Alerting First Responders Can Be the Difference Between Life and Death for Companion Animals

For Immediate Release:
April 2, 2013

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Newtown, Conn. -- In the wake of the death of a dog named Goliath and several baby chicks who were trapped in a house fire in Newtown on Wednesday, PETA is giving away door stickers that alert firefighters to the presence of companion animals to the first 1,000 Newtown-area residents who request one this month. The 4½-inch-by-6-inch bright-yellow stickers—which read, "In Case of Emergency, Please Save Our Animals"—picture a dog, a bird, a cat, a fish, and a rabbit and include space to write in the number of each species living in the home.

Residents interested in receiving a free sticker should e-mail Info@peta.org to file a request.

People living outside the area can purchase the stickers at PETA.org or make their own. PETA suggests laminating homemade stickers if they'll be exposed to weather.

"Many animals have died in house fires because firefighters were unaware that they were trapped inside," says PETA Associate Director Lindsay Rajt. "Simply alerting first responders to the presence of animals can mean that all family members survive a fire."

PETA routinely receives accounts of firefighters who have bravely rescued cats, dogs, and other animals from homes in the midst of a blaze. Even if the animals are unconscious from inhaling smoke, specially made oxygen masks have been used successfully to revive them.

For more information, please visit PETA.org. 

Cruelty to Birds Moves Prestigious Colorado Retailer to Take Action

For Immediate Release:
April 2, 2013

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Longmont, Colo. -- After meeting with PETA and watching the group's undercover exposé about the suffering of birds who are often plucked alive for down, Colorado-based leading furniture retailer Woodley's Fine Furniture will no longer purchase down-filled upholstery. Woodley's—which also carries major outside brands—manufactures its custom products at its factory in Longmont and has seven retail stores throughout the state.

"When customers learn that live birds have their feathers violently ripped from their bodies or that the production of down is linked to vile foie gras, they want no part in down," says PETA Senior Corporate Liaison David Byer. "PETA applauds Woodley's for recognizing the animal suffering that's inherent in every down-filled cushion and for taking action to distance the company's good name from such cruelty."

Many birds used for down are plucked repeatedly while they are still alive. They are typically lifted by their necks or delicate wings, their legs are physically restrained, and their feathers are ripped out of their skin. The struggling birds are often plucked so violently that their skin is torn open, and the hurried workers sew up the wounds with a needle and thread—and without painkillers.

Buying down can also support the cruelty of the foie gras industry, as producers of foie gras often boost their profits by selling the feathers of the ducks and geese who are force-fed by having tubes rammed down their throats until their livers become diseased and swell to up to 10 times their normal size.

For more information, please visit PETA.org or click here.

Humane Toxicity Testing Methods Garner First-Ever Laurie and Carlee McGrath Award

For Immediate Release:
April 2, 2013

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382

Washington -- PETA is presenting a new award—the Laurie and Carlee McGrath Award, which includes a $5,000 cash prize—to the MatTek Corporation for its development of sophisticated non-animal tests, which have saved millions of animals from being poisoned and burned. The award is named in honor of Laurie McGrath and her mother, Carlee McGrath, whose San Diego–based McGrath Family Foundation supports PETA's work to replace animals in laboratories with superior non-animal methods.

The Massachusetts-based MatTek Corporation has pioneered the creation of models made from human cells to determine the hazards of chemicals, cosmetics, and nanomaterials. One of its innovations is EpiDerm, a skin model that has already replaced inhumane toxicity tests around the world, saving tens of thousands of rabbits every year from having corrosive and irritating chemicals smeared onto their skin. In the archaic animal test, chemicals are considered corrosive if they burn through rabbits' skin over a 14-day period—and no painkillers are given to the animals.

PETA and PETA U.K. pushed for and helped fund EpiDerm's approval internationally, including by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. MatTek has also developed 3-dimensional tissue construct models derived from human cells to replace the use of animals in eye, inhalation, immune, and other tests.

"MatTek represents intelligent and humane science that has spared millions of animals painful poisoning and skin corrosion and irritation tests," says PETA Senior Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Kathy Guillermo. "Thanks to the McGrath Family Foundation, PETA is pleased to support MatTek's work to modernize testing methods around the world."

Says Dr. Mitch Klausner, MatTek’s Vice President of Scientific Affairs: "MatTek is extremely gratified to be recognized by PETA and appreciates PETA's support in its quest to produce new and improved in vitro test methods that reduce or eliminate animal testing." 

