petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-01--Virginia Tech Tries to Cover Up Animal Deaths in Laboratories, but PETA Exposes the Receipts

Despite Misleading Claims , School Culled Animals Because of COVID-19 ; Group Demands Return of All Funding for 'Non-Essential ' Experiments Blacksburg , Va. – Armed with damning internal documents , PETA sent a letter today to Virginia Tech ’ s ( VT ) president , Timothy D. Sands , calling out the university ’ s misleading public claim that it “ did not mandate any animals to be euthanized due to COVID-19 , ” citing records showing that VT laboratories deemed animals expendable and killed them in response to the pandemic .
Accordingly , PETA is calling on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the experiments .
“ Given that Virginia Tech deemed numerous experiments and the animals used for them to be non-essential , the animals shouldn ’ t have been bought , bred , trapped , or experimented on in the first place , ” says PETA Vice President Shalin Gala .
“ PETA urges Virginia Tech to stop wasting taxpayer dollars and animals ’ lives on pointless experiments and to pursue superior , animal-free research.
” Numerous published studies have shown that animal experimentation wastes resources and lives , as more than 90 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involving animal experimentation—fails to lead to treatments for humans .
( Please read under “ Lack of benefit for humans ” here . )
In addition , 95 % of new medications that are found to be safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials .
PETA—whose motto reads , in part , that “ animals are not ours to experiment on ” —opposes speciesism , a human-supremacist worldview .
For more information , please visit PETA.org or click here , follow the group on Twitter , Facebook , or Instagram @

Despite Misleading Claims, School Culled Animals Because of COVID-19; Group Demands Return of All Funding for 'Non-Essential' Experiments
For Immediate Release:
December 1, 2020
Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382
Blacksburg, Va. – Armed with damning internal documents, PETA sent a letter today to Virginia Tech’s (VT) president, Timothy D. Sands, calling out the university’s misleading public claim that it “did not mandate any animals to be euthanized due to COVID-19,” citing records showing that VT laboratories deemed animals expendable and killed them in response to the pandemic. Accordingly, PETA is calling on the university to reimburse any public funds used for the experiments.
“Given that Virginia Tech deemed numerous experiments and the animals used for them to be non-essential, the animals shouldn’t have been bought, bred, trapped, or experimented on in the first place,” says PETA Vice President Shalin Gala. “PETA urges Virginia Tech to stop wasting taxpayer dollars and animals’ lives on pointless experiments and to pursue superior, animal-free research.”
Numerous published studies have shown that animal experimentation wastes resources and lives, as more than 90% of basic scientific research—much of it involving animal experimentation—fails to lead to treatments for humans. (Please read under “Lack of benefit for humans” here.) In addition, 95% of new medications that are found to be safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to experiment on”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or click here, follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.


petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-01--PETA to Georgia Governor and Department of Public Health: Shut Down Animal Labs

Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases , Group Slams Waste of Animals ' Lives , Taxpayer Money and Risk to Public Health Atlanta – Spiking COVID-19 cases are compromising Georgia ’ s reopening plan , and PETA is calling on the governor and the Georgia Department of Public Health to cut cruel animal experiments statewide—starting with tests on animals , many of whom institutions deemed to be non-essential in response to the pandemic—and protect human health by having staff not come into laboratories to conduct worthless experiments .
In its letter , PETA points out that during the initial COVID-19 shutdown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their experiments—and the animals used in them—extraneous , which resulted in the apparent euthanasia of numerous animals in their laboratories , including the following : • Georgia Tech instructed its experimenters to “ ramp down operations ” and “ identify essential research experiments , ” which it claimed “ should be a limited set of the current laboratory bench-based experimentation.
” • The University of Georgia ( UGA ) urged its experimenters to stop “ [ a ] ll non-essential [ animal ] research … as soon as possible.
” The university @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ [ c ] ull animals not needed and begin breeding solely to maintain valuable colonies ” ; “ [ f ] lag most valuable rat and mouse cages … as ‘ VIP ' ” ; “ [ e ] uthanize rodents requiring repeated treatment when research staff are unable to complete them ” ; conduct “ [ t ] argeted euthanasia of mice and rats , for non- ‘ VIP ’ , priority save , cages ” ; and “ [ e ] uthanize remaining animals as outlined in the URAR disaster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PETA questions why animals deemed by the universities to be extraneous are being bought , bred , trapped , or experimented on in the first place and notes that staff conducting these experiments are being put at unnecessary risk as a result of working in close proximity to others .
In addition , if animal testing resumes and Georgia shuts down again , more animals may be euthanized , wasting taxpayer money that could have funded superior , human-relevant studies .
“ This pandemic should be a wake-up call to shift away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new normal ’ of modern , non-animal research methods , ” says PETA Vice President Shalin Gala .
“ PETA is calling on state officials to learn from the past and keep all animals from suffering in cruel and wasteful tests.
” More than 90 % of results from basic scientific research—much involving animal testing—fails to lead to treatments for humans , and 95 % of new medications found to be safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials .
PETA previously called for an audit of public money , personnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used by Georgia Tech and UGA for animal tests deemed non-essential , noting that the universities received nearly $ 823 million in state appropriations in the last fiscal year , some of which may have funded such animal experiments .
PETA—whose motto reads , in part , that “ animals are not ours to experiment on ” —opposes speciesism , a human-supremacist worldview .
For more information , please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter , Facebook , or Instagram .

Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases, Group Slams Waste of Animals' Lives, Taxpayer Money and Risk to Public Health
For Immediate Release:
December 1, 2020
Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382
Atlanta – Spiking COVID-19 cases are compromising Georgia’s reopening plan, and PETA is calling on the governor and the Georgia Department of Public Health to cut cruel animal experiments statewide—starting with tests on animals, many of whom institutions deemed to be non-essential in response to the pandemic—and protect human health by having staff not come into laboratories to conduct worthless experiments.
In its letter, PETA points out that during the initial COVID-19 shutdown, universities in Georgia issued guidance deeming many of their experiments—and the animals used in them—extraneous, which resulted in the apparent euthanasia of numerous animals in their laboratories, including the following:
Georgia Tech instructed its experimenters to “ramp down operations” and “identify essential research experiments,” which it claimed “should be a limited set of the current laboratory bench-based experimentation.”
The University of Georgia (UGA) urged its experimenters to stop “[a]ll non-essential [animal] research … as soon as possible.” The university also issued a plan instructing experimenters to “[c]ull animals not needed and begin breeding solely to maintain valuable colonies”; “[f]lag most valuable rat and mouse cages … as ‘VIP'”; “[e]uthanize rodents requiring repeated treatment when research staff are unable to complete them”; conduct “[t]argeted euthanasia of mice and rats, for non-‘VIP’, priority save, cages”; and “[e]uthanize remaining animals as outlined in the URAR disaster plan, following sentient animal order.”
PETA questions why animals deemed by the universities to be extraneous are being bought, bred, trapped, or experimented on in the first place and notes that staff conducting these experiments are being put at unnecessary risk as a result of working in close proximity to others. In addition, if animal testing resumes and Georgia shuts down again, more animals may be euthanized, wasting taxpayer money that could have funded superior, human-relevant studies.
“This pandemic should be a wake-up call to shift away from experiments on animals and toward a ‘new normal’ of modern, non-animal research methods,” says PETA Vice President Shalin Gala. “PETA is calling on state officials to learn from the past and keep all animals from suffering in cruel and wasteful tests.”
More than 90% of results from basic scientific research—much involving animal testing—fails to lead to treatments for humans, and 95% of new medications found to be safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials.
PETA previously called for an audit of public money, personnel, property, equipment, and space used by Georgia Tech and UGA for animal tests deemed non-essential, noting that the universities received nearly $823 million in state appropriations in the last fiscal year, some of which may have funded such animal experiments.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to experiment on”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.


petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-01--PETA to Iowa Governor and Department of Public Health: Shut Down Animal Labs

Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases , Group Slams Waste of Animals ' Lives , Taxpayer Money and Risk to Public Health Des Moines , Iowa – Spiking COVID-19 cases are compromising Iowa ’ s reopening plan , and PETA is calling on the governor and the Iowa Department of Public Health to cut cruel animal experiments statewide—starting with tests on animals , many of whom institutions deemed to be non-essential in response to the pandemic—and protect human health by having staff not come into laboratories to conduct worthless experiments .
In its letter , PETA points out that during the initial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidance deeming many of their experiments—and the animals used in them—extraneous , which resulted in the apparent euthanasia of numerous animals in their laboratories , including the following : • Iowa State University ( ISU ) requested that its experimenters “ prioritize ongoing essential [ animal ] research , ” “ [ c ] onsider delaying new projects and delaying acquisition of new animal subjects , ” and “ [ r ] educe rodent breeding to only numbers required to maintain lines.
” • The University of Iowa ( UI ) urged its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animal assets and/or existing naive cohorts that will not be able to be utilized for planned experiments and assist in arrangements for their disposition.
” PETA questions why animals deemed by the universities to be extraneous are being bought , bred , trapped , or experimented on in the first place and notes that staff conducting these experiments are being put at unnecessary risk as a result of working in close proximity to others .
In addition , if animal testing resumes and Iowa shuts down again , more animals may be euthanized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funded superior , human-relevant studies .
“ This pandemic should be a wake-up call to shift away from experiments on animals and toward a ‘ new normal ’ of modern , non-animal research methods , ” says PETA Vice President Shalin Gala .
“ PETA is calling on state officials to learn from the past and keep all animals from suffering in cruel and wasteful tests.
” More than 90 % of results from basic scientific research—much involving animal testing—fails to lead to treatments for humans , and 95 % of new medications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animals fail in human clinical trials .
PETA previously called for an audit of public money , personnel , property , equipment , and space used by ISU and UI for animal tests deemed non-essential , noting that the universities received nearly $ 469 million in state appropriations during the last fiscal year , some of which may have funded such animal experiments .
PETA—whose motto reads , in part , that “ animals are not ours to experiment on ” —opposes speciesism , a human-supremacist worldview .
For more information , please @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Twitter , Facebook , or Instagram .

Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases, Group Slams Waste of Animals' Lives, Taxpayer Money and Risk to Public Health
For Immediate Release:
December 1, 2020
Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382
Des Moines, Iowa – Spiking COVID-19 cases are compromising Iowa’s reopening plan, and PETA is calling on the governor and the Iowa Department of Public Health to cut cruel animal experiments statewide—starting with tests on animals, many of whom institutions deemed to be non-essential in response to the pandemic—and protect human health by having staff not come into laboratories to conduct worthless experiments.
In its letter, PETA points out that during the initial COVID-19 shutdown, universities in Iowa issued guidance deeming many of their experiments—and the animals used in them—extraneous, which resulted in the apparent euthanasia of numerous animals in their laboratories, including the following:
Iowa State University (ISU) requested that its experimenters “prioritize ongoing essential [animal] research,” “[c]onsider delaying new projects and delaying acquisition of new animal subjects,” and “[r]educe rodent breeding to only numbers required to maintain lines.”
The University of Iowa (UI) urged its experimenters to “begin identification of non-critical animal assets and/or existing naive cohorts that will not be able to be utilized for planned experiments and assist in arrangements for their disposition.”
PETA questions why animals deemed by the universities to be extraneous are being bought, bred, trapped, or experimented on in the first place and notes that staff conducting these experiments are being put at unnecessary risk as a result of working in close proximity to others. In addition, if animal testing resumes and Iowa shuts down again, more animals may be euthanized, wasting taxpayer money that could have funded superior, human-relevant studies.
“This pandemic should be a wake-up call to shift away from experiments on animals and toward a ‘new normal’ of modern, non-animal research methods,” says PETA Vice President Shalin Gala. “PETA is calling on state officials to learn from the past and keep all animals from suffering in cruel and wasteful tests.”
More than 90% of results from basic scientific research—much involving animal testing—fails to lead to treatments for humans, and 95% of new medications found to be safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials.
PETA previously called for an audit of public money, personnel, property, equipment, and space used by ISU and UI for animal tests deemed non-essential, noting that the universities received nearly $469 million in state appropriations during the last fiscal year, some of which may have funded such animal experiments.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to experiment on”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.


petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-01--PETA to Connecticut Department of Public Health: Shut Down Animal Labs

