Protesters Will Draw Attention to Ringling's Violent Treatment of Baby Elephants 

For Immediate Release:
October 10, 2012

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

St. Louis, Mo. -- A large inflatable elephant will lead PETA members in a protest against the arrival of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Thurday. The protesters will display signs that read, "This Is Ringling Baby-Elephant Training," alongside banners emblazoned with compelling photos taken inside Ringling's training center. The photos expose how baby elephants used by Ringling are stretched out, slammed to the ground, gouged with steel-tipped bullhooks, and shocked with electric prods. These abusive sessions go on for several hours a day in order to force the baby elephants to learn to perform circus tricks out of fear of punishment.

When:   Thursday, October 11, 12 noon

Where:  Scottrade Center, at the intersection of Clark Avenue and S. 14^th Street, St. Louis

"St. Louis residents would run screaming from the big top if they knew how baby elephants are violently forced to perform difficult, confusing, and sometimes painful tricks," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "Since children love animals, the last place that parents and grandparents should take them to is the circus."

Late last year, Ringling paid the largest fine in circus history—$270,000—for violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

For more information, please visit PETA's website RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.

Protesters Will Draw Attention to Ringling's Violent Treatment of Baby Elephants 

For Immediate Release:
October 10, 2012

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

St. Louis, Mo. -- A large inflatable elephant will lead PETA members in a protest against the arrival of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on Thurday. The protesters will display signs that read, "This Is Ringling Baby-Elephant Training," alongside banners emblazoned with compelling photos taken inside Ringling's training center. The photos expose how baby elephants used by Ringling are stretched out, slammed to the ground, gouged with steel-tipped bullhooks, and shocked with electric prods. These abusive sessions go on for several hours a day in order to force the baby elephants to learn to perform circus tricks out of fear of punishment.

When:   Thursday, October 11, 12 noon

Where:  Scottrade Center, at the intersection of Clark Avenue and S. 14^th Street, St. Louis

"St. Louis residents would run screaming from the big top if they knew how baby elephants are violently forced to perform difficult, confusing, and sometimes painful tricks," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "Since children love animals, the last place that parents and grandparents should take them to is the circus."

Late last year, Ringling paid the largest fine in circus history—$270,000—for violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

For more information, please visit PETA's website RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.

Heroic Firefighters Bring Unresponsive Animal 'Back to Life'

For Immediate Release:
October 10, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Arlington, Texas -- On October 7, Arlington firefighters responded to a house fire in north Arlington and learned that a dog and a cat were trapped inside. While some firefighters battled the blaze, others looked for the animals. They found the dog, Leah, who wasn't breathing. They rushed her outside and immediately fitted her with an oxygen mask designed especially for dogs, cats, and other small animals. After the firefighters exhausted five bottles of oxygen and administered repeated resuscitation treatments, Leah suddenly regained consciousness. She was taken to a veterinarian and is reportedly doing fine. Unfortunately, although having also received resuscitation treatment, the cat did not survive.

For successfully bringing Leah "back to life" and attempting to save the family's cat, the Arlington Fire Department will receive PETA's Compassionate Fire Department Award.

"Arlington's bravest are also some of Arlington's kindest," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "We hope the rescue workers' preparedness, perseverance, and 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.

All Arlington battalion chiefs and ladder trucks carry various sizes of animal resuscitation masks.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Evidence Provided by PETA of Physical and Psychological Threats to Two Elephants Leads to Government Action 

For Immediate Release:
October 11, 2012

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Metairie, La. -- After PETA filed two complaints with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the physical safety and psychological well-being of two elephants with Cole Bros. Circus, the circus has agreed to pay a $15,000 penalty to the USDA to settle formal charges against the circus, which is scheduled to perform in Metairie from October 19 to 21. The charges came after PETA pointed out that two elephants, Tina and Jewel, were hundreds of pounds underweight and had been deprived of adequate veterinary care, including for a protruding spine. They were also sent to an unlicensed exhibitor with a long history of violating the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The more than 10 charges that Cole Bros. settled with the USDA include failure to provide the elephants with adequate veterinary care and failure to hire personnel capable of caring for them.