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Two-Week Meal Plan, Delicious Recipes, and Advice on What to Order When Eating Out Make It a Snap for Anyone to Go Vegan

For Immediate Release:
April 2, 2013

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Norfolk, Va. -- With more healthy and delicious meat-, egg-, and dairy-free foods available now than ever before, there's never been a better time to go vegan. But just to make sure that people who consider making the switch have everything that they need, PETA has created a brand-new website called "How to Go Vegan" that makes the transition—literally—as easy as one, two, three! That's because the site is divided into three easy-to-follow sections: "What to Buy," "What to Make," and "Where to Eat."

The "What to Buy" section lists everything from the best vegan cheeses on the market to meat-free meatballs to succulent beefless tips and "chicken" fingers. The "What to Make" sections features two weeks' worth of delicious daily meal plans as well as recipes and preparation directions for first-timers. And under "Where to Eat," visitors will learn how to order vegan meals at their favorite restaurants and what to do when visiting a friend or on the road. Visitors can even sign up to receive weekly vegan recipes or tasty tips via text message to help keep them on track.

"How to Go Vegan is an easy-to-use, all-in-one resource that will give anyone considering the smart move to go vegan everything that they need," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "Now, anyone can start protecting animals, the environment, and their own health every time they sit down for a meal."

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics concluded that vegan diets reduce the risk of suffering from our nation's biggest killers, including heart disease, high cholesterol (a leading cause of strokes), obesity, cancer, and diabetes. Also, according to the United Nations, raising animals for food is "one of the top two or three most significant contributors to the most serious environmental problems, at every scale from local to global." And every vegan saves the lives of more than 100 animals every year.

For more information, please visit the new website or PETA.org.

Group Will Give Students a Feel for Intensive Confinement That May Have Them Going Vegan 

For Immediate Release:
April 3, 2013

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382 

Philadelphia -- Most students at Temple University have probably never been to a factory farm, so peta2—PETA's youth division—is bringing factory farms to them. As part of a national college tour, the group will set up a 20-foot-by-30-foot inflatable tent, inside of which students can confine themselves to sow gestation crates—which are so small that pregnant pigs can't even turn around or take two steps—and watch "Glass Walls," a video exposé of the meat industry narrated by PETA pal Paul McCartney, who famously said, "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian." Students will also receive samples of vegan foods and free vegetarian/vegan starter kits with recipes and tips for helping the Earth, animals, and their own arteries by going meat- and dairy-free.

When:   Thursday, April 4, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Where:  The Bell Tower, Temple University, Philadelphia

"College is the time to consider new ideas, and peta2's factory-farm display gives students an idea of how much suffering goes into a chicken nugget or a beef burger," says peta2 Director Marta Holmberg. "Once students see what cows, chickens, and other animals go through on factory farms, in transit, and in slaughterhouses, they'll want to load up their cafeteria trays with humane vegan selections."

Pigs, chickens, fish, and cows feel pain and fear just as intensely as do the animals who share our homes with us, yet they are abused in ways that would be illegal if dogs and cats were the victims. Chickens and turkeys have their throats cut while they're still conscious, piglets are castrated and have their tails cut off without being given any painkillers, and calves raised for their milk have their horns burned out of their skulls. On the decks of fishing boats, fish suffocate or are cut open while they're still alive.

For more information, please visit peta2.com.

Animal Tethered to Rock, Left to Drown in Rising Creek

For Immediate Release:
April 3, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Bristol Twp., Pa. -- On Saturday, March 30, a dog was reportedly found tied to a rock in Neshaminy Creek in Bristol Township as the water was rising. The dog was rescued by passersby and will be up for adoption at the Bucks County SPCA. News sources state that the dog showed signs of ongoing neglect, including an untreated tumor on her leg and eye infections, as well as being emaciated. Police have yet to make any arrests in this case. That's why PETA is offering up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this violent crime.

Would you please consider sharing this information with your audience? It might be the only way to apprehend those responsible for this heinous act.

"Animal abusers are cowards," says PETA Manager Martin Mersereau. "Area residents have good reason to be concerned. People who demonstrate such blatant disregard for life and desensitization to suffering can pose a serious risk to all animals—including humans—with whom they come into contact."

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Bristol Police at 215-785-4040.

