Michigan Bans Crates and Cages! October 13, 2009

Posted by Rachel-O at October 13, 2009 1:54 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 6 ) | TrackBack

commons.wikipedia / CC

Mother pigs don't want to be confined in crates so small they can't turn around or lie down comfortably, and chickens don't want to be forced into cages so tiny that they can never spread a single wing—and now in Michigan, they won't be. Governor Jennifer Granholm has just signed a bill into law that phases out veal crates, battery cages, and gestation crates on farms across the state!

Of course, we all know that animals aren't here to be abused, slaughtered and eaten. They have feelings, have families, and feel fear before they feel the blade, and we all know that no animal should be born only to be killed at all—so why are we celebrating this victory for animals?

I was born and raised in the city limits of Detroit, Michigan, one of the coldest, harshest cities in the country, where both compassion for animals and people can sometimes be hard to find. It is truly amazing to see these laws for animals spreading in all parts of the country, from California to Michigan. I am vegan, and I believe in animal rights, and I also believe that if the fight for animal rights is all or nothing, it will simply be nothing.

There are millions of animals in cages right now, and in crates or chains, waiting for freedom. We cannot only answer to those who we want to never suffer, but those who are suffering right now. Eliminating veal crates—the crates that baby cows are chained to by the neck for most of their lives before slaughter, and battery cages—the tiny cages chickens are crammed into that are too small for them to even spread a wing, will not be the end of the fight, nor is it the beginning of the fight—it is progress in the fight.

We are making a difference, but as much as we'd like it to, the whole world won't go vegan overnight, it's going to take time. For the millions of animals who are suffering in these devices of torture right now, the elimination of these cages and crates means less pain, and less suffering—how can anyone who cares about animals not support that?

Congratulations on helping to show people—including lawmakers—everywhere that animals matter. Keep up the good fight!

'Cut Out Dissection' Action of the Week: Share 'Classroom Cut-Ups' October 12, 2009

Posted by Rachel-O at October 12, 2009 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 1 ) | TrackBack

So it's week two of 'Cut Out Dissection' month, and we're giving you two new ways to share 'Classroom Cut-Ups' online!

We all know how powerful videos can be, and there's no denying that they can change someone's life. How many of you guys went vegan, stopped buying leather, or stopped supporting the circus, because of a video you saw?

This week, we want you to help gain support for your campaign against dissection at your school, by showing everyone you know just how those corpses get to the classroom. We've just uploaded 'Classroom Cut-Ups', our investigation into a biological supply firm—where you can see cats being pumped fully of formaldehyde while they were still alive—onto YouTube, to make it easier for you to share.

We're also giving you this share link—to share the page with all of your friends on Facebook!

E-mail us at StreetTeam@peta2.com with a screenshot of your Facebook update, or the page you streamed the YouTube video on, and we'll give you 1,000 Street Team points!

'Cut Out Dissection' Action of the Week! October 5, 2009

Posted by Rachel-O at October 5, 2009 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack

Are you really excited about 'Cut Out Dissection' month, but not sure where to start? peta2 is here to help! Every week for the month of October, we'll be giving you simple, fun and life-saving (literally), actions to do for the six million frogs, pigs, cats, mice and other animals who are dissected in classrooms across the country.

If you live in any of these states: California, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont or Virginia, you have the right not to dissect, so half the battle has already been won! Now, you just need to voice your disgust at cutting up corpses in the classroom, and respectfully demand an alternative—after all, it's your right.

Print out our brand new state specific leaflets here and hand them to everyone in your science class—and if you're not in science, hand them to at least ten of your friends at school! Our new state specific leaflets have the state name and policy on them—so your school knows you mean business!

E-mail us at StreetTeam@peta2.com and let us know what what state you're in, what school you go to, and how it went, and we'll give you 1000 Street Team points!

If you're not in any of the above states, you can use the leaflets we have available here to 'Cut Out Dissection' in your school!

Animals everywhere thank you!

It's 'Cut Out Dissection' Month! October 1, 2009

Posted by Rachel-O at October 1, 2009 3:50 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack

You know October is 'Cut Out Dissection' month, right?

Help stop the suffering frogs like this endure at the hands of the dissection industry.
wikipedia / CC

What is that? Every year, 6 million animals like pigs, frogs, cats, and other animals, are killed to be cut up and mutilated in classrooms across the country, even though more humane, and less disgusting and cruel methods exist. October is the perfect time to get started with your campaign to help stop dissection in your school!

What can you do? If you live in a state that has a dissection choice policy allowing you to opt out for an alternative, print out of our state specific leaflets here. These leaflets will help you talk to your teachers and principal about a humane alternative to chopping up corpses in class. Not sure if your state allows you the right to not dissect? Cllick here to find out! If your state isn't on our list, no fear! We'll send you our re-designed 'Cut Class, Not Frogs' leaflets for free! Just e-mail us at peta2@peta2.com!

If you haven't yet, check out our brand new anti-dissection ad with Steve-O and share it on Facebook and everyone you hang out online.

Let's make this the best 'Cut Out Dissection' month yet! Do you have any plans for helping frogs and other animals at your school?

Vote: Cute Pictures Of Amazing Animals September 4, 2009

Posted by Pulin Modi at September 4, 2009 2:01 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 57 ) | TrackBack

A bunch of us went to a sanctuary for rescued animals recently. If you haven't already seen the pictures we've been posting to our individual Facebook profiles, here are some of our favorites.

We're showing you our faves, now comment to tell us which is your favorite!

#1 Regina loves pigs, so this is her favorite.


#2 Jackie had fun hanging out with goats.


#3 Rachel was in awe of this cow.


#4 Marta and Ryan find this amusing. Cows really like apples.


#5 I like cute chickens who eat grapes out of my hand.

