who, as a child, first enjoyed stalking and hunting or torturing and killing animals in other ways. And hunting can indeed be torture. Many hunting victims are injured but not immediately killed, leaving them to endure prolonged, agonizing deaths. So while a ban on hunting may not be in our immediate future, a change in tone could easily be had with a stroke of your speechwriter’s pen.

Americans’ views are evolving on many issues, from same-sex marriage to gun control, and the time is right to reconsider the dangerous message that the practice of killing animals for fun is acceptable and should even be protected. The tragedy that our nation experienced in December presents a perfect opportunity to speak out against gun violence of every kind. In your news conference today, you asked, “What should we be doing to make sure our children are safe and reduce incidents of gun violence?” And you went on, “If there is a step we can take that will save even one child from what happened in Newtown, we should take that step.” Supporting hunting not only promotes violence to animals but also puts our children at risk by teaching them that taking aim at a living creature is nothing but sport. Either our country is against senseless violence and slaughter, or it isn’t. Please do the right thing. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,

Tracy Reiman
Executive Vice President

'Don't Dissect Anyone!' Says Pretty Little Liars and Vampire Diaries Star in New PETA Campaign

For Immediate Release:
January 14, 2013

Contact:
Wendy Wegner 202-483-7382

Los Angeles -- As students across the country head back to school, Pretty Little Liars and Vampire Diaries star Torrey DeVitto is teaming up with PETA to tackle a tough subject: animal dissection. In a brand-new ad, DeVitto appears hugging a feline friend next to the words "You Wouldn't Dissect Her, So Don't Dissect Anyone!" The ad, available here, was shot by top celebrity photographer Robert Sebree.

In a PETA interview, DeVitto explains how she let fear of disappointing her teachers push her into dissecting when she was in school—and how she still regrets it. "I didn't think I had an option," she says. "Kids need to know they have the option—they don't need to be subjected to this. … You can do virtual dissection, which gives them just as much information as dissecting a real cat or frog." In the interview, DeVitto goes on to encourage students to refuse to dissect, saying, "You'll feel so much more proud of yourself if you do stand up for what you believe … there's nothing more valuable than your voice and your own opinions."

Every year, more than 10 million animals—including cats, frogs, rats, mice, and fetal pigs—are dissected in secondary-school and college science classes. Most of them come from biological supply houses that sell cats obtained from animal shelters, fetal pigs cut from the wombs of female pigs killed at slaughterhouses, and frogs who are taken from their homes in the wild—a practice that wreaks havoc on local ecosystems. Studies have repeatedly shown that virtual dissection is more effective for teaching biology than cutting up dead animals.

DeVitto is part of a long list of celebrities—including Justin Bieber, Lea Michele, Sarah Hyland, Kellan Lutz, Megan Park, and Pink—who have teamed up with PETA to promote kindness toward animals.      

A broadcast-quality version of DeVitto's video interview can be downloaded here. For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Circus Holding Event Has Abysmal History of Animal Welfare Violations

For Immediate Release:
January 15, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Natchez, Miss. -- PETA lodged an urgent complaint Maj. Gen. Augustus L. Collins, adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard Armory, urging him to forbid a kangaroo boxing act put on by the Star Family Circus, which is scheduled to perform at the National Guard Armory in Natchez from January 18 to 21. In the complaint, PETA points out that forcing kangaroos to box with humans is stressful to the naturally gentle animals, that kangaroos kept for such events have contracted illnesses and died, and that fighting animals is forbidden under Mississippi law, as is hosting such a fight. PETA also asks Collins to follow the lead of the Arkansas National Guard, which called off another circus's performances in four cities after learning of its appalling record of animal care.

"Forcing kangaroos to box should have gone out with the cruel carnivals and 'freak shows' of the early 20th century," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "Restraining and terrorizing a kangaroo is obviously cruel—and in Mississippi, it also appears to be illegal."

Mississippi law states that "[i]t shall be the duty of any policeman or other officer of the law, county or municipal, to enter into any such place kept for such purpose, and to arrest each and every person concerned or participating therein."