For more information, please visit PETA.org. To view PETA's anti-violence public service announcement featuring Inglourious Basterds star and Hostel director Eli Roth, please visit http://www.petatv.com/tvpopup/Prefs.asp?video=eli_roth_violence_link_psa_peta.

Free Copy of Musician's New Book up for Grabs at peta2.com

For Immediate Release:
April 3, 2013

Contact:
Wendy Wegner 202-483-7382

Los Angeles -- Hot on the heels of the release of Pop Kids, his highly anticipated new novel, AFI and Blaqk Audio frontman Davey Havok is teaming up with peta2, PETA's youth division, for another print project: a brand-new vegan testimonial (available here) that features a stylized black-and-white photo of Havok and reads, "I Am Davey Havok, and I Am a Vegan." And to celebrate the new ad, peta2 is offering a free copy of Pop Kids to three lucky peta2.com visitors.

"I have wanted to live the healthiest lifestyle as possible. Being vegan is a part of that desire. To be able to consume foods that I know help my body, rather than destroy my body, and to avoid foods that are detrimental to my well-being," Havok explains in an exclusive peta2 interview. "I began to look further into the animal rights aspect of it …. And if I really cared about the animals, for me, I needed to take that step into veganism. … I'm happier when I'm true to what I believe in and true to what I know is right."

Vegans are less prone to heart disease, cancer, strokes, and obesity than meat-eaters are, and they also save more than 100 animals a year from immense suffering. In today's industrialized meat and dairy industries, chickens and turkeys have their throats cut while they're still conscious, piglets have their tails and testicles cut off without being given any painkillers, fish are suffocated or cut open while they're still alive, and calves are taken away from their mothers within hours of birth.

Havok joins a long list of musicians, artists, and other celebrities—including Rise Against,Serj Tankian, Dave Navarro, Rob Zombie, and Ogre from Skinny Puppy—who have teamed up with peta2 to promote animal protection.

For more information, please visit peta2.com or click here.

Actor Urges Dairy Group to Phase Out Cruel Calf Mutilations

For Immediate Release:
April 3, 2013

Contact:
Wendy Wegner 202-483-7382

Arlington, Va. -- Oscar-nominated actor Ryan Gosling has just sent a letter on PETA's behalf to the National Milk Producers Federation urging officials to require dairy farmers to begin phasing out "dehorning"—a painful process in which calves have their horns gouged out or sensitive horn tissue burned out of their heads.

"Dehorning is one of the most painful things done to cows on dairy farms, whether it is by burning a calf with a searing hot iron or applying caustic paste to create a chemical burn that eats away at the animal's flesh," writes Gosling. "There is absolutely no reason—and no excuse—for the cruel, unnecessary practice of dehorning to continue."

During dehorning, workers use sharp tools—including saws, sharp wires, or gruesome guillotine dehorners—to cut the horns out of a restrained calf's skull. The young animals bellow in pain, thrash, and even collapse to the ground. Gosling's fellow actor and Oscar nominee Casey Affleck narrates PETA's exposé about the cruelty of dehorning.

Gosling's letter to the National Milk Producers Federation is available here. For more information, visit PETA.org. 

Former Coach's Abusive Outbursts Net Shipment of 'Bullies Are Cowards' Posters for School's Athletic Facilities

For Immediate Release:
April 4, 2013

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382 

New Brunswick, N.J. -- A package from PETA will soon be on its way to Rutgers University, where video footage of former basketball coach Mike Rice's abuse of players has sent shockwaves across the country. Because of the well-established link between violence against animals and violence against humans, PETA plans to send 100 copies of posters that read, "Abuse: Report It if You See It," for display in the school's athletic facilities in the hope of encouraging students to speak out against all forms of bullying. In a letter sent this morning to Rutgers President Robert L. Barchi, PETA also suggested that the school create an anti-bullying lecture series in the wake of Rice's dismissal in order to foster compassion for all beings.

"We encourage everyone to speak up when they see bullying, whether the victim is a ballplayer or the family dog, because bullies' behavior usually gets worse and worse if they are allowed to get away with abuse," says PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch. "People who take out their anger on those under their control need to seek help and need to be turned in."

For more information, please visit PETA.org. 

PETA's letter to Rutgers President Robert L. Barchi follows.