In 2009, the USDA felt that the case was so serious that the agency confiscated Jewel and also removed Tina. However, Cole Bros. continues to use other elephants in old-fashioned circus acts, and PETA sent the USDA alarming video footage taken at Cole Bros. Circus in Lanesboro, Mass., on June 17, 2011, that shows a handler who repeatedly struck an elephant using a bullhook (a rod with a solid, steel-pointed end that resembles a fireplace poker), including forcefully hitting the animal twice in the face. Also in June of last year, the USDA cited an elephant exhibitor with Cole Bros. for multiple violations of the AWA, including the use of "excessive force while tugging at" an elephant by digging a bullhook into her flesh. Elephant trainer Tim Frisco, who was caught on camera viciously beating terrified elephants and shocking them with electric prods, just joined Cole Bros.

"The USDA's action against Cole Bros. should put all animal circuses on notice that, sooner or later, they must pay for animal abuse," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "Since children love animals, the last place that parents and grandparents should take them to is the circus."

The USDA's original complaint—filed after the USDA was contacted by PETA as well as by In Defense of Animals—and the settlement agreement are available upon request. For more information, please visit PETA.org.

A list of the violations named in the charges follows.

The violations of the Animal Welfare Act for which Cole Bros. Circus was ordered to pay a $15,000 penalty include the following:

Elephants

• Failure to provide adequate veterinary care to two underweight elephants, including one with a prominent spine and sunken body image
• Failure to have records for vet exams and tuberculosis tests
• Failure to handle an elephant in a way that minimizes the risk of harm to the public and the elephant
• Failure to employ personnel capable of caring for elephants
• Failure to house elephants at a facility that could provide for their needs
• Failure to follow recommendations of an elephant specialist
• Failure to store medications properly
• Transporting elephants to another person who was not equipped to care for them against the recommendation of an elephant specialist
• Inadequate enclosures
• Handlers who lacked training and knowledge and weren't regularly on site   

Tigers

• Employing a handler who lacked training, knowledge, and experience
• Selling tigers without a dealer license

peta2 Launches 2012 Contest as Number of Vegan Students Skyrockets

For Immediate Release:
October 11, 2012

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382

Storrs, Conn. — According to food-service provider Bon Appétit, in the seven years since peta2, PETA's youth division, started its annual Most Vegan-Friendly College contest, the number of college students who identify themselves as vegetarian has risen by 50 percent and the number of vegan students has more than doubled. So this year, determining the best of 32 large schools and 32 small schools will be tougher than ever, but the University of Connecticut (UConn) has a good shot.

There are vegan meals galore at UConn, including vegan ravioli caprese, vegan chicken pot pie, sweet-and-sour tempeh, and vegan tortellini della pangrattato. The college even offers vegan desserts, including French apple squares!

"The vegan revolution is in full swing, and nowhere is that more evident than at UConn and other schools across the country," says peta2 Associate Director Marta Holmberg. "The best way that students can fortify their health for a tough year of hitting the books, protect the environment, and save animals' lives at the same time is to go vegan."

Besides being turned off by the massive suffering of animals raised and killed for food, students have other good reasons to go vegan. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegetarians are less prone to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer than meat-eaters are. Also, the United Nations has concluded that factory farming is one of the biggest contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every level—from local to global—and that a worldwide shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change.

The contest began October 8, and voting for the first round ends October 16. Round winners are determined by the number of votes received, the quality and variety of vegan foods offered by the schools, the schools' enthusiasm in promoting vegan options, and student feedback. For more information, please visit peta2.com.

peta2 Launches 2012 Contest as Number of Vegan Students Skyrockets

For Immediate Release:
October 11, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Champaign, Ill. — According to food-service provider Bon Appétit, in the seven years since peta2, PETA's youth division, started its annual Most Vegan-Friendly College contest, the number of college students who identify themselves as vegetarian has risen by 50 percent and the number of vegan students has more than doubled. So this year, determining the best of 32 large schools and 32 small schools will be tougher than ever, but the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) has a good shot at winning.

