PETA Halloween Ad Will Target 'Flesh Eaters' at Lunchtime

For Immediate Release:
October 22, 2012

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382  

New York -- Escorted by a phalanx of "zombies," Goth star Sharon Needles will unveil PETA's first-ever Halloween campaign outside a Meatpacking District steakhouse on Tuesday, October 23, during lunchtime. Inspired by The Walking Dead and the public's obsession with zombies, the ad shows a blood-covered Needles feasting on human limbs above the words "Eating Shouldn't Cost an Arm and a Leg. If Gnawing on Flesh Turns Your Stomach, Why Not Go Veg?" The ad is available here.

When:   Tuesday, October 23, 12 noon

Where:  In front of Old Homestead Steakhouse, 56 Ninth Ave. (between 14^th and 15^th streets), New York's Meatpacking District 

The provocative campaign—already buzzed about on The Huffington Post—will be plastered throughout Manhattan, and photos of the ad will be given to kids outside haunted houses across the country. Says Needles: "We're using people's zombie obsession to make a grisly parallel about the public's own flesh-eating habits."

Needles, whose upbringing on an Iowa pig farm inspired her to stop eating meat, hosts Logo's new horror series FEARce! and is the reigning winner of RuPaul's Drag Race, on which she disclosed that despite her macabre look, she doesn't eat dead things. Her lively two-minute video interview from the ad shoot can be seen here. A broadcast-quality version can be downloaded here.

For more information, please visit PETA.org. 

Bacon-Eaters Can Give Pigs—and Their Own Health—a Break, Says Group

For Immediate Release:
October 22, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382 

Norfolk, Va. -- Who says bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches have to cost a pig "an arm and a leg"? If BLTs are your thing, you can get all the chewy texture and all the smoky flavor that your taste buds desire in vegan versions of this American staple that have to be tasted to be believed. That's why PETA is releasing its list of the top 10 vegan BLTs in the U.S.

Topping the survey is the DC Vegetarian food cart in downtown Portland, Ore. The perfectly seasoned tempeh (made from soy) and vegan mayo will have the most die-hard pork-eaters asking for seconds.

Second place goes to Darbster in West Palm Beach, Fla., and the Spiral Diner & Bakery, with locations in both Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, has grabbed third place. Rounding out the top 10 are Yorgo's Bageldashery in Norfolk; Highline in Seattle; San Diego's Loving Hut Mira Mesa; the Green Owl Cafe in Madison, Wis.; Seva in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Mich.; Sticky Fingers in Washington, D.C.; and Sugar Apple Natural Foods in Key West, Fla. Garnering honorable mention is the Bouldin Creek Café in Austin, Texas.

"It's easier than ever to enjoy old favorites that are as kind to your health and taste buds as they are to animals," says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "All our picks are winners because they're leading the charge to satisfy America's growing hunger for humane, healthy, and Earth-friendly foods."

PETA reminds diners that pigs are highly intelligent, social, and playful animals, whose will to survive free of suffering is every bit as strong as our own.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

DC Vegetarian Cooks Up Bountiful Sandwiches That Are as Kind to Animals as They Are to Your Taste Buds

For Immediate Release:
October 22, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382 

Portland, Ore. -- People who feel guilty about eating animals or are turned off by artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated fats are increasingly trying out delicious vegan versions of their favorite foods. That includes the ever-popular BLT. There's been a revolution in mock meats: Many are now so good that they beat the animal-based versions at their own game. Nowhere is that more evident than at Portland's DC Vegetarian food cart, which PETA has just named number one in its survey of the top 10 vegan BLTs in the U.S.

Conveniently located on S.W. Third Avenue between S.W. Stark and S.W. Washington streets in downtown Portland, DC Vegetarian offers a BLT that's more of a feast than a sandwich: crispy tempeh (made from soy) bacon, lettuce, and tomato piled high between two slices of bread or prepared as a sub—your choice. Add fresh avocado and dairy-free cheese (the best available—Daiya and Follow Your Heart), and you'll forget about meat-based bacon the second that you take your first bite.