Amid a Rising Number of COVID-19 Cases , Group Slams Waste of Animals ' Lives and Taxpayer Money Along With Risk to Public Health Hartford , Conn. – A spike in COVID-19 cases is compromising Connecticut ’ s plan to reopen , and PETA is calling on the Connecticut Department of Public Health to cut cruel animal experiments statewide—starting with tests on animals whom institutions deemed to be non-essential in response to the pandemic—and protect human health by not having staff conduct worthless experiments in laboratories .
In its letter , PETA points out that during the initial COVID-19 shutdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many of their experiments—and the animals used in them—extraneous , which resulted in the apparent euthanasia of numerous animals in their laboratories , including the following : • The University of Connecticut ( UConn ) urged experimenters “ to immediately reduce animal numbers and number of cages ” and told them that “ [ b ] reeding must be reduced to the minimum possible ; no increases in cage counts will be permitted and plans should be in place for reductions of cage counts in the future.
” • Yale University told staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down , curtailed , or postponed.
” PETA questions why animals deemed by the universities to be extraneous are being bought , bred , trapped , or experimented on in the first place and notes that staff conducting these experiments are being put at unnecessary risk as a result of working in close proximity to others .
Also , if animal testing resumes and Connecticut shuts down again , more animals may be euthanized , wasting taxpayer money that could have funded superior , human-relevant studies .
“ This pandemic should be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on animals and toward a ‘ new normal ’ of modern , non-animal research methods , ” says PETA Vice President Shalin Gala .
“ PETA is calling on state officials to learn from the past and keep all animals from suffering in cruel and wasteful tests.
” More than 90 % of results from basic scientific research—much of it involving animal testing—fails to lead to treatments for humans , and 95 % of new medications found to be safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials .
PETA previously called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personnel , property , equipment , and space used by UConn for animal tests deemed non-essential , noting that the university received nearly $ 357 million in state appropriations in the last fiscal year , some of which may have funded such animal experiments .
PETA—whose motto reads , in part , that “ animals are not ours to experiment on ” —opposes speciesism , a human-supremacist worldview .
For more information , please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter , Facebook , or Instagram .

Amid a Rising Number of COVID-19 Cases, Group Slams Waste of Animals' Lives and Taxpayer Money Along With Risk to Public Health
For Immediate Release:
December 1, 2020
Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382
Hartford, Conn. – A spike in COVID-19 cases is compromising Connecticut’s plan to reopen, and PETA is calling on the Connecticut Department of Public Health to cut cruel animal experiments statewide—starting with tests on animals whom institutions deemed to be non-essential in response to the pandemic—and protect human health by not having staff conduct worthless experiments in laboratories.
In its letter, PETA points out that during the initial COVID-19 shutdown, universities in Connecticut issued guidance deeming many of their experiments—and the animals used in them—extraneous, which resulted in the apparent euthanasia of numerous animals in their laboratories, including the following:
The University of Connecticut (UConn) urged experimenters “to immediately reduce animal numbers and number of cages” and told them that “[b]reeding must be reduced to the minimum possible; no increases in cage counts will be permitted and plans should be in place for reductions of cage counts in the future.”
Yale University told staff that animal experiments “should be ramped down, curtailed, or postponed.”
PETA questions why animals deemed by the universities to be extraneous are being bought, bred, trapped, or experimented on in the first place and notes that staff conducting these experiments are being put at unnecessary risk as a result of working in close proximity to others. Also, if animal testing resumes and Connecticut shuts down again, more animals may be euthanized, wasting taxpayer money that could have funded superior, human-relevant studies.
“This pandemic should be a wake-up call to shift away from experiments on animals and toward a ‘new normal’ of modern, non-animal research methods,” says PETA Vice President Shalin Gala. “PETA is calling on state officials to learn from the past and keep all animals from suffering in cruel and wasteful tests.”
More than 90% of results from basic scientific research—much of it involving animal testing—fails to lead to treatments for humans, and 95% of new medications found to be safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials.
PETA previously called for an audit of public money, personnel, property, equipment, and space used by UConn for animal tests deemed non-essential, noting that the university received nearly $357 million in state appropriations in the last fiscal year, some of which may have funded such animal experiments.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to experiment on”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.


petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-01--One Good Thing 2020 Gave Us: All These New Vegan Fast-Food Options