Since 2005, Star Family Circus has been cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for nearly two dozen Animal Welfare Act violations involving kangaroos, including failing to provide a kangaroo with adequate veterinary care and failing to house a kangaroo in a structurally sound facility that protects the animal from injury. Two kangaroos used by a different exhibitor for cruel boxing matches have died while touring—one kangaroo from complications of a deadly bacterial disease called "lumpy jaw," which can result from extreme crowding, poor hygiene and diet, and stressful conditions.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Group Targets South Bend Because City Has No Ban on Chaining Dogs Outdoors—Even in Bitter-Cold Winter Weather

For Immediate Release:
January 15, 2013

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

South Bend, Ind. -- PETA has sent a letter to South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg with an offer that the group hopes he won't refuse: PETA will help the city save money by clearing all the sidewalks around the County-City Building after the city's next snowstorm if the mayor and Common Council grant the group permission to stencil its anti-chaining ad on the sidewalk. The ad shows a sad chained dog and reads, "Chained Dog? A Chilling Tail." PETA picked South Bend because despite the city's cold winters and abundant snowfall, it has no ban on chaining. PETA hopes that the stencil inspires city leaders to ban the chaining of dogs, as authorities in many forward-thinking towns and cities across the U.S. have already done.

"'Backyard dogs' are subjected to everything from temperature extremes to attacks by abusers to mind-numbing loneliness," says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. "We urge the mayor to accept our offer, and we implore residents to allow dogs indoors—not just when it snows but year-round."

For these highly social pack animals, life at the end of a chain is no life at all. Deprived of everything that is natural and important to them, chained dogs often go insane from frustration and lack of exercise. Chaining dogs can also be deadly for humans. A study authored in part by two Centers for Disease Control and Prevention physicians found that "[b]iting dogs were significantly more likely … to be chained …." According to the study, chained dogs are nearly three times as likely to attackas dogs who are not tethered.

Every year, PETA receives thousands of complaints about people who leave dogs outdoors in the cold. Like people, dogs can suffer from frostbite and exposure, and they can become dehydrated when water sources freeze. Cold weather spells extra hardship for "backyard dogs," who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Group Warns Against Leaving Animals Outside in Freezing Temperatures

For Immediate Release:
January 15, 2012

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382

Santa Barbara, Calif. -- Every year, PETA receives thousands of complaints about people who leave dogs outside in the cold. Although they are equipped with fur coats, dogs and other animals can still suffer from frostbite and exposure, and they can become dehydrated when water sources freeze. Cold weather spells extra hardship for "backyard dogs," who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care, and it can also pose challenges for wildlife.

With low temperatures and frost predicted for your area, will you please consider sharing the following information with your audience now and throughout the winter in order to help protect animals?

• Keep animals indoors. This is absolutely critical when it comes to puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman pinschers. Short-haired animals will also benefit from a warm sweater or a coat on walks.
• Don't allow your cat or dog to roam outdoors. During winter, cats sometimes climb under the hoods of cars to be near warm engines and are badly injured or killed when the car is started.
• Keep an eye out for stray animals. Take unidentified animals indoors until you can find their guardians or take them to an animal shelter. If strays are skittish or otherwise unapproachable, provide food and water and call your local humane society for assistance in trapping them and getting them indoors.
• If you see animals left outside without shelter from the elements, please notify authorities. For information on what constitutes adequate shelter, click here.
• During extreme winter weather, birds and other animals may have trouble finding food and water. Offer rations to wildlife who are caught in storms or white-outs by spreading birdseed on the ground. Provide access to liquid water by filling a heavy water bowl and breaking the surface ice twice a day. Remember to remove the food once the weather improves to encourage the animals to move on to warmer areas.

PETA's cold-weather public service announcement is available to link to or download here.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Cats, Dogs, and a Bird Safe and Sound, Thanks to Heroic Firefighters

For Immediate Release:
January 15, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Anchorage, Alaska -- On January 10, the Anchorage Fire Department responded to a fire at the North Pointe Apartments on Richardson Vista Road in the Government Hill area. Despite the fact that the blaze had engulfed at least four apartments, everyone—with the exception of the residents' companion animals—had escaped to safety. The firefighters entered the building and rescued six cats, three dogs, and a bird.