"DC Vegetarian proves every day that a delicious BLT doesn't have to cost a pig 'an arm and a leg,'" says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "All our picks are winners because they're leading the charge to satisfy America's growing hunger for humane, healthy, and Earth-friendly foods."

Second place goes to Darbster in West Palm Beach, Fla., and the Spiral Diner & Bakery, with locations in both Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, has grabbed third place. Rounding out the top 10 are Yorgo's Bageldashery in PETA's hometown of Norfolk, Va.; Seattle's Highline; San Diego's Loving Hut Mira Mesa; the Green Owl Cafe in Madison, Wis.; Seva in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Mich.; Sticky Fingers in Washington; and Sugar Apple Natural Foods in Key West, Fla. Garnering honorable mention is the Bouldin Creek Café in Austin, Texas.

For more information, please click here.

Darbster Cooks Up Bountiful Sandwiches That Are as Kind to Animals as They Are to Your Taste Buds

For Immediate Release:
October 22, 2012

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382 

West Palm Beach, Fla. -- More and more people concerned about the abuse of animals on factory farms—as well as artery-clogging cholesterol and fat found in animal products—are trying out delicious vegan versions of their favorite foods, including the ever-popular BLT. There's been a revolution in mock meats: Many are now so good that they beat the animal-based versions at their own game. Nowhere is that more evident than at West Palm Beach's Darbster, which PETA has just named number two in its survey of the top 10 vegan BLTs in the U.S.

Located at 8020 S. Dixie Hwy. in West Palm Beach, Darbster offers a BLT that's more of a culinary triumph than a sandwich: protein-packed tempeh (made from soy) bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato piled high between two slices of rye bread. This sandwich will make you forget about meat-based bacon the second that you take your first bite.

"Darbster proves every day that a delicious BLT doesn't have to cost a pig 'an arm and a leg,'" says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "All our picks are winners because they're leading the charge to satisfy America's growing hunger for humane, healthy, and Earth-friendly foods."

First place goes to DC Vegetarian in Portland, Ore., and the Spiral Diner & Bakery, with locations in both Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, has grabbed third place. Rounding out the top 10 are Yorgo's Bageldashery in PETA's hometown of Norfolk, Va.; Seattle's Highline; San Diego's vegan Loving Hut Mira Mesa; the Green Owl Cafe in Madison, Wis.; Seva in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Mich.; Sticky Fingers in Washington; and Sugar Apple Natural Foods in Key West, Fla. Garnering honorable mention is the Bouldin Creek Café in Austin, Texas.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

PETA Says President Negligent in Failing to Order USDA to Confiscate Crippled and Beaten Elephants From U.S. Circuses

For Immediate Release:
October 22, 2012

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382 

Boca Raton, Fl. -- Brandishing a sign that reads, "Mr. President: Tell USDA to Confiscate Beaten Circus Elephants," PETA's enraged "pachyderm"—who, although often mistaken for a Republican, doesn't belong to either party—will protest in Boca Raton on Monday as President Barack Obama prepares to speak. The group is calling on the president to step in and order the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to do its duty and confiscate elephants used in circuses who are trained, disciplined, and punished with bullhooks (heavy weapons resembling fireplace pokers with a sharp steel hook at the end) in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Last year, PETA's complaints against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus—"the cruelest show on Earth"—resulted in the biggest fine in circus history, $270,000. Cole Bros. Circus was also recently fined for animal welfare violations.

When:   Monday, October 22, 5 p.m. 

Where:  Lynn University, Boca Raton

"The government has taken an important step by fining these cruel circuses, but now it must confiscate the lame, overworked, and beaten elephants," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "PETA is calling on the president to urge the USDA to take action—and on parents to keep their children away from the circus."

Please note that PETA is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to stopping the abuse of animals and promoting healthy vegan eating. We take no position in support of or opposition to any political party or candidate for public office.

For more information and to view photos and video footage of Ringling trainers abusing elephants, please visit PETA's website RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.