April 4, 2013

Robert L. Barchi, M.D., Ph.D.
President
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

Dear President Barchi,

On behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), I wish you well in your efforts to stop the bullying that regretfully is once again in the spotlight at Rutgers. To that end, we will be mailing your office 100 “Abuse: Report It if You See It” posters to put up around Rutgers athletic facilities or anywhere else that you see fit.

All bullying and cruelty is wrong, regardless of the race, religion, gender, country of origin, sexual orientation, or species of the victim. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” I’ve no doubt that you agree that teaching students and faculty members to report abuse is a vital way to prevent future violence. We expect that our posters will help foster a safer school environment, as the abusive behavior of people who harm animals eventually tends to expand in scope until it is also directed toward fellow humans.

We also suggest holding an anti-bullying lecture series, in which students and the community at large can come together to discuss ways to develop empathy for all others.

Thank you for your consideration.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid E. Newkirk
President

Contrary to Rep. Jack Kingston's Claim, PETA Opposes Horse Slaughter, Both in the U.S. and Abroad

For Immediate Release:
April 4, 2013 

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Savannah, Ga. -- After learning that Georgia Rep. Jack Kingston—a proponent of reopening U.S. horse slaughterhouses—has misrepresented PETA's position on horse slaughter, PETA has dispatched an urgent letter to Rep. Kingston clarifying that, contrary to his claims, PETA does not support the reopening of U.S. horse slaughterhouses and has, in fact, called for more legislation to protect horses—not less. As the group explains in its letter, PETA opposes both horse slaughter in the U.S. and the transport of horses across U.S. borders to foreign slaughterhouses. PETA is in favor of the Safeguard American Food Exports Act, which prevents horse slaughterhouses from opening in the U.S. again and the export of horses from the U.S. for the purpose of slaughter elsewhere.

"PETA opposes horse slaughter anywhere in the world, including in the U.S.," says PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo. "The only way to stop this bloody business is a comprehensive ban on both U.S. slaughterhouses and the practice of shipping horses on frightening, long, and miserable journeys across the border for slaughter."

For more information, please visit PETA.org. 

PETA's letter to Rep. Kingston follows.

The Honorable Jack Kingston
U.S. House of Representatives
2372 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515

April 4, 2013

Via e-mail: mary.carpenter@mail.house.gov 

Dear Mr. Kingston:

I am writing with regard to statements that you have made about PETA's stance on horse slaughter. Please note that PETA does not support horse slaughter, nor do we support the reopening of U.S. equine slaughterhouses. We understand that you may have been incorrectly told that we do support these things, but we ask that you immediately stop repeating these inaccurate statements.

While PETA is truly appalled by the transport of horses to foreign destinations—during which we have witnessed horses crammed into trailers and confined for multiple days without food, water, or a chance to stretch their legs (an additional burden on top of the their already horrendous plight)—PETAdoes not support a reopening of horse-slaughtering operations and agrees with Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack that Congress must come up with a better alternative to slaughter.

Our stance is that a ban on domestic slaughter must be accompanied by a ban on the export of horses for slaughter. For this reason,PETA supports the Safeguard American Food Exports Act, which would prevent not only horse slaughter in the U.S. but also, crucially, the export of horses from the U.S. into Mexico and Canada for the purpose of slaughter. We urge you and all Americans who care about reducing the suffering of horses to support this bill.

Sincerely,

Ingrid E. Newkirk
President
PETA

Ramos Bros. Circus Just Lost Federal Exhibitor License, Group Warns

For Immediate Release:
April 4, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Moreno Valley, Calif. -- PETA has just sent an urgent letter to Moreno Valley authorities, including the chief of police, and to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging the officials to prohibit Ramos Bros. Circus from illegally exhibiting animals during the remainder of its stint in the city, which is scheduled through April 8. As PETA explains in its letters, Ramos Bros. has continued to perform in Moreno Valley, even though the USDA canceled the circus's license to exhibit animals on April 2.

The USDA has previously cited Ramos Bros. for operating without a license, and in January, the agency issued the circus an official warning for violating the Animal Welfare Act after a camel was allowed to escape and head toward traffic, endangering herself and the public. PETA has received numerous reports from the public indicating that Ramos Bros. regularly abuses animals, including tying them up so tightly that they cannot stand, forcing them to live in their own waste, and failing to provide them with water and shade. Last year, an appeal from PETA prompted the city of Corona to shut down Ramos Bros.' illegal exhibition of exotic animals.