For saving the lives of every animal threatened by the fire, the Anchorage Fire Department will receive PETA's Compassionate Fire Department Award.

"Anchorage's bravest are also some of Anchorage's kindest," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "We hope that the firefighters' compassion will inspire others always to come to the aid of animals in need."

The fire department will receive a framed certificate, a letter of appreciation, and a box of vegan chocolates. Some Anchorage fire engines are equipped with resuscitation masks made specially to fit small animals. PETA will also furnish the department with additional masks.

This is the second time this month that Anchorage firefighters have saved the lives of animals trapped in a fire. On January 3, the department responded to a fire on Eureka Street in Midtown and rescued four cats and two coy fish. Unfortunately, three other cats perished in that fire.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Group Targets South Bend Because City Has No Ban on Chaining Dogs Outdoors—Even in Bitter-Cold Winter Weather

For Immediate Release:
January 15, 2013

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

South Bend, Ind. -- PETA has sent a letter to South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg with an offer that the group hopes he won't refuse: PETA will help the city save money by clearing all the sidewalks around the County-City Building after the city's next snowstorm if the mayor and Common Council grant the group permission to stencil its anti-chaining ad on the sidewalk. The ad shows a sad chained dog and reads, "Chained Dog? A Chilling Tail." PETA picked South Bend because despite the city's cold winters and abundant snowfall, it has no ban on chaining. PETA hopes that the stencil inspires city leaders to ban the chaining of dogs, as authorities in many forward-thinking towns and cities across the U.S. have already done.

"'Backyard dogs' are subjected to everything from temperature extremes to attacks by abusers to mind-numbing loneliness," says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. "We urge the mayor to accept our offer, and we implore residents to allow dogs indoors—not just when it snows but year-round."

For these highly social pack animals, life at the end of a chain is no life at all. Deprived of everything that is natural and important to them, chained dogs often go insane from frustration and lack of exercise. Chaining dogs can also be deadly for humans. A study authored in part by two Centers for Disease Control and Prevention physicians found that "[b]iting dogs were significantly more likely … to be chained …." According to the study, chained dogs are nearly three times as likely to attackas dogs who are not tethered.

Every year, PETA receives thousands of complaints about people who leave dogs outdoors in the cold. Like people, dogs can suffer from frostbite and exposure, and they can become dehydrated when water sources freeze. Cold weather spells extra hardship for "backyard dogs," who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Group Targets Erie Because City Has No Ban on Chaining Dogs Outdoors—Even in Bitter-Cold Winter Weather

For Immediate Release:
January 16, 2013

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Erie, Pa. -- PETA sent a letter to Erie Mayor Joseph Sinnott with an offer that the group hopes he won't refuse: PETA will help the city save money by clearing all the sidewalks around Erie City Hall after the city's next snowstorm if the mayor and City Council grant the group permission to stencil its anti-chaining ad on the sidewalk. The ad shows a sad chained dog and reads, "Chained Dog? A Chilling Tail." PETA picked Erie because despite the city's cold winters and abundant snowfall, it has no ban on chaining. PETA hopes that the stencil inspires city leaders to ban the chaining of dogs, as authorities in many forward-thinking towns and cities across the U.S. have already done.

"'Backyard dogs' are subjected to everything from temperature extremes to attacks by abusers to mind-numbing loneliness," says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. "We urge the mayor to accept our offer, and we implore residents to allow dogs indoors—not just when it snows but year-round."

For these highly social pack animals, life at the end of a chain is no life at all. Deprived of everything that is natural and important to them, chained dogs often go insane from frustration and lack of exercise. Often, all they have to live on is a tiny patch of land, and they must defecate in the same area in which they eat and sleep. Chaining dogs can also be deadly to humans. A study authored in part by two Centers for Disease Control and Prevention physicians found that "[b]iting dogs were significantly more likely … to be chained…." According to the study, chained dogs are nearly three times as likely to attack as dogs who are not tethered.

