Save Animals With Your iPod! August 28, 2009

Posted by Rachel-O at August 28, 2009 1:55 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 42 ) | TrackBack

If I had a vegan cupcake for every time someone said they'd stopped eating animals, wearing fur or going to the circus because of a video they'd seen that shocked them, well, I'd be a very happy person. Even though it can be hard to watch, videos like Meet Your Meat, Chew On This, or our undercover investigations into Ringling Bros., suppliers for McDonald's, and others, are really what make people realize that what happens to animals is wrong—and that they can make a difference.

School has started for most of you, and while you're probably dreading spending time in those buses, hallways and classrooms, peta2 has found a new way for you to spend that time really educating your classmates.

Click on the images below to download our videos specially encoded for your iPods (if they play videos!), or iPhones. Once they're downloaded to your computer, just drag or import them into iTunes like you normally would a song.

Download the Animal Testing Breaks Hearts and McCruelty videos


Trent Reznor dog and cat fur investigation and our new Ringling investigation

If you're on the Street Team, we'll give you 500 points for showing them to your friends! E-mail us at StreetTeam@peta2.com and let us know what videos you downloaded, who you showed it to and how it went! We'll give you an extra 500 points if you send us a screen shot or a picture of the videos on your iPod!

Does President-Elect Obama Bring Hope for Animals? November 5, 2008

Posted by Ryan at November 5, 2008 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 9 ) | TrackBack

As anybody who lives on Earth knows by now, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois was chosen as the next President of the United States last night. Many of you have been asking us at peta2 what our thoughts are on the election, so here's your answer!

President-Elect Barack Obama has said "I think how we treat our animals reflects how we treat each other. And it's very important that we have a president who is mindful of the cruelty that is perpetrated on animals." Because PETA is devoted to fighting animal abuse and recognizes the link between cruelty to animals and violence directed against human beings, the organization is very encouraged by this statement.

PETA is also pleased that Obama and his wife Michelle have announced that they will adopt a rescued dog for their daughters instead of patronizing a pet store or breeder. PETA opposes large-scale breeding facilities, known as "puppy mills," as well as private breeders who bring puppies and kittens into the world while nearly 4 millions cats and dogs must be euthanized at the nation's overcrowded animal shelters every year. PETA supports animal shelters and encourages all prospective companion animal guardians to visit their local animal shelter.

PETA was also encouraged to see that, unlike other Democratic and Republican presidential candidates in the past, Obama did not pander to the National Rifle Association and other pro-hunting organizations by heading into the woods and shooting defenseless animals.

PETA looks forward to working with President-Elect Obama and the new administration to help make change happen for the millions of animals who suffer unnecessarily in this country. What's next? If his stance on other animal issues is any indication, perhaps the next president will put a tofu chicken in every pot.

- Ryan!

Texas Officer's Poor Behavior Contributes To Dog's Death August 19, 2008

Posted by Marta at August 19, 2008 4:53 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 13 ) | TrackBack

I'm usually pretty good at keeping myself from getting really worked up over situations, but I was filled with sadness and anger when I saw this video. A San Marcos, Texas, police officer stopped a man who was driving nearly 100 miles per hour down the interstate with his girlfriend because their teacup poodle, Missy, was choking. Michael Gonzalez was trying to get Missy to the emergency vet, but Officer Paul Stephens detained them for at least 15 minutes, and as this ABC News story states, 3-year-old Missy died as Gonzalez waited for the officer to issue a citation.

The video of the incident is absolutely unbelievable. Stephens seemed to show no sympathy for the situation—he even said, "It's a dog. It's OK. You can get another one. Relax."

A dog is a member of the family. I think anyone would be outraged to see how Stephens acted in this situation. I can't believe someone could be so callous when Gonzalez and his girlfriend were clearly in a state of panic to get Missy to the vet. If I were in Gonzalez's situation, I would have been flipping out, too. Wouldn't you?

Please write to San Marcos Police Chief Howard Williams, asking him to ensure that his officers are trained, and that departmental policies are amended or enacted, so that the community and its animals are afforded the very best quality of consideration in the future.

Seriously—I can't believe some people are this insensitive.