Puppy Shot With Paintballs and BBs, Brother's Ears Cut

For Immediate Release:
October 22, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382 

Clayton County, Ga. -- A 1-year-old dachshund was dropped off at animal control in Clayton County last Wednesday after being discovered with wounds from an attack by someone with a paintball gun and a BB gun. According to news reports, Bonnie Adams with Partners4Pets took the puppy to a veterinarian, who diagnosed him with a poison-infected wound from a paintball gun and six wounds from a BB gun. The pup's brother was also attacked and sustained cuts or tears to his ears.

PETA is adding up to $2,500 to the Atlanta Humane Society's $5,000 reward 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.

PETA believes that other animals in the area—and even human residents—might be in danger as long as those responsible for this crime are at large. The group is urging residents not to leave animals outside unattended.

"Animal abusers are cowards," says PETA Manager Martin Mersereau. "They take their issues out on the most defenseless beings available to them. Area residents have good reason to be concerned. According to law-enforcement agencies and leading mental-health professionals, perpetrators of violent acts against animals are often repeat offenders who pose a serious threat to all animals—including humans."

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Clayton County Police Department Animal Control Unit at 770-477-3509. PETA is also urging residents not to leave animals outside unattended.

Faxed version:

For more information, please visit PETA.org. PETA's anti-violence public service announcement featuring Inglourious Basterds star and Hostel director Eli Roth is available upon request.

Print version:

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.mediapeta.com/peta/Images/Main/Sections/MediaCenter/PrintAds/EliRothPETAPSA.pdf.

TV:

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.

Radio:

For more information, please visit PETA.org. To listen to PETA's anti-violence public service announcement—which features Inglourious Basterds star and Hostel director Eli Roth—please visit http://www.petatv.com/audio/psas/Eli_Roth_PSA_V3.mp3.

PETA Says President Negligent in Failing to Order USDA to Confiscate Crippled and Beaten Elephants From Circuses

For Immediate Release:
October 22, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382 

Fort Lauderdale, Fl. -- Brandishing a sign that reads, "Mr. President: Tell USDA to Confiscate Beaten Circus Elephants," PETA's enraged "pachyderm"—who, although often mistaken for a Republican, doesn't belong to either party—will protest in Delray on Tuesday as President Barack Obama prepares to deliver a speech. The group is calling on the president to step in and order the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to do its duty and confiscate elephants used in circuses who are trained, disciplined, and punished with bullhooks (heavy weapons resembling fireplace pokers with a sharp steel hook at the end) in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

When:   Tuesday, October 23, 6 a.m. 

Where:  Delray Beach Tennis Center, 201 W. Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach

Last year, PETA's complaints against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus—"the cruelest show on Earth"—resulted in the biggest fine in circus history, $270,000. Cole Bros. Circus also recently paid a fine to settle numerous violations of the AWA.

"The government has taken an important step by fining these cruel circuses, but now it must confiscate the lame, overworked, and beaten elephants," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "PETA is calling on the president to urge the USDA to take action—and on parents to keep their children away from the circus."

PETA's elephant will appear at President Obama's events across the country.

Please note that PETA is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to stopping the abuse of animals and promoting healthy vegan eating. We take no position in support of or opposition to any political party or candidate for public office.

For more information and to view photos and video footage of Ringling trainers abusing elephants, please visit PETA's website RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.

Group's Mobile Clinic Waives Spay-and-Neuter Charges to Help Keep the Scary Specter of Homelessness at Bay

For Immediate Release:
October 23, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382 

Hampton Roads, Va. -- There's nothing unlucky about black cats—as long as their guardians are diligent about having them spayed or neutered. That's why PETA is offering Hampton Roads residents the services of its "Spay and Neuter Immediately, Please!" (SNIP) and Holland Ware Clinic mobile sterilization units to spay and neuter black cats and black kittens who are more than 12 weeks old free of charge on Monday, October 29, at both PETA's Norfolk headquarters, 501 Front St., and at the Jefferson Flea Market, 10171 Jefferson Ave., in Newport News.