With vegan options at every meal and in every dining location, the biggest challenge that students at UIUC face is deciding what and where to eat. Vegan pumpkin lasagne, chana masala, and vegan ramen are some of the university's more popular offerings. Soy-Tainly, an all-vegan venue at Ikenberry Commons, is a must-visit. Also, be sure to check out Pennsylvania Avenue Residence's Mongolian wok station (complete with tofu, tempeh, and edamame) and Leafy!—a new vegetarian and vegan specialty restaurant at the Lincoln Avenue Residence.

"The vegan revolution is in full swing, and nowhere is that more evident than at the University of Illinois and other schools across the country," says peta2 Associate Director Marta Holmberg. "The best way that students can fortify their health for a tough year of hitting the books, protect the environment, and save animals' lives at the same time is to go vegan."

Besides being turned off by the massive suffering of animals raised and killed for food, students have other good reasons to go vegan. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegetarians are less prone to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer than meat-eaters are. Also, the United Nations has concluded that factory farming is one of the biggest contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every level—from local to global—and that a worldwide shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change.

The contest began October 8, and voting for the first round ends October 16. Round winners are determined by the number of votes received, the quality and variety of vegan foods offered by the schools, the schools' enthusiasm in promoting vegan options, and student feedback. For more information, please visit peta2.com.

peta2 Launches 2012 Contest as Number of Vegan Students Skyrockets

For Immediate Release:
October 11, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

La Jolla, Calif. -- According to food-service provider Bon Appétit, in the seven years since peta2, PETA's youth division, started its annual Most Vegan-Friendly College contest, the number of college students who identify themselves as vegetarian has risen by 50 percent and the number of vegan students has more than doubled. So this year, determining the best of 32 large schools and 32 small schools will be tougher than ever, but the University of California–San Diego (UCSD) has a good shot at winning.

In January, UCSD introduced its all-new vegan dining hall called Roots, which is great news for students, who now get to enjoy an assortment of scrumptious vegan sandwiches and wraps, such as the Spicy Sierra, made with chopped vegan chicken and in-house barbecue sauce with chipotle soy crème and caramelized onions, and El Capitan, vegan Italian sausage with sautéed peppers, onions, and vegan mozzarella. Not content with just a cruelty-free dining hall, though, the university has expanded vegan options all over campus, including at the grab-'n'-go market, which offers 12 in-house vegan sandwiches and salads.

"The vegan revolution is in full swing, and nowhere is that more evident than at the University of California–San Diego and other schools across the country," says peta2 Associate Director Marta Holmberg. "The best way that students can fortify their health for a tough year of hitting the books, protect the environment, and save animals' lives at the same time is to go vegan."

Besides being turned off by the massive suffering of animals raised and killed for food, students have other good reasons to go vegan. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegetarians are less prone to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer than meat-eaters are. Also, the United Nations has concluded that factory farming is one of the biggest contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every level—from local to global—and that a worldwide shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change.

The contest began October 8, and voting for the first round ends October 16. Round winners are determined by the number of votes received, the quality and variety of vegan foods offered by the schools, the schools' enthusiasm in promoting vegan options, and student feedback. For more information, please visit peta2.com.

Tiny Animal Stuck in Car Engine Gets a New Name and a New Home

For Immediate Release:
October 11, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Beltsville, Md. — On October 8, firefighters from the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department responded to a call from a motorist in Beltsville after he heard mewing sounds coming from under the hood of his vehicle as he drove along U.S. Route 1 but couldn't find the animal when he pulled over and looked inside the engine. After 45 minutes, firefighters were able to coax out a small kitten, who appeared to be unharmed. One of the firefighters, who named the kitten Columbo because the incident happened on Columbus Day, took the kitten back to the station and later to his home.

For making sure that no harm came to little Columbo, the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department will receive PETA's Compassionate Fire Department Award.