♥ Marta

Meet Ashley Paige August 15, 2008

Posted by Patricia at August 15, 2008 1:53 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 4 ) | TrackBack

I love all of the fashiony-type shows on TLC—particularly the ones in which the fashion-challenged are helped. Those are my faves, or were until I caught the first episode of Ashley Paige: Bikini or Bust that is.

Ashley's making some of the hottiest bikinis you'll ever see—I'm talking so hot they've been on the cover of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition. She's also helping animals at the same time by promoting animal rescue through her own org, RuffHouZen Rescue, and PETA, too!

In that first episode, Ashley and her staff were sporting PETA tees as they prepared for her LA Fashion Week show. And when she took her celebratory runway walk, she had Georgie with her—he's that handsome little guy in the photo and was adopted shortly after his catwalk stroll. Ashley said she always takes a dog on the runway with her to promote animal rights. Good girl! Check out what Ashley told us below.

As a fur-free fashion designer, what do you think of designers who continue to work with fur—sometimes even on bikinis?
They truly disgust me.

What has been the best part about running RuffHouZen, your animal rescue group? Has there been a particularly memorable rescue?
When people who have adopted animals from me and bring them by to visit, it's so adorable that I can't help but think back to when I first rescued them. Sometimes it makes me cry. I'm "sensitive," I'm year of the dog. I have so many memorable stories, here's two:
Memorable story 1
One day my boyfriend was coming down hard on me for bringing too many strays home. Later that same day he called and said, "I just spent the last hour chasing a little 'mangy' mutt all over Sunset Blvd." I laughed and said, "Well, did you catch him?" and he said, "Yes, he's sitting in my lap!" Funny how passion persuades!!!

Memorable story 2
So I eventually got a new boyfriend, who was much more supportive of my love for rescuing animals. He also happens to be year of the dog, like me. One morning, a little stray dog decided to play chase with us in the center divider line during rush hour morning traffic. I was in a bikini and Alek was wearing only his underwear. After we managed to catch the little "wild" dog, we slowly let traffic continue and thanked everyone for stopping. One woman rolled her window down and commented, "How cute!" I couldn't help but wonder if she was talking about the dog or my new boyfriend.

You say your favorite breed of dog is the mutt. Why is that?
I'm against breeding and selling animals, and puppy mills break my heart. People who showcase their purebreads to better their image are such sad, delusional people. The Mutt is humble, and I believe the world could use more humble people!

Your mom seems like such a sweet, caring woman. Did she influence your love for animals? Did your family have companion animals when you were growing up?
When I was a little girl, my mom would always bring home strays, but we lived in an abusive home where she could never keep them for long. It angered me for many reasons, and I would always tell myself, when I grow up, I'm going to have a house full of animals that need a loving home. And I did!

What animals do you share your home with now?
I have 8 dogs and 2 cats, but it fluctuates, between successful adoptions and "rescued newbies." My permanent guests include a Pit/Wiener dog mix named Petunia, a Senior Shepherd named Cali, a Wiener dog named "The Flying Peeing Weiner," and a feral cat that lives under my bed named Crazy Eyes!

What advice would you give to somebody who's looking to adopt a dog?
Adopt two! Haha, no really, it's usually much easier for both you and your rescues. Remember, dogs like to be in a pack and they get lonely when you're not around. Just make sure you're the pack leader!

Do you frequent any of the vegetarian restaurants in L.A.? Have any favorites?
There's a great little Thai vegan restaurant right by my shop named the Vegan House on Wilcox. They even make vegan sushi, one of my favorites. And my boyfriend likes Real Food Daily on La Cienega, which specializes in raw.

We love Bikini or Bust. Can you tell us what's coming up on the show?
The final episode is me having to choose between a corporate apparel job or sticking it out at "my little company that could." I announce my decision during pet adoptions in my store. You guys probably could guess the answer ... but make sure to tune in.

What are your ideas for next season?
I am praying for a second season, but the new president has not given us a green light yet. I know how important it is to stay on the "boob tube" as long as possible, for the animals. If we do get it, you bet there will be a great anti-fur demonstration in NYC during Fashion Week, lots of dramatic animal rescue, and probably some friendly fashion thrown in there somewhere. Oh—and as for mom, she's planning a cross country road trip with Spring Louisee to pick up maw and paw paw to bring them out to California. So let's do the math, 5 people, 8-10 dogs, 2-5 cats, and hopefully a camera crew of about 30.