"For all the black cats we spay or neuter, this Halloween will be the luckiest day of their lives," says PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. "It means that more kittens won't be brought into the world just to end up struggling for survival on the mean streets or dying for a home at a local animal shelter."

Every year, animal shelters are forced to euthanize millions of unwanted cats and kittens for lack of a suitable home. Countless other animals are abandoned to fend for themselves outdoors. Sterilized animals are less likely to develop cancer of the reproductive system, get into fights, and become infected with deadly contagious diseases such as feline leukemia and feline AIDS.

One unspayed female cat can produce 36 cats in just one and a half years, and an unneutered male cat can help create limitless litters of kittens. PETA's mobile clinics have sterilized more than 80,000 animals since the program's inception in 2001, preventing the births of hundreds of thousands of unwanted kittens and puppies.

PETA also cautions cat guardians never to allow cats outside unattended. Doing so leaves them vulnerable to car accidents, attacks by other animals, and abuse by cruel people. Black cats, especially, have often been stolen, tortured, and/or killed around Halloween.

Appointments must be made by October 26 by calling 757-622-7382 and choosing option 3. For more information, please visit PETA.org.

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

For Immediate Release:
October 23, 2012

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382 

Gainesville, Flo. -- Most students at the University of Florida (UF) 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, October 24—Friday, October 26, 10 a.m. –3 p.m. 

Where:  Plaza of the Americas, University of Florida campus, Gainesville

"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.

PETA Says President Negligent in Failing to Order USDA to Confiscate Crippled and Beaten Elephants From Circuses

For Immediate Release:
October 23, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382 

Las Vegas -- Brandishing a sign that reads, "Mr. President: Tell USDA to Confiscate Beaten Circus Elephants," PETA's enraged "pachyderm"—who, although often mistaken for a Republican, doesn't belong to either party—will protest in Las Vegas on Wednesday as President Barack Obama prepares to deliver a speech. The group is calling on the president to step in and order the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to do its duty and confiscate elephants used in circuses who are trained, disciplined, and punished with bullhooks (heavy weapons resembling fireplace pokers with a sharp steel hook at the end) in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

When:   Wednesday, October 24, 6 p.m.

Where:  West entrance of Doolittle Park, 1016 Doolittle Ave., Las Vegas

Last year, PETA's complaints against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus—"the cruelest show on Earth"—resulted in the biggest fine in circus history, $270,000. Cole Bros. Circus also recently paid a fine to settle numerous violations of the AWA.

"The government has taken an important step by fining these cruel circuses, but now it must confiscate the lame, overworked, and beaten elephants," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "PETA is calling on the president to urge the USDA to take action—and on parents to keep their children away from the circus."

PETA's elephant will appear at President Obama's events across the country.

Please note that PETA is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to stopping the abuse of animals and promoting healthy vegan eating. We take no position in support of or opposition to any political party or candidate for public office.

For more information and to view photos and video footage of Ringling trainers abusing elephants, please visit PETA's website RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.

PETA Says President Negligent in Failing to Order USDA to Confiscate Crippled and Beaten Elephants From Circuses

For Immediate Release:
October 23, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382 

Denver -- Brandishing a sign that reads, "Mr. President: Tell USDA to Confiscate Beaten Circus Elephants," PETA's enraged "pachyderm"—who, although often mistaken for a Republican, doesn't belong to either party—will protest in Denver once again on Wednesday as President Barack Obama prepares to deliver a speech. The group is calling on the president to step in and order the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to do its duty and confiscate elephants used in circuses who are trained, disciplined, and punished with bullhooks (heavy weapons resembling fireplace pokers with a sharp steel hook at the end) in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

When:   Wednesday, October 24, 11 a.m.

Where:  The Meadow at City Park, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver

Last year, PETA's complaints against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus—"the cruelest show on Earth"—resulted in the biggest fine in circus history, $270,000. Cole Bros. Circus also recently paid a fine to settle numerous violations of the AWA.