"Prince George's County's bravest are also some of the county's kindest," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "We hope the determination of these firefighters to save this tiny kitten's life 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, a box of vegan chocolates, and a package of oxygen masks designed especially for cats, dogs, and other animals.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

peta2 Launches 2012 Contest as the Number of Vegan Students Skyrockets

For Immediate Release:
October 11, 2012

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

Tampa, Fla. -- According to food-service provider Bon Appétit, in the seven years since peta2, PETA's youth division, started its annual Most Vegan-Friendly College contest, the number of college students who identify themselves as vegetarian has risen by 50 percent and the number of vegan students has more than doubled. So this year, determining the best of 32 large schools and 32 small schools will be tougher than ever, but University of South Florida (USF) has a good shot.

With a new vegan dining guide unveiled in spring 2012 and discount coupons for meat-free options on Mondays,USF gets two big thumbs up! This fall, the university has expanded its vegan options to include black-bean burgers with cilantro-ginger pineapple, tofu pho, farfalle with broccoli and vegan cheese, and vegan meatball subs. Throw in a grab-'n'-go market with choices such as veggie tuna subs and Shanghai dumplings, and a dining services department that regularly partners with campus organizations to distribute free vegan food samples, and it's easy to see why students are thrilled to be Bulls.

"The vegan revolution is in full swing, and nowhere is that more evident than at USF and other schools across the country," says peta2 Associate Director Marta Holmberg. "The best way that students can fortify their health for a tough year of hitting the books, protect the environment, and save animals' lives at the same time is to go vegan."

Besides being turned off by the massive suffering of animals raised and killed for food, students have other good reasons to go vegan. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegetarians are less prone to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer than meat-eaters are. Also, the United Nations has concluded that factory farming is one of the biggest contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every level—from local to global—and that a worldwide shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change.

The contest began October 8, and voting for the first round ends October 16. Round winners are determined by the number of votes received, the quality and variety of vegan foods offered by the schools, the schools' enthusiasm in promoting vegan options, and student feedback. For more information, please visit peta2.com.

peta2 Launches 2012 Contest as the Number of Vegan Students Skyrockets

For Immediate Release:
October 11, 2012

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

Towson, Md. -- According to food-service provider Bon Appétit, in the seven years since peta2, PETA's youth division, started its annual Most Vegan-Friendly College contest, the number of college students who identify themselves as vegetarian has risen by 50 percent and the number of vegan students has more than doubled. So this year, determining the best of 32 large schools and 32 small schools will be tougher than ever, but Towson University (TU) has a good shot.

Continuing to increase its profile among the nation's most vegan-friendly schools, TU has really stepped it up this year. Its T-Veggie Program, started in 2009, now covers the entire campus. TU has also recently introduced a T-Vegan Program, which unveiled delicious cruelty-free options such as coconut-curry tofu and lentil sloppy Joes. Vegan chicken cheese steaks and Tex-Mex tater-tot casseroles are just a small sampling of the meat-free meals that appeal to all students. Don't miss the Silk soy-milk dispensers, now offered in all dining halls on campus!

"The vegan revolution is in full swing, and nowhere is that more evident than at TU and other schools across the country," says peta2 Associate Director Marta Holmberg. "The best way that students can fortify their health for a tough year of hitting the books, protect the environment, and save animals' lives at the same time is to go vegan."

Besides being turned off by the massive suffering of animals raised and killed for food, students have other good reasons to go vegan. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegetarians are less prone to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer than meat-eaters are. Also, the United Nations has concluded that factory farming is one of the biggest contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every level—from local to global—and that a worldwide shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change.

The contest began October 8, and voting for the first round ends October 16. Round winners are determined by the number of votes received, the quality and variety of vegan foods offered by the schools, the schools' enthusiasm in promoting vegan options, and student feedback. For more information, please visit peta2.com.

PETA to Protest Aquarium Pride Party After Employees Report Music Causes Animals to Fight

For Immediate Release:
October 11, 2012

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382 

Atlanta -- Holding signs that read, "This Is No Party for Animals" and "Help Jane Lynch Get the Shame Out of Pride," PETA members will greet revelers outside the Georgia Aquarium at the kickoff bash for the Atlanta Pride Festival. The United Nations Wildlife Panel and an Emory marine biologist have stated that pounding music drives sound-sensitive beluga whales and dolphins crazy, and three aquarium exhibit guides have confirmed that the venue's music events cause some animals to attack each other. Emmy-winning Glee star Jane Lynch urged festival organizers to choose another venue. Her plea was ignored, so PETA will protest the event and gather signatures in order to urge Pride officials to make this year's party the last to be held at the Georgia Aquarium.