Every year, PETA receives thousands of complaints about people who leave dogs outdoors in the cold. Like people, dogs can suffer from frostbite and exposure, and they can become dehydrated when water sources freeze. Cold weather spells extra hardship for "backyard dogs," who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Group Targets Ann Arbor Because City Has No Ban on Chaining Dogs Outdoors—Even in Bitter-Cold Winter Weather

For Immediate Release:
January 16, 2013

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Ann Arbor, Mich. -- PETA sent a letter to Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje with an offer that the group hopes he won't refuse: PETA will help the city save money by clearing all the sidewalks around  Larcom City Hall after the city's next snowstorm if the mayor and City Council grant the group permission to stencil its anti-chaining ad on the sidewalk. The ad shows a sad chained dog and reads, "Chained Dog? A Chilling Tail." PETA picked Ann Arbor because despite the city's cold winters and abundant snowfall, it has no ban on chaining. PETA hopes that the stencil inspires city leaders to ban the chaining of dogs, as authorities in many forward-thinking towns and cities across the U.S. have already done.

"'Backyard dogs' are subjected to everything from temperature extremes to attacks by abusers to mind-numbing loneliness," says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. "We urge the mayor to accept our offer, and we implore residents to allow dogs indoors—not just when it snows but year-round."

For these highly social pack animals, life at the end of a chain is no life at all. Deprived of everything that is natural and important to them, chained dogs often go insane from frustration and lack of exercise. Often, all they have to live on is a tiny patch of land, and they must defecate in the same area in which they eat and sleep. Chaining dogs can also be deadly to humans. A study authored in part by two Centers for Disease Control and Prevention physicians found that "[b]iting dogs were significantly more likely … to be chained…." According to the study, chained dogs are nearly three times as likely to attack as dogs who are not tethered.

Every year, PETA receives thousands of complaints about people who leave dogs outdoors in the cold. Like people, dogs can suffer from frostbite and exposure, and they can become dehydrated when water sources freeze. Cold weather spells extra hardship for "backyard dogs," who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Group Warns Against Leaving Animals Outside in Freezing Temperatures

For Immediate Release:
January 16, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Roanoke County, Va. -- Every year, PETA receives thousands of complaints about people who leave dogs outside in the cold. Although they are equipped with fur coats, dogs and other animals can still suffer from frostbite and exposure, and they can become dehydrated when water sources freeze. Cold weather spells extra hardship for "backyard dogs," who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care, and it can also pose challenges for wildlife.

With low temperatures and snow predicted for the greater Roanoke area, will you please consider sharing the following information with your audience now and throughout the winter in order to help protect animals?

• Keep animals indoors. This is absolutely critical when it comes to puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman pinschers. Short-haired animals will also benefit from a warm sweater or a coat on walks.
• Don't allow your cat or dog to roam outdoors. During winter, cats sometimes climb under the hoods of cars to be near warm engines and are badly injured or killed when the car is started.
• Wipe off your dogs' or cats' legs, feet, and stomachs after they come in from the snow. Salt and other chemicals can make your animals sick if they ingest them. You should also increase animals' food rations during the winter because they burn more calories in an effort to stay warm.
• Keep an eye out for stray animals. Take unidentified animals indoors until you can find their guardians or take them to an animal shelter. If strays are skittish or otherwise unapproachable, provide food and water and call your local humane society for assistance in trapping them and getting them indoors.
• If you see animals left outside without shelter from the elements, please notify authorities. For information on what constitutes adequate shelter, click here.
• During extreme winter weather, birds and other animals may have trouble finding food and water. Offer rations to wildlife who are caught in storms or white-outs by spreading birdseed on the ground. Provide access to liquid water by filling a heavy water bowl and breaking the surface ice twice a day. Remember to remove the food once the weather improves to encourage the animals to move on to warmer areas.

PETA's cold-weather public service announcement featuring Justin Theroux is available to link to or download here.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

From Blasting Ringling for Beating Elephants to Exposing the Cruelty of Fish Farms and Shark-Finning, You'll Find These Animal Defenders on the Front Lines

For Immediate Release:
January 16, 2013

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382

Glen Ellyn, Ill. -- For its hard work in defense of animals, Students for the Protection of Animals (SFPA) at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn will receive a Star Student Group Award from peta2, the world's largest youth animal rights organization.

"School is about learning, and the members of SFPA are helping their peers learn the importance of treating animals with respect," says peta2 Associate Director Marta Holmberg. "These compassionate students are sticking up for animals—from chickens killed for food to elephants abused in circuses—and they're setting a great example that can be followed by young people across the country."