"The government has taken an important step by fining these cruel circuses, but now it must confiscate the lame, overworked, and beaten elephants," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "PETA is calling on the president to urge the USDA to take action—and on parents to keep their children away from the circus."

PETA's elephant will appear at President Obama's events across the country.

Please note that PETA is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to stopping the abuse of animals and promoting healthy vegan eating. We take no position in support of or opposition to any political party or candidate for public office.

For more information and to view photos and video footage of Ringling trainers abusing elephants, please visit PETA's website RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.

PETA Says President Negligent in Failing to Order USDA to Confiscate Crippled and Beaten Elephants From Circuses

For Immediate Release:
October 23, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382 

Davenport, Iowa -- Brandishing a sign that reads, "Mr. President: Tell USDA to Confiscate Beaten Circus Elephants," PETA's enraged "pachyderm"—who, although often mistaken for a Republican, doesn't belong to either party—will protest in Davenport on Wednesday as President Barack Obama prepares to deliver a speech. The group is calling on the president to step in and order the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to do its duty and confiscate elephants used in circuses who are trained, disciplined, and punished with bullhooks (heavy weapons resembling fireplace pokers with a sharp steel hook at the end) in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

When:   Wednesday, October 24, 8 a.m. 

Where:  The Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, 2815 W. Locust St., Davenport

Last year, PETA's complaints against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus—"the cruelest show on Earth"—resulted in the biggest fine in circus history, $270,000. Cole Bros. Circus also recently paid a fine to settle numerous violations of the AWA.

"The government has taken an important step by fining these cruel circuses, but now it must confiscate the lame, overworked, and beaten elephants," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders. "PETA is calling on the president to urge the USDA to take action—and on parents to keep their children away from the circus."

PETA's elephant will appear at President Obama's events across the country.

Please note that PETA is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to stopping the abuse of animals and promoting healthy vegan eating. We take no position in support of or opposition to any political party or candidate for public office.

For more information and to view photos and video footage of Ringling trainers abusing elephants, please visit PETA's website RinglingBeatsAnimals.com.

Highline Cooks Up Bountiful Sandwiches That Are as Kind to Animals as They Are to Your Taste Buds

For Immediate Release:
October 23, 2012

Contact:
Sophia Charchuk 202-483-7382 

Seattle -- More and more people concerned about the abuse of animals on factory farms—as well as artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated fat found in animal products—are trying out delicious vegan versions of their favorite foods, including the ever-popular BLT. There's been a revolution in mock meats: Many are now so good that they beat the animal-based versions at their own game. Nowhere is that more evident than at Seattle's Highline, which PETA has just named number five in its survey of the top 10 vegan BLTs in the U.S.

Located at 210 Broadway Ave. E.in Seattle, Highline offers a BLT that's more of a culinary triumph than a sandwich: protein-packed tempeh (made from soy) bacon, lettuce, tomato and vegan mayo piled high between two slices of grilled bread. Add a side of hearty vegan potato salad, baked beans, or soup to go along with this sandwich, and you'll forget about meat-based bacon the second that you take your first bite.

"Highline proves every day that a delicious BLT doesn't have to cost a pig 'an arm and a leg,'" says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "All our picks are winners because they're leading the charge to satisfy America's growing hunger for humane, healthy, and Earth-friendly foods."

First place goes to DC Vegetarian in Portland, Ore., second place goes to Darbster in West Palm Beach, Fla., and the Spiral Diner & Bakery, with locations in both Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, has grabbed third place. Rounding out the top 10 are Yorgo's Bageldashery in PETA's hometown of Norfolk, Va.; San Diego's Loving Hut Mira Mesa; the Green Owl Café in Madison, Wis.; Seva in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Mich.; Sticky Fingers in Washington; and Sugar Apple Natural Foods in Key West, Fla. Garnering honorable mention is the Bouldin Creek Café in Austin, Texas.

For more information, please PETA.org.