So there you have it—animals actually enjoying time with each other and some kind people rather than fearing for their lives at factory farms and slaughterhouses.

Leave a comment below for which is your favorite!

Animals: They're Just Like Us! July 7, 2009

Posted by Marta at July 7, 2009 4:21 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 19 ) | TrackBack

We always think it's funny to see "Stars: They're Just Like Us!" photos. You know, photos of some celeb going running or picking through the produce at the grocery store to show us that they're just normal people like you and I are. OMG! My fave celeb buys food too! I can't believe it!

Well, people need to remember that animals are just like us too! Check it out (Warning: Cuteness alert!):

They reluctantly get kisses from their moms!


They get jealous when they're not the center of attention!


They spoon with their friends!

What do you think? Are animals just like us? Which pic is your favorite?

Fear July 1, 2009

Posted by Pulin Modi at July 1, 2009 8:59 AM | Permalink | Comments ( 10 ) | TrackBack We've all heard occasional, dumb comments from people who haven't yet realized the importance of being kind to animals. While we can all agree that the dogs and cats in our homes feel pain, joy, and even get scared, there are still some people who just don't make the connection to other animals they eat! In fact, just like you and I, all animals do feel fear when faced with terrifying situations. After a lifetime of suffering, does anyone really think that animals are unaware of what awaits them at the slaughterhouse?

Well, if anyone you know has any doubts about the fear which animals feel, please take a few minutes to watch this video all the way through. It's not very graphic, honestly, it's just very powerful.

Smithfield, You Make My Skin Crawl June 30, 2009

Posted by Rachel-O at June 30, 2009 1:14 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 0 ) | TrackBack

animalwritings / CC

The gestation crate has got to be one of the cruelest tools of the exploitation trade. It is a metal box used to warehouse mother pigs for almost their entire lives before being slaughtered and sold for profit. The crates are so small that mother pigs can never be with their babies, never lie down comfortably and can never even turn around.

At any given moment, more than one million mother pigs are confined to these crates.

The industry likes to tell consumers that these crates are to protect the baby piglets (before they have their testicles and teeth ripped out, their ears clipped and are slaughtered, of course), because their over-sized (aka drugged to the point of a profitable obesity) mothers might roll over and kill them. We all know the truth of the matter is that the factory farming industry doesn't care one bit about animals, only about making money off of their corpses.

In 2007, after over ten years of talks with PETA, Smithfield (yes, that Smithfield), agreed to phase out the crates, but just last week, Smithfield backed out of this agreement, citing financial woes and losses. We're hoping this basically means less people wanted to buy their vile product, but either way, Smithfield is still the the world's largest flesh producer, and we think they owe it to pigs not to treat them this way. Especially considering that just three years' compensation for the company's highly-paid directors would more than cover the cost of a complete crate phase-out over the next eight years.

All we're asking, again, is that this large company do the right thing for the animals they kill to profit from. For the millions of pigs that can't move this very second—please write to Smithfield now and urge them to keep their promise to phase out cruel gestation crates.

Four More Former Iowa Pig Farm Workers Admit Guilt! June 24, 2009

Posted by Rachel-O at June 24, 2009 5:05 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 13 ) | TrackBack

indymedia / CC

Shawn Matthew Lyons was the first individual ever convicted of abusing or neglecting factory-farmed pigs in Iowa, but he's no longer alone. Four other workers who were employed at the farm—a Hormel supplier at which our undercover investigation produced video footage documenting that workers beat pigs with metal rods and sexually abused them with canes—have now admitted to abusing pigs.

Of the defendants—Richard Michael Ralston, Alan Bruce Rettig, Greg William Hackler, and Jordan Michael Anderson—Ralston, Rettig, and Hackler have pleaded guilty, been convicted, and sentenced to two years in prison, which has been suspended. Anderson accepted a deferred entry of judgment allowing him to have the charges dismissed if he completes a period of good behavior. All four have all been ordered to pay fines and other fees, and they have been placed on probation for periods ranging from one to two years.

Most importantly, three of the men have been barred from working with animals for the duration of their probation. Only Anderson will be allowed to do so. Despite an assurance in October from Audubon-Manning Veterinary Clinic President Daryl Olsen, D.V.M., that Anderson "has been suspended from working with livestock pending the outcome of the charges," a whistleblower told us that Anderson is currently employed at a hog-confinement facility that Dr. Olsen reportedly owns. Dr. Olsen has not answered our inquiry regarding Mr. Anderson. Please ask him to confirm that his company does not pay admitted animal abusers like Anderson to work with live animals.

Pork magazine called our investigation footage a "wake-up call" for the pork industry. We hope that these convictions serve not only as another wake-up call but also as a lesson to anyone working in this innately cruel industry: Neither the courts nor the public have a stomach for such malicious cruelty to farmed animals.

Thank you for making history and speaking up for these pigs—and remember that preventing this suffering starts on your plate. Go vegetarian.

Maine Bans Veal and Gestation Crates! May 14, 2009

Posted by Ryan at May 14, 2009 2:09 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 7 ) | TrackBack

Chalk up another victory against the meat industry!

Maine has become the sixth US state to ban some of the cruelest methods of raising animals killed for food. Governor John Baldacci has signed into law a ban on gestation crates for pigs and veal crates for calves, both of which prevent animals from being able to even turn around.

It goes without saying that even without these crates, animals will still suffer terribly when raised and killed for their flesh. However, any steps that make it more difficult for the meat industry to torture animals is a step in the right direction, eh?

As you may recall, similar bans have passed in California, Florida, and various other states, so greedy meat industry executives are less than pleased, I'm sure. With any luck, these scenes will soon be a thing of the past:

Fun Facts: Maine is also the largest producer of wild blueberries in the world, and the only state in the U.S. whose name has just one syllable. Who knew?