"Whether it's operating without a license or sticking animals in filthy, cramped enclosures, Ramos Bros. has repeatedly demonstrated a flagrant disregard for the law," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "PETA is calling on officials to take a stand and make sure that abusive outfits such as Ramos Bros. cannot get away with breaking the law in Moreno Valley."

For more information, please visit PETA.org. 

PETA's letter to Moreno Valley authorities follows.

April 4, 2013

Steve Fries, Animal Services Division Manager
City of Moreno Valley

Joel Ontiveros, Chief of Police
City of Moreno Valley

Henry Garcia, City Manager
City of Moreno Valley

Via e-mail: stevef@moval.org; mvpd@moval.org; jontiver@moval.org; cmoffice@moval.org

Re: Ramos Bros. Circus' Exhibition of Animals in Moreno Valley Without Required U.S. Department of Agriculture License

Dear Mr. Fries, Chief Ontiveros, and Mr. Garcia:

I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to alert you to the fact that Ramos Bros. Circus ("Ramos Bros."), which is currently performing in the City of Moreno Valley at 13250 Perris Blvd., appears to be doing so in violation of federal law. We have just learned that Ramos Bros.' U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) exhibitor license was canceled on April 2, 2013 (Attachment). Since a valid USDA license is required for the exhibition of animals, we ask that you immediately inspect Ramos Bros. and determine whether it is operating under a valid license and, if not, prohibit the circus from illegally exhibiting animals.

Please be aware that Ramos Bros. has demonstrated a persistent and flagrant disregard for federal and local laws. The USDA has previously cited Ramos Bros. for operating without a license. Last year, Ramos Bros. unlawfully exhibited zebras in Corona, Calif., in clear violation of a city prohibition on the display of wild or exotic animals. When PETA notified Corona officials, they took immediate action and ordered Ramos Bros. to remove the prohibited animals from the city.

I strongly urge you to ensure that Ramos Bros. is not allowed to operate illegally while performing in your city. May I please hear by the end of the day that you will investigate Ramos Bros. and cancel any upcoming performances if you determine that the circus does not possess a valid exhibitor license?

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Very truly yours,

Delcianna Winders, Director
Captive Animal Law Enforcement  

Group Will Give Students a Feel for Intensive Confinement That May Have Them Going Vegan 

For Immediate Release:
April 5, 2013

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

Pittsburgh -- Most students at the University of Pittsburgh have probably never been to a factory farm, so peta2—PETA's youth division—is bringing factory farms to them. As part of a national college tour, the group will set up a 20-foot-by-30-foot inflatable tent, inside of which students can confine themselves to sow gestation crates—which are so small that pregnant pigs can't even turn around or take two steps—and watch "Glass Walls," a video exposé of the meat industry narrated by PETA pal Paul McCartney, who famously said, "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian." Students will also receive samples of vegan foods and free vegetarian/vegan starter kits with recipes and tips for helping the Earth, animals, and their own arteries by going meat- and dairy-free.

When:   Monday, April 8, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 

 Where:  William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh

"College is the time to consider new ideas, and peta2's factory-farm display gives students an idea of how much suffering goes into a chicken nugget or a beef burger," says peta2 Director Marta Holmberg. "Once students see what cows, chickens, and other animals go through on factory farms, in transit, and in slaughterhouses, they'll want to load up their cafeteria trays with humane vegan selections."

Pigs, chickens, fish, and cows feel pain and fear just as intensely as do the animals who share our homes with us, yet they are abused in ways that would be illegal if dogs and cats were the victims. Chickens and turkeys have their throats cut while they're still conscious, piglets are castrated and have their tails cut off without being given any painkillers, and calves raised for their milk have their horns burned out of their skulls. On the decks of fishing boats, fish suffocate or are cut open while they're still alive.

For more information, please visit peta2.com.

Investigation Reveals Shelter Workers Turning Animals Away, Referring to Shelters Forced to Euthanize

For Immediate Release:
April 8, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Norfolk, Va. -- The Peninsula Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Web of Life, Norfolk SPCA, and Portsmouth Humane Society are among the more than two dozen animal shelters that practice or advocate "no-kill" policies across the country caught in a new PETA video exposé turning animals away and referring them to the very shelters and city pounds that the "no-kill" community condemns for having to euthanize animals.