Group Urges School to Modernize Classrooms With Humane Non-Animal Teaching Tools Used at CU-Denver

For Immediate Release:
October 23, 2012

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382 

Boulder, Colo. -- Following months of attempts to open dialogue with faculty members at the University of Colorado‒Boulder (CU-Boulder) about cruel and deadly classroom experiments on rats and frogs, PETA has filed a formal complaint with the university's animal experimentation oversight committee calling for an end to the archaic practice of decapitating, cutting up, and killing animals when more effective modern methods are available.

According to documents obtained by PETA through a Colorado Open Records Act request, students in CU-Boulder's biology classes cut off frogs' heads and remove the animals' muscles and nerves. In psychology experiments, students force rats to swim in water mazes to the point of exhaustion and despair. In other experiments, live rats have their hearts removed so that students can apply various drugs, and students place fish in tanks and then add "intruder" fish and watch them fight.

CU-Boulder hurts animals even though modern non-animal teaching methods—such as interactive computer simulations—have been shown to teach better than cruel animal laboratories and are used instead at many other schools. CU-Denver offers similar courses and has confirmed that it does not use any live animals in classroom experiments.

"Having students torment and kill animals for an ‘A’ is barbaric and doesn't make them better scientists," says PETA Senior Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Kathy Guillermo. "CU-Boulder's students can and should learn without killing by using the same superior, humane non-animal methods that schools like CU-Denver are already using instead of deadly animal labs."

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

Mexican TV Star Marco Antonio Regil Urges Latino Youth to Adopt Healthy, Humane Diets to Help Prevent Disease and Obesity

For Immediate Release:
October 23, 2012

Contact:
Wendy Wegner 202-483-7382 

Los Angeles -- In anticipation of the launch of PETA's new website, PETALatino.com, in December, the organization has teamed up with renowned television host Marco Antonio Regil to release a Spanish version of PETA's video "Glass Walls"—which takes its name from Paul McCartney's famous quote, "If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian." Regil—host of MundoFOX's new hit game show Minuto Para Ganar (Minute to Win It) and formerly of Mexico's Atinale Al Precio (The Price Is Right), premiered the new video in person on Tuesday at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Los Angeles to more than 150 students. PETA members also distributed DVDs of the new video and dished up vegan meals for the students, courtesy of Chipotle restaurant. Photos from the event are available here.

For the first time in California history, Latinos represent a majority of the state's public-school students, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that Mexican-American children between the ages of 6 and 17 are 60 percent more likely to be overweight than non-Hispanic white children. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegetarians and vegans enjoy lower body-mass indexes, lower rates of type 2 diabetes and hypertension, and lower overall cancer rates.

Since going vegan, Regil has felt his own health improve drastically. "I feel younger," he says in an exclusive PETA interview. "I go on and on, taping for hours and hours, and I still have my energy."

"Glass Walls" reveals the extreme suffering that animals endure every day on factory farms and in slaughterhouses: Chickens and turkeys are confined to filthy sheds by the tens of thousands, pigs remain completely conscious while their throats are cut, and fish are dragged out of their marine homes and left to suffocate on the decks of fishing boats.

Regil joins a long list of celebrities—including Rodrigo y Gabriela, Patricia De León, Kate del Castillo, Vida Guerra, Constance Marie, Pablo Azar, and Natalia Villaveces—who have teamed up with PETA to help animals.

Broadcast-quality video footage of "Glass Walls" can be downloaded here, and Regil's exclusive PETA interview can be downloaded here. For more information, please visit PETA.org or PETALatino.com.

PETA 'Pachyderm' to Hand Out Activity Books Following Exposé of Ringling's Violent Treatment of Baby Elephants

For Immediate Release:
October 24, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382 

Toledo, Ohio -- An "elephant" with a bloody bandage wrapped around a head wound will greet students as they arrive at Ella P. Stewart Elementary School and others as they leave Ottawa Hills Elementary School tomorrow. The elephant will hand out activity booklets and explain to kids and their parents that elephants used by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus—which will open in Toledo Thursday night—are jabbed with spiked metal bullhooks and beaten to make them perform tricks that are difficult, confusing, and sometimes painful.