SFPA's activities, which run the gamut, include the following:

• Helped peta2 protest the notoriously cruel Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and were featured on the group's blog
• Organized a three-day vegan bake sale at school and used the opportunity to educate other students about the suffering caused by shark-finning and fish farms
• Made a public service announcement to promote World Animal Day
• Set up bins throughout their school so that students could donate leashes, toys, and treats to the local animal shelter for Christmas

SFPA will receive a framed certificate from peta2 and be featured on peta2's website. 

For more information, please visit peta2.com.

Group Suggests That Monopoly Update Its Image by Replacing Purebred Scottie With a Rescued Mutt

For Immediate Release:
January 16, 2013

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Providence, R.I. -- As Hasbro prepares to replace a Monopoly token—as voted on by Facebook users—with a token "that's more representative of today's Monopoly players," PETA has sent a letter to the game-maker with a suggestion that will keep Monopoly's image fresh and help dogs in animal shelters at the same time: Change the dog token from a purebred Scottie dog to a rescued mutt.

"Including a mixed-breed dog in this iconic board game would remind players that these canines are just as lovable, loyal, and deserving as any 'purebred' dog and that every time someone chooses to buy a dog from a pet store or breeder, a homeless animal loses his or her chance of finding a good home," says PETA Associate Director Chris Holbein. "For millions of dogs in shelters, there is no 'get out of jail free' card."

For more information, please visit PETA.org. 

PETA's letter to Hasbro Senior Vice President Eric Nyman follows.

January 16, 2013

Eric Nyman
Senior Vice President
Hasbro, Inc.

Dear Mr. Nyman,

I'm writing as a lifelong Monopoly fan and on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world's largest animal rights organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. We're happy to see that it seems likely that our favorite Monopoly token, the dog, will get to stay on the Boardwalk. Now that you are updating the game's tokens, we encourage you to make the dog "more representative of today's Monopoly players" by changing the token's look and referring to it as a "rescued mutt" instead of a purebred "Scottie dog." Everyone wants a rescued dog these days, not one from a breeder.

Including a clearly mixed-breed dog would remind players that these canines are just as lovable, loyal, and deserving as any "purebred" and that every time someone chooses to buy a dog from a pet store or breeder, a homeless animal loses his or her chance of finding a home. For millions of dogs in shelters, there is no "get out of jail free" card. Approximately half of the 6 to 8 million animals who enter them every year are euthanized, largely for lack of good homes.

Also, as you probably know, mutts are invariably healthier than their purebred counterparts, who are prone to debilitating conditions and painful hereditary disorders, such as respiratory problems, bone disease, hemophilia, retinal degeneration, cataracts, and hip dysplasia. Scotties, for example, are often affected by a hereditary disorder called "Scottie Cramp," which can significantly impair a dog's ability to run or even walk normally. German shepherds are plagued with bad legs. Pugs are an anesthesia risk. Because they are not bred to conform to highly specific physical traits, mixed-breed dogs are at a lower risk for health problems.

In 2013, breeding and buying purebred dogs is increasingly seen as pointless, out of touch, and thoughtless, like buying a fur coat. We do hope you will update this Monopoly piece while simultaneously helping to reduce the companion-animal overpopulation crisis and encouraging your players to give mutts in shelters a chance by making the dog token a rescued mutt.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Chris Holbein
Associate Director

Team USA Medalist Marlen Esparza Urges, 'Knock Out Cruelty to Animals'

For Immediate Release:
January 16, 2013

Contact:
Wendy Wegner 202-483-7382

Houston -- On the heels of the first federal indictment of a crush video case in the United States, Olympic boxer and Houston native Marlen Esparza appears in a brand-new PETA ad that reads, "Animals Need You in Their Corner. If You Suspect or Witness Animal Abuse, Call the Authorities Immediately." The ad, which is part of PETA's "Never Be Silent" campaign, was shot by top celebrity photographer Robert Sebree and features the Olympian with "PETA"-emblazoned boxing gloves, standing protectively next to a canine friend. A high-resolution version of the ad is available here (in English) and here (in Spanish).