You can catch Ashley Paige: Bikini or Bust every Saturday morning at 11 Eastern Time on TLC. Tune in and let the network know how much you love the show and want a second season. E-mail them at viewer_relations@discovery.com or fill out their Web form here.

xox
Patricia

Riding Along With Ashley Fiolek July 25, 2008

Posted by at July 25, 2008 3:22 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 3 ) | TrackBack

The fact that I never truly mastered the art of the whole bike riding thing, doesn't mean I can't enjoy all those sports that require one, right? Cool. And that includes the fast-paced, high flying world of Motocross. Recently, I got the chance to check in with Ashley Fiolek, who is kicking serious behind on the Motocross circuit these days. She took a break from speeding past the competition to chat with peta2. Check it out.


Introduce yourself to the new fans and the old ones too.
Hi! I'm Ashley. I am 17 years old and I have been profoundly deaf since birth. I have been riding and racing for over ten years! It is my life and my passion! I have won 13 amateur national championships and I just became a full time professional woman racer this year. I am riding both of the US women's series and also the European series championships. I am having so much fun and motocross has really been great to me! I have met some incredible people and have had some fantastic experiences!

So do you have any companion animals? How did they become part of your family?
Yes, I have three dogs. Their names are Holeshot (motocross thing!), Boogie and Brother dog! We saved all of these animals. They were all strays. Boogie is the youngest and he can be kind of a handful. He thinks he is the size of a Jack Russel when he is really bigger than a shepherd!

How do you feel about fur and the people that wear fur?
Well I don't think people should wear or buy fur coats I don't think it is fair to the animals to be hanging off of someone!

If you could choose to be an animal for a day, what animal would you choose and why?
That is easy. A dog! They are so cute and adorable and friendly and they love unconditionally!

We're currently campaigning against KFC. We'd like them to end abuses such as cutting off their sensitive beaks, breaking their limbs and scalding them to death in tanks. How do you feel about our campaign?
Well, my mom told me about this issue awhile ago and we do not eat there any more! I am definitely against this and I think it is very cruel.

Any last words of wisdom for your fans?
Just keep trying. Never give up and always follow your dreams!

Good advice from a great person. Go Ashley!!

Phil

Please Be Jessica Biel's Friend July 2, 2008

Posted by Patricia at July 2, 2008 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 7 ) | TrackBack

People.com/Creative Commons

Hey Jessica Biel fans, listen up! Your gal needs some love. Yeah, she's one of the sexiest women on the planet who just happens to be dating Justin Timberlake who just happens to be one of the sexiest men on the planet (they look disgustingly happy in every photo, don't they?) but according to her very first blog ever, she needs some friends, too. Oh, and she's an animal rights advocate, don'tcha know.

In her blog, which is causing quite a buzz, she describes herself as "internet challenged," which I admit surprised me. What didn't surprise me was what she said about animal rights, or that her beloved dog, Tina, was right there with her on the set.

Biel wrote, "I'm trying on the producer cap with my friend, Michelle, with our production company Iron Ocean Films. We made a thirty minute short last year, called Hole in the Paper Sky about a man's experience after meeting a dog that changed his life. I think it's a really evocative, beautiful film, and it has won an award at all four festivals where it has screened. I'll put up a trailer as soon as I can figure out how to do that : ) I hope that animal lovers will be moved by this film as well because it has an animal rights element to it, which I'm a huge advocate for. I'm actually sitting here with my dog, Tina. She's not really into blogging."

FYI, the dog in the movie is actually in a lab and well, I won't tell you what happens but you should definitely have the tissues close when you watch it.

So she's got four films that are about to be released, she's currently working on a fifth with yummy Mr. Jake Gyllenhaal called Nailed, and she's running her own production company?! No wonder she doesn't have much time for blogging or growing her MySpace family. Show Jessica Biel some love, won't you?

xox

Patricia

Street Sweeper Kills Dog June 17, 2008

Posted by Marta at June 17, 2008 12:19 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 7 ) | TrackBack

Did you guys hear about this? Ginger, a Boston terrier, was sucked up into a fast-moving street sweeper in the Bronx and killed over the weekend, leaving her guardian, Robert Machin, in shock as the truck moved on. Machin chased after the sweeper for approximately 2½ blocks, trying to get the operator to stop—though the operator didn't turn off the whirring brushes until after he arrived back at the scene. You can check out the full story in the NY Daily News.