"We're full. We're a no-kill. If it doesn't get adopted, it lives its life out here. … [I]t may be here for 10 years. … You know, animal control will take it," says a Web of Life worker in PETA's video, which is the first exposé of its kind. A Peninsula SPCA worker says, "We can put you on a waiting list. … If we don't have space, we can't take them." A Norfolk SPCA worker says, "You would need to go to the Norfolk Animal Care Center on Raby Road, because we can't intake any as of right now, but they can" and repeatedly refers to a months-long waiting list. And a worker at the Portsmouth Humane Society—despite the fact that the organization imported Chihuahuas from California just weeks earlier and claims to "never turn away an animal that comes to our doors"—says, "We're completely full. That's why we have appointments. We have over 100 dogs."

"It's stunning that shelters that tout 'no-kill' policies direct people to the very facilities that they publicly condemn," says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. "Contrary to what 'no-kill' advocates would like everyone to believe, there is a huge crisis of homeless animals with nowhere to go, and until people adopt instead of buy and spay or neuter instead of breed, euthanasia is unavoidable."

PETA is asking every shelter in the video to adopt a five-point plan to reduce the homeless-animal problem in their communities:

1. Stop charging fees, keeping waiting lists, and requiring appointments, and if there is no room, transport the animals to a reputable open-admission shelter to prevent them from being harmed or abandoned on the streets, as has happened in Detroit and other cities facing tough economic times.
2. Spay or neuter all animals before release.
3. Offer no-cost to low-cost spay-and-neuter assistance.
4. Lobby to ban all pet shop sales of dogs and cats.
5. Put standards in place to avoid "bouncing" adoptions that make figures look good but do nothing to solve the overpopulation crisis.

In addition to turning animals away, "no-kill" policies have another dire effect on homeless dogs and cats: As the popularity of these policies grows, cases of hoarding are skyrocketing. It is now estimated that "rescues" make up 25 percent of the 6,000 new hoarding cases reported in the U.S. each year.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Investigation Reveals Shelter Workers Turning Animals Away, Referring to Shelters Forced to Euthanize

For Immediate Release:
April 8, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Richmond, Va. -- The Richmond Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is one of more than two dozen animal shelters that practice or advocate "no-kill" policies across the country caught in a new PETA video exposé turning animals away and referring them to the very shelters and city pounds that the "no-kill" community condemns for having to euthanize animals.

"We wouldn't be able to take, um, a pet that early that's surrendered because it's by appointment only," says an SPCA worker in PETA's video, which is the first exposé of its kind. "I mean, you can surrender it to Richmond animal control. Now they do put animals down." Excuses used by other shelters include months-long waiting lists, exorbitant admission fees, disease outbreaks, overcrowding, not taking in strays, only taking in strays, and more.

"It's stunning that shelters that tout 'no-kill' policies direct people to the very facilities that they publicly condemn," says PETA Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. "Contrary to what 'no-kill' advocates would like everyone to believe, there is a huge crisis of homeless animals with nowhere to go, and until people adopt instead of buy and spay or neuter instead of breed, euthanasia is unavoidable."

PETA is asking every shelter in the video to adopt a five-point plan to reduce the homeless-animal problem in their communities:

1. Stop charging fees, keeping waiting lists, and requiring appointments, and if there is no room, transport the animals to a reputable open-admission shelter to prevent them from being harmed or abandoned on the streets, as has happened in Detroit and other cities facing tough economic times.
2. Spay or neuter all animals before release.
3. Offer no-cost to low-cost spay-and-neuter assistance.
4. Lobby to ban all pet shop sales of dogs and cats.
5. Put standards in place to avoid "bouncing" adoptions that make figures look good but do nothing to solve the overpopulation crisis.

In addition to turning animals away, "no-kill" policies have another dire effect on homeless dogs and cats: As the popularity of these policies grows, cases of hoarding are skyrocketing. It is now estimated that "rescues" make up 25 percent of the 6,000 new hoarding cases reported in the U.S. each year.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Group Will Go High-Tech This Fall to Bust Lawbreakers Who Leave Animals to Die and More

For Immediate Release:
April 8, 2013

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Norfolk, Va. -- PETA will soon have some impressive new weapons at its disposal to combat those who gun down deer and doves. The group is shopping for one or more drone aircraft with which to monitor those who are out in the woods with death on their minds. PETA aims to collect video footage of any illegal activity, including drinking while in the possession of a firearm, a common complaint from those who live near wooded areas; maiming animals and failing to pursue them so that they die slowly and painfully; and using spotlights, feed lures, and other hunting tricks that are illegal in some areas but remain common practices among hunters. PETA currently has its sights on Australia-based Aerobot and its state-of-the-art remote-controlled CineStar Octocopter.