When:   Friday, October 12, 6:30 p.m. 

Where:  Outside the Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker St. N.W. at Luckie Street N.W., Atlanta

"Since last year, out of concern for sound-sensitive marine mammals, the U.S. Navy altered ship routes, [and] the Toronto aquarium announced it would feature no marine mammals," PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews, who is gay, wrote to the Atlanta Pride Committee. Additionally, he pointed out that "gay icons Jane Lynch, Martina Navratilova, and Elvira have spoken out against the Georgia Aquarium's loud events."

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Mike 'The Situation' Joins PETA to Advocate Against Sex—for Dogs and Cats

For Immediate Release:
October 11, 2012

Contact:
Wendy Wegner 202-483-7382

New York -- Jersey Shore may be about to kick off its final season, but Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino already has his next gig lined up: animal advocate. That's why he teamed up with PETA for a brand-new campaign, which he unveiled in person on Thursday in front of MTV Studios in Times Square, that calls attention to the homeless-animal situation. In the ad, The Situation shows off his celebrated six-pack amid a rowdy crowd of felines and next to the words "Too Much Pu$$y Can Be a Bad Thing. Dogs and Cats Need Safe Sex, Too!" The ad, available here, was shot by top celebrity photographer Gabrielle Revere and concludes by asking people to "help fight animal overpopulation and save lives" by spaying and neutering. Photos of the unveiling are available here.

The Situation also sat down for an exclusive PETA interview in which he discussed his recent visit to an animal shelter. "It definitely was overcrowded, and I learned that there's been a problem, and it's a growing problem," he says of the homeless-animal overpopulation crisis. "Fix your animals." Sitch also cautions everyone that adopting a dog or cat is a lifelong commitment and urges anyone who witnesses animal abuse to call the authorities immediately.

Every year, 6 to 8 million dogs and cats end up in U.S. animal shelters, and half of them must be euthanized because there simply aren't enough good homes for them. Animals who aren't fortunate enough to be taken to a shelter struggle to survive on the streets, where they suffer from starvation, dehydration, diseases, parasites, or injuries. The solution is simple: Always spay and neuter.

The Situation joins a long list of celebrities—including Justin Bieber, Kellen Lutz, Jay Sean, Simon Cowell, Mickey Rourke, Audrina Patridge, and Joanna Krupa—who have teamed up with PETA to help fight animal homelessness.

Broadcast-quality video footage of The Situation's exclusive PETA interview is available here. For more information, please visit PETA.org.

peta2 Launches 2012 Contest as the Number of Vegan Students Skyrockets

For Immediate Release:
October 12, 2012

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

Boston — According to food-service provider Bon Appétit, in the seven years since peta2, PETA's youth division, started its annual Most Vegan-Friendly College contest, the number of college students who identify themselves as vegetarian has risen by 50 percent and the number of vegan students has more than doubled. So this year, determining the best of 32 large schools and 32 small schools will be tougher than ever, but Brandeis University has a good shot.

A beacon of friendliness to vegans and vegetarians in the Northeast, Brandeis offers a broad array of cruelty-free options, including vegan chili dogs, tofu scampi, sweet-and-sour vegan meatballs, and ginger-sesame noodles with tofu.

"The vegan revolution is in full swing, and nowhere is that more evident than at Brandeis and other schools across the country," says peta2 Manager of College Campaigns and Outreach Ryan Huling. "The best way that students can fortify their health for a tough year of hitting the books, protect the environment, and save animals' lives at the same time is to go vegan."

Besides being turned off by the massive suffering of animals raised and killed for food, students have other good reasons to go vegan. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegetarians are less prone to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer than meat-eaters are. Also, the United Nations has concluded that factory farming is one of the biggest contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every level—from local to global—and that a worldwide shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change.