Esparza, who medaled in the 2012 London Games and was the first female American boxer ever to qualify for the Olympics, also sat down for an on-set interview in which she stressed the importance of immediately reporting animal abuse whenever it is suspected or witnessed. "It's totally unfair what we do to animals who have no voice, who can't say anything, who can't do anything about it. And since they can't help themselves, someone needs to," she says. "Call the police …. Just make sure that you don't forget about the animal, because you wouldn't want anyone to forget about you if you couldn't talk."

PETA's "Never Be Silent" campaign urges the public to speak up and alert authorities if they see or suspect animal abuse in their communities and never to assume that someone else will take action. An animal's life may depend on it. Thanks to compassionate, concerned citizens who reported horrendous cruelty witnessed on the Internet, PETA was able to alert Houston authorities to two abusers who were torturing and killing puppies, kittens, and rabbits in "crush" fetish videos. These abusers were recently indicted by a federal grand jury on felony cruelty-to-animals charges, and both of them face up to 45 years in prison.

Esparza is part of a long list of athletes—including Maureen Shea, "Sugar" Shane Mosley, Candace Parker, Tito Ortiz, K.J. Noons, Amanda Beard, Mac Danzig, Hannah Teter, and Jake Shields—who have teamed up with PETA to fight animal abuse.

Broadcast-quality video footage of Esparza's interview can be downloaded here. For more information and to view the ad, please visit PETA.org or PETALatino.com.

Group Warns Against Leaving Animals Outside in Freezing Temperatures

For Immediate Release:
January 16, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Montgomery County, Va. -- Every year, PETA receives thousands of complaints about people who leave dogs outside in the cold. Although they are equipped with fur coats, dogs and other animals can still suffer from frostbite and exposure, and they can become dehydrated when water sources freeze. Cold weather spells extra hardship for "backyard dogs," who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care, and it can also pose challenges for wildlife.

With low temperatures and snow predicted for the Blacksburg area, will you please consider sharing the following information with your audience now and throughout the winter in order to help protect animals?

• Keep animals indoors. This is absolutely critical when it comes to puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman pinschers. Short-haired animals will also benefit from a warm sweater or a coat on walks.
• Don't allow your cat or dog to roam outdoors. During winter, cats sometimes climb under the hoods of cars to be near warm engines and are badly injured or killed when the car is started.
• Wipe off your dogs' or cats' legs, feet, and stomachs after they come in from the snow. Salt and other chemicals can make your animals sick if they ingest them. You should also increase animals' food rations during the winter because they burn more calories in an effort to stay warm.
• Keep an eye out for stray animals. Take unidentified animals indoors until you can find their guardians or take them to an animal shelter. If strays are skittish or otherwise unapproachable, provide food and water and call your local humane society for assistance in trapping them and getting them indoors.
• If you see animals left outside without shelter from the elements, please notify authorities. For information on what constitutes adequate shelter, click here.
• During extreme winter weather, birds and other animals may have trouble finding food and water. Offer rations to wildlife who are caught in storms or white-outs by spreading birdseed on the ground. Provide access to liquid water by filling a heavy water bowl and breaking the surface ice twice a day. Remember to remove the food once the weather improves to encourage the animals to move on to warmer areas.

PETA's cold-weather public service announcement is available to link to or download here.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Circus Holding Event Has Abysmal History of Animal Welfare Violations

For Immediate Release:
January 16, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Columbus, Ind. -- Today, PETA lodged an urgent complaint with Maj. Gen. R. Martin Umbarger, adjutant general of the Indiana National Guard Armory, urging him to forbid a boxing match between a human and a kangaroo put on by the Stardust Circus, which is scheduled to perform at the National Guard Armory in Columbus on January 19 and 20. In the complaint, PETA points out that forcing kangaroos to box with humans is stressful to the naturally gentle animals, that kangaroos kept for such events have contracted illnesses and died, and that a Columbus city ordinance prohibits "combat between animals or between animals and humans." PETA also asks Umbarger to follow the lead of the Arkansas National Guard, which called off another circus's performances in four cities after learning of its appalling record of animal abuse.