"The talk is usually about drones being used as killing machines, but PETA drones will be used to save lives," says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. "Slob hunters may need to rethink the idea that they can get away with murder, alone out there in the woods with no one watching."

Hunters, using high-powered guns and bows and arrows, slaughter and maim millions of animals every year, and by some estimates, poachers kill just as many animals illegally. It can take weeks for some animals who are merely wounded to succumb to their injuries. And research shows that for every animal killed by a bow hunter, another is maimed, never to be found again. Furthermore, the slaughtered animals aren't the only victims, because weak or young family members are left to starve or be attacked by predators.

PETA also intends to fly the drones over factory farms, popular fishing spots, and other venues where animals routinely suffer and die.

For more information, please visit PETA.org or click here.

Group Will Give Students a Feel for Intensive Confinement That May Have Them Going Vegan 

For Immediate Release:
April 9, 2013

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382

New York -- Most students at St. John's University have probably never been to a factory farm, so peta2—PETA's youth division—is bringing factory farms to them. As part of a national college tour, the group will set up a 20-foot-by-30-foot inflatable tent, inside of which students can confine themselves to sow gestation crates—which are so small that pregnant pigs can't even turn around or take two steps—and watch "Glass Walls," a video exposé of the meat industry narrated by PETA pal Paul McCartney, who famously said, "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian." Students will also receive samples of vegan foods and free vegetarian/vegan starter kits with recipes and tips for helping the Earth, animals, and their own arteries by going meat- and dairy-free.

When:   Wednesday, April 10, and Thursday, April 11, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Where:  DAC Plaza, St. John's University

"College is the time to consider new ideas, and peta2's factory-farm display gives students an idea of how much suffering goes into a chicken nugget or a beef burger," says peta2 Director Marta Holmberg. "Once students see what cows, chickens, and other animals go through on factory farms, in transit, and in slaughterhouses, they'll want to load up their cafeteria trays with humane vegan selections."

Pigs, chickens, fish, and cows feel pain and fear just as intensely as do the animals who share our homes with us, yet they are abused in ways that would be illegal if dogs and cats were the victims. Chickens and turkeys have their throats cut while they're still conscious, piglets are castrated and have their tails cut off without being given any painkillers, and calves raised for their milk have their horns burned out of their skulls. On the decks of fishing boats, fish suffocate or are cut open while they're still alive.

For more information, please visit peta2.com.

Giant 'Tofu' Will Distribute Free Vegan Recipes Outside President's Soul Music Celebration

For Immediate Release:
April 9, 2013

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382 

Washington -- As Justin Timberlake heads to the White House for his performance in this evening's Memphis Soul concert, a group of PETA members—led by a giant costumed block of tofu—will gather on Pennsylvania Avenue with signs that read, "Bring It on Down to Veganville," in reference to Timberlake's Saturday Night Live skit celebrating healthy, humane vegan meals. The group will distribute copies of PETA's vegetarian/vegan starter kit, which is packed with delicious vegan recipes that everyone can try at home.

When:   Tuesday, April 9, 5 p.m.

Where:  The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W. (near the intersection with W. Executive Avenue N.W.), Washington

As Timberlake explained in his SNL skit, vegan meals are healthier and kinder than meaty meals. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegans are less prone to heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer, and obesity than meat-eaters are. And of course, each vegan saves more than 100 animals every year from daily suffering and terrifying deaths on factory farms, in slaughterhouses, and on the decks of fishing boats.

"Justin Timberlake won PETA's heart when he put on that tofu costume and sang about how we can help animals—and improve our health—by going vegan," says PETA D.C. Coordinator Justen Jones. "Because vegan options are flourishing in today's restaurants and grocery stores, there's never been a better time to bring it on down to Veganville."