The contest began October 8, and voting for the first round ends October 16. Round winners are determined by the number of votes received, the quality and variety of vegan foods offered by the schools, the schools' enthusiasm in promoting vegan options, and student feedback. For more information, please visit peta2.com.

peta2 Launches 2012 Contest as the Number of Vegan Students Skyrockets

For Immediate Release:
October 12, 2012

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382

Worcester, Mass. — According to food-service provider Bon Appétit, in the seven years since peta2, PETA's youth division, started its annual Most Vegan-Friendly College contest, the number of college students who identify themselves as vegetarian has risen by 50 percent and the number of vegan students has more than doubled. So this year, determining the best of 32 large schools and 32 small schools will be tougher than ever, but College of the Holy Cross has a good shot.

A newcomer to our contest, Holy Cross places a high priority on serving up cruelty-free meals that match students' sense of compassion. Vegan chicken cutlets, veggie hot dogs, and soba noodles with brown rice are just a few of the many dishes that keep students at Holy Cross healthy and happy.

"The vegan revolution is in full swing, and nowhere is that more evident than at College of the Holy Cross and other schools across the country," says peta2 Manager of College Campaigns and Outreach Ryan Huling. "The best way that students can fortify their health for a tough year of hitting the books, protect the environment, and save animals' lives at the same time is to go vegan."

Besides being turned off by the massive suffering of animals raised and killed for food, students have other good reasons to go vegan. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegetarians are less prone to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer than meat-eaters are. Also, the United Nations has concluded that factory farming is one of the biggest contributors to the most serious environmental problems at every level—from local to global—and that a worldwide shift toward a vegan diet is necessary to combat the worst effects of climate change.

The contest began October 8, and voting for the first round ends October 16. Round winners are determined by the number of votes received, the quality and variety of vegan foods offered by the schools, the schools' enthusiasm in promoting vegan options, and student feedback. For more information, please visit peta2.com.

Lawsuit Means Government Must Protect Deprived Orca Under Endangered Species Act or Supply a Legal Reason Why Not to Do So

For Immediate Release:
October 12, 2012

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Miami — Following a lawsuit filed by PETA and the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), the National Marine Fisheries Service has agreed to reconsider its exclusion of the orca Lolita from the Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing of the Southern Resident orcas—the family from which she was taken more than 40 years ago. While endangered listings are to include captive members of a species by default, Lolita—who is confined to the smallest orca tank in North America at the Miami Seaquarium—was unlawfully excluded without explanation, allowing the Seaquarium to hold her in conditions that harm and harass her and that would otherwise violate the ESA. Pursuant to the agreement, PETA and ALDF will submit a new petition for Lolita to be included in the listing with her family, and the agency must, within specified time periods, decide whether her listing is warranted based solely on the biological status of the Southern Resident orcas. The filing of the original lawsuit was handled by the law firm Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal.

"Under the Endangered Species Act, no one can harm or harass Southern Resident orcas—yet that is precisely what Lolita, a Southern Resident orca, is experiencing in the smallest orca tank on the continent," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "The government must now extend to Lolita the same protection offered to her family in the wild and reunite her with her pod, whose calls she recognized when they were played to her even after decades in captivity."

"This important step means that the National Marine Fisheries Service must hold to the legally required timeframes that the agency often ignores and cannot let PETA's and ALDF's petition to secure Lolita the protection to which she is entitled languish indefinitely," says Carter Dillard, ALDF's director of litigation.

PETA and ALDF want Lolita to be released into a seaside sanctuary that is waiting for her in her home waters and, if possible, back into her family pod. In the wild, female orcas spend their entire lives with their mothers, and Lolita's mother is still thriving at more than 80 years of age.

For more information, please visit PETA's blog and ALDF.org.

Animal Place and PETA Welcome Adoptive Families for Birds Saved From Egg Farm Collapse

For Immediate Release: 
October 12, 2012

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382 

Los Angeles -- The scene at PETA's Bob Barker Building will be feathered and festive this Sunday, when PETA plays host to 50 hens who are looking for homes. The birds were rescued by Animal Place and other sanctuaries from an abandoned egg farm outside Turlock, Calif., where an estimated 50,000 chickens were left in battery cages for two weeks without food or water. Preapproved adopters attending the event will have the opportunity to meet the birds and hear their stories while snacking on PETA's special vegan egg-salad sandwiches.