Morning:         7:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 25, at Ella P. Stewart Elementary School, 707 Avondale Ave. (at the intersection of Avondale Avenue and Elizabeth Street), Toledo

Afternoon:    2:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 25, at Ottawa Hills Elementary School, 3602 Indian Rd. (at the intersection of Indian Road and Ashborne Place), Toledo

"If children knew how animals suffer behind the scenes, their smiles would quickly turn to frowns," says PETA Foundation Director of Captive Animal Law Enforcement Delcianna Winders.

PETA will share compelling photos with parents, which were taken inside Ringling's training center and 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.

Late last year, Ringling paid the largest fine in circus history—$270,000—for violations of the Animal Welfare Act. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently opened a formal investigation into Ringling for further violations of the AWA.

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

Spiral Diner & and Bakery Cooks Up Bountiful Sandwiches That Are as Kind to Animals as They Are to Your Taste Buds

For Immediate Release:
October 24, 2012

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382 

Fort Worth, Texas -- More and more people concerned with the cruel treatment of animals on factory farms and in slaughterhouses—as well as the artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated fats found in animal products—are trying out delicious vegan versions of their favorite foods. That includes the ever-popular BLT. There's been a revolution in mock meats: Many are now so good that they beat the animal-based versions at their own game. Nowhere is that more evident than at the Fort Worth area's Spiral Diner & Bakery, which PETA has just named number three in its survey of the top 10 vegan BLTs in the U.S.

With locations in Fort Worth and Dallas, the Spiral Diner & Bakery offers a "VLT" that's more of a culinary triumph than a sandwich: vegan bacon bits, lettuce, and tomato piled high between two slices of grilled multi-grain bread with vegan mayonnaise. You'll forget about meat-based bacon the second that you take your first bite.

"Spiral Diner & Bakery proves every day that a delicious BLT doesn't have to cost a pig 'an arm and a leg,'" says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "All our picks are winners because they're leading the charge to satisfy America's growing hunger for humane, healthy, and Earth-friendly foods."

First place goes to DC Vegetarian in Portland, Ore., and second place goes to Darbster in West Palm Beach, Fla.. Rounding out the top 10 are Yorgo's Bageldashery in PETA's hometown of Norfolk, Va.; Seattle's Highline; San Diego's Loving Hut Mira Mesa; the Green Owl Café in Madison, Wis.; Seva in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Mich.; Sticky Fingers in Washington; and Sugar Apple Natural Foods in Key West, Fla. Garnering honorable mention is the Bouldin Creek Café in Austin, Texas.

For more information, please click here.

Spiral Diner & Bakery Cooks Up Bountiful Sandwiches That Are as Kind to Animals as They Are to Your Taste Buds

For Immediate Release:
October 24, 2012

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382 

Dallas, Texas -- More and more people concerned with the cruel treatment of animals on factory farms and in slaughterhouses—as well as the artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated fats found in animal products—are trying out delicious vegan versions of their favorite foods. That includes the ever-popular BLT. There's been a revolution in mock meats: Many are now so good that they beat the animal-based versions at their own game. Nowhere is that more evident than at the Dallas area's Spiral Diner & Bakery, which PETA has just named number three in its survey of the top 10 vegan BLTs in the U.S.

With locations in Fort Worth and Dallas, the Spiral Diner & Bakery offers a "VLT" that's more of a culinary triumph than a sandwich: vegan bacon bits, lettuce, and tomato piled high between two slices of grilled multi-grain bread with vegan mayonnaise. You'll forget about meat-based bacon the second that you take your first bite.

"Spiral Diner & Bakery proves every day that a delicious BLT doesn't have to cost a pig 'an arm and a leg,'" says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "All our picks are winners because they're leading the charge to satisfy America's growing hunger for humane, healthy, and Earth-friendly foods."