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Group Calls On U.S. Department of Agriculture to Investigate Circus Employees  and to See That Injured Elephant Receives Proper Treatment

For Immediate Release:
April 9, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Tupelo, Miss. -- The story is that someone drove by the BancorpSouth Arena early on Tuesday morning and shot an elephant used by the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, who was being held outside the arena. Police are investigating the incident but have yet to make any arrests in connection with the attack. That's why PETA is adding up to $5,000 to former First Congressional District Rep. Travis Childers' $250 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this violent crime. Because shooting an Asian elephant also violates the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has discretion to issue an additional reward for information that leads to an arrest, conviction, or penalty for an ESA violation. PETA is also asking authorities to question circus employees, as incidents in which elephants are harmed—including by handlers, who beat them with sharp metal bullhooks—plague this circus.

Would you please consider sharing this information with your audience? It might be the only way to apprehend those responsible for this heinous act.

Ringling Bros. has a long history of failing to provide the elephants used in its shows with adequate veterinary care and of forcing ailing elephants to perform. In late 2011, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued the circus the largest fine for an animal exhibitor in U.S. history, and Ringling employees have also been caught on film beating elephants at various venues, according to sworn eyewitness complaints. Ringling commonly travels without a veterinarian to tend to the large number of animals who are forced to travel with the circus, and its veterinarians have a history of allowing ailing elephants to perform painful tricks, so PETA is also calling on the USDA to inspect the injured elephant and ensure that she is receiving adequate treatment.

"It is in everyone's best interests, including the elephant's, to find the shooter," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "PETA is eager to help discover who committed this crime—and to ensure that Ringling is not continuing its pattern of forcing ailing and injured elephants to perform in its shows."

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-773-8477.

For more information, please visit RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.

Tattoo Artist Stars in PETA's 'Never Be Silent' Campaign

For Immediate Release:
April 9, 2013

Contact:
Wendy Wegner 202-483-7382

New York -- Crouching protectively with his canine pal Bella, celebrated tattoo artist, owner of SoHo's Wooster Street Social Club, and NY Ink star Ami James appears in a brand-new PETA ad that reads, "Only Cowards Abuse Animals. To Dogs and Cats, People Are Often the Biggest Bullies," and urges everyone to report animal abuse and neglect to the authorities immediately. The ad, which is part of PETA's "Never Be Silent" campaign, was shot by top celebrity photographer Kike San Martin and is available here.

In an exclusive PETA interview—also featuring his dog Mochi—James explains what people should do when they witness or suspect animal abuse: "There's so many things you can do and actually so many things that everybody should do, which is reporting it to PETA, to the authorities …. I think it's very important that people realize that."

In the interview, James also explains why animal protection is so important to him. "I grew up with animals," he says. "There's nothing more pure in the world than the love that they give you, the unconditional love." As for industries that abuse animals? "The circus is not a good place, and what they do to animals is not right," he says. "It's slavery, by all means." And hunting is no better: "At the end of the day, you're just a coward that hides behind the truth that you just enjoy killing an animal."

James is part of a long list of artists, musicians, and other celebrities—including Iggy Pop, Tommy Lee, Megan Massacre, Mickey Rourke, Dave Navarro, P!nk, and Duff McKagan—who have teamed up with PETA to fight animal abuse.

For more information and to view the ad, please visit PETA.org.

One of Canada's Largest Banks Shows a Big Heart for Small Animals

For Immediate Release:
April 10, 2013

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Toronto -- Toronto-based BMO Financial is getting an award for a practice that has nothing to do with dollars and cents. That's because after learning from PETA about the cruelty of using sticky glue traps to kill mice, BMO banned the devices from its approximately 900 locations nationwide. For rejecting the cruel pest-control method, BMO Financial will receive a Compassionate Company Award from PETA and a big box of vegan chocolates shaped like mice.

"It's wonderful to see one of the largest banks in the country take the suffering of the smallest and most vulnerable animals into consideration," says PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. "Thanks to BMO's decision to ban glue traps, mice, birds, and other small animals will be spared a terrifying and painful end."

Glue traps are pieces of plastic or cardboard coated with a strong adhesive. After getting caught in the traps, panicked animals struggle to escape—often breaking their bones and ripping the flesh, fur, or feathers off their bodies in the process. Some animals chew off their own limbs in an attempt to free themselves, and others get their noses, mouths, or beaks stuck in the glue. The more the animals struggle, the more they stick to the traps, only to die from exhaustion, injury, shock, dehydration, asphyxiation, or blood loss. Glue traps are also ineffective because they fail to address the source of the problem—more mice simply move in to take the place of the animals who have been killed.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.