When:   Sunday, October 14, 9:30–11:30 a.m.

Where:  The Bob Barker Building, 2154 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles

"Chickens are sensitive social animals who deserve a loving home as much as any dog or cat, not life on a miserable factory farm," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "Not everyone has what it takes to care for a rescued chicken properly, but everyone can help chickens everywhere simply by not eating them or the eggs that they are caged to produce."

On factory farms, virtually all chickens have part of their sensitive beaks cut off with hot blades. Egg-laying hens spend the rest of their lives crammed into filthy wire cages, where most will never be able to extend their wings. Also, because male chickens are useless to the egg industry, male baby chicks are discarded at birth—often by being tossed into high-speed grinders while they are still alive.

For more information, please visit PETA.org or AnimalPlace.org.

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

For Immediate Release:
October 12, 2012

Contact:
Sophia Charchuck 202-483-7382  

Chapel Hill, N.C. -- Most students at the University of North Carolina (UNC) 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, October 15–Tuesday, October 16, 10 a.m. –3 p.m.

Where:  Polk Place Quad, UNC campus, Chapel Hill

"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 Associate 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.

Vet Saw Firsthand That Many Cats Used in the Laboratory "Suffered Unnecessarily"

For Immediate Release:
October 12, 2012

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382

Madison, Wis. — Former University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW) laboratory animal veterinarian Richard "Jim" Brown sent a letter today to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Office of Inspector General expressing concerns about the agency's failure to cite UW following PETA's allegations of Animal Welfare Act violations in cruel brain experiments on cats.

Dr. Brown provided veterinary oversight for these experiments and treatment to the cats during the period that is the subject of PETA’s allegations and told the USDA that the problems were well known and widespread. Brown resigned from UW in 2010 after his concerns about animal welfare problems in this and various other laboratories were not sufficiently addressed by faculty and staff.

"I saw this research firsthand. Many of these cats suffered unnecessarily, and I made my concerns known to the principal investigator, colleagues and the UW School of Medicine and Public Health [animal experimentation oversight committee] at the time," reads Dr. Brown's letter. "I'm confident a second, focused review of the surgical records by the [USDA] would show the same concerns the veterinary staff observed during my time at Wisconsin, and during my later review of these medical records…I also believe these are citable observations, under regulatory requirements that personnel have adequate training and demonstrated skill, and for adequate maintenance of records."

"If officials at the USDA won't believe their eyes when they read UW's own internal records showing that cats were inadequately sedated during surgery and not given proper veterinary attention, then maybe they will believe their ears when they hear it from the UW laboratory veterinarian who oversaw the experiments," says PETA Senior Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Kathy Guillermo.

Consistent with PETA's allegations to the USDA, Brown's letter goes into detail about laboratory staff’s alleged failure to adequately anesthetize and monitor cats during and after surgical procedures and failure to effectively address cats' chronic head wound infections and other serious health problems that were rampant in the laboratory.

PETA's complaint was based on internal UW documents and coincided with the release of disturbing never-before-seen photographs of a cat named Double Trouble, who had holes drilled into her skull, was intentionally deafened, and was killed and decapitated after she became too ill for the experiment to continue.

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

Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field Three-Peats as Victor for Offering Eagles Fans More Meat-Free Options Than Most Restaurants Do

For Immediate Release:
October 15, 2012

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Norfolk, Va. — What happens when rough-and-tumble football meets healthy and humane vegetarian food? Just ask Pro Bowl running back Arian Foster, who recently went vegan and has helped lead the Texans to the top of the AFC South. But the vegetarian revolution that's sweeping the nation isn't just for top athletes—fans can get in on the action, too. That's why PETA has just released the results of its fifth annual survey of the top five most vegetarian-friendly stadiums in the NFL, and for the third year running, the Philadelphia Eagles' Lincoln Financial Field is number one.