"Forcing kangaroos to box should have gone out with the cruel carnivals and 'freak shows' of the early 20th century," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "Terrorizing a kangaroo is obviously cruel—and in Columbus, it also appears to be illegal."

Since 2005, Star Family Circus, which puts on Stardust Circus, has been cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for nearly two dozen Animal Welfare Act violations, including some involving kangaroos, such as failing to provide a kangaroo with adequate veterinary care and failing to house a kangaroo in a structurally sound facility that protects the animal from injury. Two kangaroos used by a different exhibitor for cruel boxing matches have died while touring—one from complications of a deadly bacterial disease called "lumpy jaw," which can result from extreme crowding, poor hygiene and diet, and stressful conditions.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Team USA Medalist Stars in PETA's 'Never Be Silent' Campaign

For Immediate Release:
January 16, 2013

Contact:
Wendy Wegner 202-483-7382

Houston -- Wearing "PETA"-emblazoned boxing gloves and standing protectively next to a canine friend, Olympic boxer and Houston native Marlen Esparza appears in a brand-new PETA ad that reads, "Animals Need You in Their Corner. If You Suspect or Witness Animal Abuse, Call the Authorities Immediately." The ad, which is part of PETA's "Never Be Silent" campaign, was shot by top celebrity photographer Robert Sebree and is available here (in English) and here (in Spanish).

Esparza, who medaled in the 2012 London Games and was the first female American boxer ever to qualify for the Olympics, also sat down for an on-set interview in which she stressed the importance of immediately reporting animal abuse whenever it is suspected or witnessed. "It's totally unfair what we do to animals who have no voice, who can't say anything, who can't do anything about it. And since they can't help themselves, someone needs to," she says. "Call the police …. Just make sure that you don't forget about the animal, because you wouldn't want anyone to forget about you if you couldn't talk."

PETA's "Never Be Silent" campaign urges the public to speak up and alert authorities if they see or suspect animal abuse in their communities and never to assume that someone else will take action. An animal's life may depend on it. Thanks to compassionate, concerned citizens who reported horrendous cruelty witnessed on the Internet, PETA was able to alert Houston authorities to two abusers who were torturing and killing puppies, kittens, and rabbits in "crush" fetish videos. These abusers were recently indicted by a federal grand jury on felony cruelty-to-animals charges, and both of them face up to 45 years in prison.

Esparza is part of a long list of athletes—including Maureen Shea, "Sugar" Shane Mosley, Candace Parker, Tito Ortiz, K.J. Noons, Amanda Beard, Mac Danzig, Hannah Teter, and Jake Shields—who have teamed up with PETA to fight animal abuse.

Broadcast-quality video footage of Esparza's interview can be downloaded here. For more information and to view the ad, please visit PETA.org or PETALatino.com.

Group Warns Against Leaving Animals Outside in Freezing Temperatures

For Immediate Release:
January 17, 2013

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382

Richmond, Va. -- Every year, PETA receives thousands of complaints about people who leave dogs outside in the cold. Although they are equipped with fur coats, dogs and other animals can still suffer from frostbite and exposure, and they can become dehydrated when water sources freeze. Cold weather spells extra hardship for "backyard dogs," who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care, and it can also pose challenges for wildlife.

With low temperatures and snow predicted for your area, will you please consider sharing the following information with your audience now and throughout the winter in order to help protect animals?

• Keep animals indoors. This is absolutely critical when it comes to puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman pinschers. Short-haired animals will also benefit from a warm sweater or a coat on walks.
• Don't allow your cat or dog to roam outdoors. During winter, cats sometimes climb under the hoods of cars to be near warm engines and are badly injured or killed when the car is started.
• Keep an eye out for stray animals. Take unidentified animals indoors until you can find their guardians or take them to an animal shelter. If strays are skittish or otherwise unapproachable, provide food and water and call your local humane society for assistance in trapping them and getting them indoors.
• If you see animals left outside without shelter from the elements, please notify authorities. For information on what constitutes adequate shelter, click here.
• During extreme winter weather, birds and other animals may have trouble finding food and water. Offer rations to wildlife who are caught in storms or white-outs by spreading birdseed on the ground. Provide access to liquid water by filling a heavy water bowl and breaking the surface ice twice a day. Remember to remove the food once the weather improves to encourage the animals to move on to warmer areas.