It's without a doubt a heartbreaking situation. What I find to be unbelievable though, is that after the Department of Sanitation offered its condolences, it also added, "It is important for all New Yorkers to remember to maintain the safety of their animals while walking city streets."

As if the obviously crushed guardian wasn't already heartbroken enough, the department makes it sound like it was his fault, even though witnesses said the sweeper vehicle was speeding.

Please write to Department of Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty through this online form kindly demanding that the Department of Sanitation's operators drive more carefully. We need to ensure that a tragedy like this doesn't happen again.

My deepest sympathies go out to Robert Machin, who was quoted as saying, the dogs "are my babies. Those are my family."

♥ Marta

How Do You Spread the Word? June 4, 2008

Posted by Marta at June 4, 2008 2:49 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 7 ) | TrackBack

Ophelia's dog, Aubrey, spreads the animal rights' word with stickers:

Eileen does it with cupcakes:


Taylor gets the word out at school by decorating her locker:


How do you spread the word of animal rights?

♥ Marta

Ingrid Newkirk to K-Fed: "Don't Forget About the Dogs!" October 5, 2007

Posted by Patricia at October 5, 2007 4:56 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 ) | TrackBack

Photo courtesy of Star Max Inc

Here's a sentence I never thought I'd write...yesterday PETA president Ingrid Newkirk sent a letter to Kevin Federline on behalf of the dogs Britney Spears has collected over the years.

I'm sure you've all seen the numerous shots of Britney carting her latest "purchase", London, around with her as if he were a living handbag. Since it appears she hasn't been taking very good care of her children (or herself based on...well, her appearance, her car accidents, numerous compromising photos, oh, there's just too much to mention), and since the LA chapter of the SPCA has already investigated her for failing to provide veterinary care for London after he was stepped on and suffered a broken leg, we think it's in his best interest to get the heck out of there too. And since the court feels Kevin's better suited to care for their children, we've asked he pursue custody of the animals as well.

No word yet from K-Fed but we're really hoping he decides to rescue them cause I can't imagine what life is like for them at Britney's house. I wouldn't even want to hazard a guess as to what's going on over there.

xox

Patricia

Bikes, Dogs, and France July 27, 2007

Posted by Lara Sanders at July 27, 2007 2:57 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBack

What do bikes, dogs, and France have in common? Levi Leipheimer that's what—let me tell you why. Not only is Levi Team Discovery's top hope to win this year's Tour de France (you know, that ginourmous bike race in Europe that Lance Armstrong won a bunch of times?), he is also the star of a brand new PETA ad, encouraging people to have their companion animals spayed and neutered. Check out the ad starring Levi and his rescued pup Bandit (to the right), then scroll down to read the interview.

When did you decide to pursue cycling professionally?

I started riding when I was 13, and I basically knew then that it was what I wanted to do. I race for seven months of the year and train for 10. During the off-season, I usually ride my mountain bike for fun. In an average training week, I ride between two and seven hours a day.

We heard that you enjoy eating vegetarian food. Is there one vegetarian dish that you would recommend for athletes in training?

Every day when I head out on my bike, I'm fueled by an energy-packed vegetarian breakfast of oatmeal, apples, blueberries, strawberries, and nuts. I've done this for years. My favorite post-ride meal is pasta with lots of garlic and sunflower seeds or pine nuts.

What message would you like to get out to folks about how they can help reduce companion animal overpopulation?

In the Unites States, there really isn't any excuse for not spaying and neutering your pets. There are low-cost spay-neuter options in almost every city and town. All you have to do is look.

You have a lot of fans out there, which gives you a powerful platform to reach people and make a difference. What is your message to them about having compassion and getting active to help animals?

The world belongs to animals, too—it's not just ours for the taking. Be kind to animals.

Levi is currently in 3rd place, so ride like the wind Levi...ride like the wind.

xoxo-Lara