Topping Lincoln Financial's offerings are protein-packed faux-steak and faux-chicken sandwiches, veggie dogs and burgers, and the incomparable seitan brisket. Fans in the premium areas can also feast on spicy falafel, grilled-vegetable hoagies, hummus and pita chips, and fresh-fruit platters. Grabbing second place is Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. Its specialties include veggie dogs and burgers, black-bean burgers, grilled portobello mushroom burgers, bean burritos, hummus, fruit plates, and, in the premium areas, a delicious field-greens salad with herbed tofu, cranberries, and nuts.

Rounding out the top five are the Oakland Raiders' O.co Coliseum, featuring veggie dogs and burgers, vegan chocolate fondue, and veggie fajitas; the Atlanta Falcons' Georgia Dome, offering vegan sloppy Joes, veggie dogs and burgers, and hummus; and the Detroit Lions' Ford Field, whose sloppy Joes, veggie burgers, and vegan energy bars are all winners. Honorable mention goes to the Kansas City Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium, the St. Louis Rams' Edward Jones Dome, the San Francisco 49ers' Candlestick Park, and MetLife Stadium, home of the New York Jets and the New York Giants.

"Smart football fans are calling a timeout on penalizing their bodies with artery-clogging meat," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "NFL fans who want to make sure they're around for many more seasons to come should sideline health-, Earth-, and animal-unfriendly meat from their diets for good."

For more information, please visit PETA's blog.

Evidence Provided by PETA of Physical and Psychological Threats to Two Elephants Leads to Government Action

For Immediate Release:

October 15, 2012

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Houma, La. — After PETA filed two complaints with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the physical safety and psychological well-being of two elephants with Cole Bros. Circus, the circus has agreed to pay a $15,000 penalty to the USDA to settle formal charges against the circus, which is scheduled to perform in Houma on October 22 and 23. The charges came after PETA pointed out that two elephants, Tina and Jewel, were hundreds of pounds underweight and had been deprived of adequate veterinary care, including for a protruding spine. They were also sent to an unlicensed exhibitor with a long history of violating the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). The more than 10 charges that Cole Bros. settled with the USDA include failure to provide the elephants with adequate veterinary care and failure to hire personnel capable of caring for them.

In 2009, the USDA felt that the case was so serious that the agency confiscated Jewel and also removed Tina. However, Cole Bros. continues to use other elephants in old-fashioned circus acts, and PETA sent the USDA alarming video footage taken at Cole Bros. Circus in Lanesboro, Mass., on June 17, 2011, that shows a handler who repeatedly struck an elephant using a bullhook (a rod with a solid, steel-pointed end that resembles a fireplace poker), including forcefully hitting the animal twice in the face. Also in June of last year, the USDA cited an elephant exhibitor with Cole Bros. for multiple violations of the AWA, including the use of "excessive force while tugging at" an elephant by digging a bullhook into her flesh. Elephant trainer Tim Frisco, who was caught on camera viciously beating terrified elephants and shocking them with electric prods, just joined Cole Bros.

"The USDA's action against Cole Bros. should put all animal circuses on notice that, sooner or later, they must pay for animal abuse," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "Since children love animals, the last place that parents and grandparents should take them to is the circus."

The USDA's original complaint—filed after the USDA was contacted by PETA as well as by In Defense of Animals—and the settlement agreement are available upon request. For more information, please visit PETA.org.

A list of the violations named in the charges follows.

The violations of the Animal Welfare Act for which Cole Bros. Circus was ordered to pay a $15,000 penalty include the following:

Elephants

• Failure to provide adequate veterinary care to two underweight elephants, including one with a prominent spine and sunken body image
• Failure to have records for vet exams and tuberculosis tests
• Failure to handle an elephant in a way that minimizes the risk of harm to the public and the elephant
• Failure to employ personnel capable of caring for elephants
• Failure to house elephants at a facility that could provide for their needs
• Failure to follow recommendations of an elephant specialist
• Failure to store medications properly
• Transporting elephants to another person who was not equipped to care for them against the recommendation of an elephant specialist
• Inadequate enclosures
• Handlers who lacked training and knowledge and weren't regularly on site   

Tigers

• Employing a handler who lacked training, knowledge, and experience
• Selling tigers without a dealer license