First place goes to DC Vegetarian in Portland, Ore., and second place goes to Darbster in West Palm Beach, Fla.. Rounding out the top 10 are Yorgo's Bageldashery in PETA's hometown of Norfolk, Va.; Seattle's Highline; San Diego's Loving Hut Mira Mesa; the Green Owl Café in Madison, Wis.; Seva in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Mich.; Sticky Fingers in Washington; and Sugar Apple Natural Foods in Key West, Fla. Garnering honorable mention is the Bouldin Creek Café in Austin, Texas.

For more information, please click here.

Loving Hut Mira Mesa Cooks Up Bountiful Sandwiches That Are as Kind to Animals as They Are to Your Taste Buds

For Immediate Release:
October 24, 2012

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382 

San Diego -- More and more people concerned with the cruel treatment of animals on factory farms and in slaughterhouses—as well as the artery-clogging cholesterol and saturated fats found in animal products—are trying out delicious vegan versions of their favorite foods. That includes the ever-popular BLT. There's been a revolution in mock meats: Many are now so good that they beat the animal-based versions at their own game. Nowhere is that more evident than at San Diego's Loving Hut Mira Mesa, which PETA has just named one of the top 10 vegan BLTs in the U.S.

Located at 9928 Mira Mesa Blvd. in San Diego, Loving Hut Mira Mesa offers an avocado BLT that's more of a culinary triumph than a sandwich: warm vegan bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, and pickles piled high between two slices of toasted wheat bread. Add the eatery's house sauce and sweet-potato fries, and you'll forget about meat-based bacon the second that you take your first bite.

"Loving Hut Mira Mesa proves every day that a delicious BLT doesn't have to cost a pig 'an arm and a leg,'" says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. "All our picks are winners because they're leading the charge to satisfy America's growing hunger for humane, healthy, and Earth-friendly foods."

First place goes to DC Vegetarian in Portland, Ore., second place goes to Darbster in West Palm Beach, Fla., and the Spiral Diner & Bakery, with locations in both Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, has grabbed third place. Rounding out the top 10 are Yorgo's Bageldashery in PETA's hometown of Norfolk, Va.; Seattle's Highline; the Green Owl Café in Madison, Wis.; Seva in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Mich.; Sticky Fingers in Washington; and Sugar Apple Natural Foods in Key West, Fla. Garnering honorable mention is the Bouldin Creek Café in Austin, Texas.

For more information, please click here.

USDA Says Monkey Suffered for Months During Federally Funded Study

For Immediate Release:
October 24, 2012

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382 

San Francisco -- PETA is calling on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to demand that the University of California–San Francisco (UCSF) return more than $2.1 million in federal funds spent on an experiment on monkeys that violated animal welfare laws.

UCSF was cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for continuing to subject an ailing monkey named Petra (photo taken by USDA inspector available here) to cruel brain experiments despite her ill health and for failing to remove surgically implanted hardware from Petra, as required by the experimental protocol approved by UCSF's own animal experimentation oversight committee. NIH policy specifically prohibits using grant money for experiments that violate the federal Animal Welfare Act and other animal protection guidelines.

According to internal UCSF records recently obtained by PETA through a California Public Records Act request, Petra suffered pain and psychological distress during her two years at UCSF, beginning with serious complications following invasive surgeries in 2008 and 2009, in which holes were drilled into her head and a device was screwed to her skull so that experimenters could infuse chemicals directly into her brain.

The documents show that Petra was locked in a cage by herself and injected with a neurotoxic chemical that gave her tremors and caused her to lose weight rapidly. Her head wound became infected. She suffered from chronic diarrhea, circled endlessly in her cage, and pulled out her own hair—a symptom of severe psychological trauma in primates. It wasn't until the USDA inspected UCSF and documented Petra's miserable condition in October 2010 that staff finally euthanized Petra. Soon after, the USDA issued UCSF citations for violating federal law related to the school's abuse of Petra.

"UCSF pocketed a federal grant and then broke the law while tormenting this monkey," says PETA Senior Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Kathy Guillermo. "PETA is urging the government to take back the money that paid for Petra's misery—taxpayers shouldn't have to fund the abuse of animals."

For more information, please visit PETA.org.