Two Fighters, an MLB Infielder, and an NFL Running Back Take Time out to Speak Up for Animals
For Immediate Release:
December 22, 2011
Contact:
Wendy Wegner 757-483-7382
Los Angeles — Besides being fierce competitors, World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan, Strikeforce mixed martial arts champ Jake Shields, Denver Broncos running back Willis McGahee, and Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley have another admirable quality in common: respect for animals. And their actions prove it. That's why these winners have been named as finalists for a Libby Award for Most Animal-Friendly Athlete by peta2, PETA's youth division. The sixth annual Libby Awards ("Libby" is for "liberation") honor animal-friendly people and products. Visitors to peta2.com can vote for their favorites in each category, and peta2 will choose the winners.
In an exclusive peta2 interview, Bryan talked about how his healthy and humane vegan diet gives him a leg up on his wrestling competition. Shields—who redefines "fierce"—is proud to be powered by greens and has starred in his own peta2 vegetarian testimonial. Along with his rescued dog, Jack, Utley starred in an "Adopt, Don't Buy" ad for peta2 aimed at taking a bite out of the homeless-animal crisis. And McGahee showed off his amply tattooed torso in a peta2 "Ink, Not Mink" ad, urging consumers to ditch fur and opt for a more compassionate wardrobe.
"Athletes of this caliber are deservedly looked up to—so when they talk about treating animals with kindness, people listen," says peta2 Division Manager Marta Holmberg. "Fighters, football players, and other pro athletes don't have to prove that they're tough because they know they are. These four also know that showing compassion for the most vulnerable among us is a sign of strength."
Twenty-nine Libby Awards will be given out this year, recognizing everything from the best cruelty-free cosmetics company to Street Teamer of the Year to peta2's favorite animal-friendly celebrity. Each winner will receive a framed certificate and be featured on peta2.com.
For more information about all the nominees, please visit peta2.com.
Voting ends on December 23, and the winners will be announced on January 17. The winners will be chosen by peta2 based on equal consideration of three factors: the number of votes received, the quality of the animal-friendly product or the nominees' enthusiasm for being animal-friendly, and feedback from the nominees' fans.