PETA's cold-weather public service announcement is available to link to or download here.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Group Warns Against Leaving Animals Outside in Freezing Temperatures

For Immediate Release:
January 17, 2013

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Lincoln County, N.C. -- Every year, PETA receives thousands of complaints about people who leave dogs outside in the cold. Although they are equipped with fur coats, dogs and other animals can still suffer from frostbite and exposure, and they can become dehydrated when water sources freeze. Cold weather spells extra hardship for "backyard dogs," who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care, and it can also pose challenges for wildlife.

With snow and low temperatures predicted for your area, will you please consider sharing the following information with your audience now and throughout the winter in order to help protect animals?

• Keep animals indoors. This is absolutely critical when it comes to puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman pinschers. Short-haired animals will also benefit from a warm sweater or a coat on walks.
• Don't allow your cat or dog to roam outdoors. During winter, cats sometimes climb under the hoods of cars to be near warm engines and are badly injured or killed when the car is started.
• Wipe off your dogs' or cats' legs, feet, and stomachs after they come in from the snow. Salt and other chemicals can make your animals sick if they ingest them. You should also increase animals' food rations during the winter because they burn more calories in an effort to stay warm.
• Keep an eye out for stray animals. Take unidentified animals indoors until you can find their guardians or take them to an animal shelter. If strays are skittish or otherwise unapproachable, provide food and water and call your local humane society for assistance in trapping them and getting them indoors.
• If you see animals left outside without shelter from the elements, please notify authorities. For information on what constitutes adequate shelter, click here.
• During extreme winter weather, birds and other animals may have trouble finding food and water. Offer rations to wildlife who are caught in storms or white-outs by spreading birdseed on the ground. Provide access to liquid water by filling a heavy water bowl and breaking the surface ice twice a day. Remember to remove the food once the weather improves to encourage the animals to move on to warmer areas.

For TV:PETA's cold-weather public service announcement featuring Justin Theroux is available to link to or download here. For Print: PETA's cold-weather public service announcement is available to link to or download here. For Radio: PETA's cold-weather public service announcement is available to link to or download here.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Group Warns Against Leaving Animals Outside in Freezing Temperatures

For Immediate Release:
January 17, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Kent County, Del. -- Every year, PETA receives thousands of complaints about people who leave dogs outside in the cold. Although they are equipped with fur coats, dogs and other animals can still suffer from frostbite and exposure, and they can become dehydrated when water sources freeze. Cold weather spells extra hardship for "backyard dogs," who often go without adequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary care, and it can also pose challenges for wildlife.

With low temperatures and snow predicted for the greater Dover area, will you please consider sharing the following information with your audience now and throughout the winter in order to help protect animals?

• Keep animals indoors. This is absolutely critical when it comes to puppies and kittens, elderly animals, small animals, and dogs with short hair, including pointers, beagles, pit bulls, Rottweilers, and Doberman pinschers. Short-haired animals will also benefit from a warm sweater or a coat on walks.
• Don't allow your cat or dog to roam outdoors. During winter, cats sometimes climb under the hoods of cars to be near warm engines and are badly injured or killed when the car is started.
• Wipe off your dogs' or cats' legs, feet, and stomachs after they come in from the snow. Salt and other chemicals can make your animals sick if they ingest them. You should also increase animals' food rations during the winter because they burn more calories in an effort to stay warm.
• Keep an eye out for stray animals. Take unidentified animals indoors until you can find their guardians or take them to an animal shelter. If strays are skittish or otherwise unapproachable, provide food and water and call your local humane society for assistance in trapping them and getting them indoors.
• If you see animals left outside without shelter from the elements, please notify authorities. For information on what constitutes adequate shelter, click here.
• During extreme winter weather, birds and other animals may have trouble finding food and water. Offer rations to wildlife who are caught in storms or white-outs by spreading birdseed on the ground. Provide access to liquid water by filling a heavy water bowl and breaking the surface ice twice a day. Remember to remove the food once the weather improves to encourage the animals to move on to warmer areas.

PETA's cold-weather public service announcement is available to link to or download here.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.