The future present is vegan , and the tons of animal-friendly menu options that fast-food chains have added throughout 2020 prove it .
From dairy-free cheddar cheese to Beyond Meat Italian Sausage Crumbles to vegan chicken sandwiches that ’ ll make you go , “ Popeyes who ?
” the 2020 vegan fast-food scene has been lit .
Get nostalgic—peruse some of the most exciting vegan fast-food additions of 2020 : Pizza Hut Goes Above and Beyond We asked , we urged , we insisted—and it paid off : In November , unable to deny the rising demand for vegan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offering two new pies with Beyond Meat Italian Sausage Crumbles in the U.S. Click to find out how to order the new Pizza Hut x Beyond Meat pizzas vegan .
Jack in the Box Gives Popeyes and Chick-fil-A Runs for Their Money If you ’ re lucky enough to live in or near Reno , Nevada , or Monterey or Salinas , California , you can try Jack in the Box ’ s new Unchicken Sandwich , which can be ordered vegan simply by asking for no mayo .
It ’ s available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t walk , to get yours .
Atlanta Isn ’ t the Only One Getting Kentucky Fried Vegan We ’ ve been urging KFC to sell vegan chicken for years—in 2019 , the chain listened , testing tempting vegan fried chicken from Beyond Meat at an Atlanta location ( which saw customers and cars wrapped around the building and sold out within hours ) .
Unable to deny its popularity , Kentucky fried vegan chicken returned in 2020 , this time with tests in Nashville , Tennessee , and Charlotte , North Carolina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 50 locations in Southern California—each of them equally successful .
Surely , this is a sign that KFC will make vegan fried chicken available nationwide in the near future .
El Pollo Loco Becomes the Biggest Chain to Offer Vegan Chicken Burritos El Polloless Loco ?
In July 2020 , El Pollo Loco became the largest chain to offer vegan chicken burritos and tacos with its vegan Chickenless Pollo .
Kind diners can now order tacos , burritos , and bowls—all vegan and all with plant-based “ chicken ” protein .
Check out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ El Pollo Loco .
After years of offering treats made with cruelly obtained cow ’ s milk , Dairy Queen finally ( at PETA ’ s urging ) embraced a delicious dairy-free dessert : a vegan ice cream bar .
Its Non-Dairy Dilly Bars—made with coconut cream and covered with vegan chocolate—are available nationwide .
We ’ ve known and loved the veganizable pizzas at California Pizza Kitchen ( CPK ) , including the cheese-less Cali veggie pizza , for some time … … but in 2020 , the chain stepped things up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Box , and El Pollo Loco ’ s leads , CPK got on the vegan chicken train , too .
You can now order the BBQ “ Don ’ t Call Me Chicken ” Pizza vegan—just ask for no cheese and opt for either the Pizza Marinara or Spicy Marinara sauce instead of the BBQ base .
You can also add CPK ’ s new vegan chicken to any of its veggie pizzas—check out our vegan CPK guide to find out how .
The Vegan Options at White Castle Just Keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Castle ’ s vegan Dr. Praeger ’ s patty … … then the chain reworked its bun recipes to make them entirely vegan .
Then March brought New Yorkers and New Jerseyites even more exciting news : Vegan .
Cheddar .
Cheese .
“ The country ’ s first fast-food hamburger chain will soon become the first fast-food hamburger chain in the U.S. to offer a dairy-free alternative to cheddar cheese , ” White Castle excitedly announced in a news release earlier this year .
The chain partnered with GOOD PLANeT Foods , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to release the exciting new menu option .
Beyond Meat Gets a Mediterranean Makeover at Luna Grill With options like falafel , hummus , stuffed grape leaves , and roasted serrano peppers , Luna Grill was already relatively vegan-friendly , but in 2020 , the Mediterranean chain stepped things up a notch by adding Beyond Meat .
Order a Beyond Burger ( hold the bun and spicy feta ) , or mix it up with the Beyond Meat Coastal Med Bowl , featuring Beyond Beef , basmati rice , torshi , Greek cabbage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onions , and Mediterranean pesto .
( Just swap the tzatziki for tahini for a vegan feast . )
Yum !
…or sausage !
When you visit TwoBoots.com , you ’ ll find a whole “ Vegan Pizzas ” menu section !
And it is stacked .
Thanks to Two Boots ’ 2020 additions of vegan chicken and vegan pepperoni ( vegan sausage had already been a menu staple for some time ) , there are now nine vegan signature pizzas to choose from ( or you can build your own ) .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ chicken , plum tomatoes , fresh garlic , and Daiya cheese ) , The VCBGB ( vegan chicken , broccoli , garlic and basil pesto , and Daiya cheese ) , and the new Be-Hive vegan pepperoni pizza are only a few of Two Boots ’ animal-friendly selections .
BONUS : Beyond Meat and McDonald ’ s Announce New McPlant Line Bring on 2021 !
McDonald ’ s is apparently done denying how massively popular vegan foods are .
According to reports , the fast-food chain will begin testing a new McPlant line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
( This exciting news follows a decades-long PETA campaign . )
This year gave us a lot to be thankful for .
It also made one thing abundantly clear : The vegan revolution is undeniable .
Just consider that also in 2020 , Denny ’ s added vegan burgers , Beyond Meat is now on the menu at Starbucks locations in Canada , and IKEA launched a second “ meatier ” vegan meatball .
We ’ re changing fast-food menus , and that means things are changing for the better for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is why PETA works so hard—talking with companies behind the scenes , hosting action alerts on PETA.org , and getting loud on social media—so that opting for vegan food ( aka saving lives ) can be easy for everyone .
If 2020 ’ s vegan fast-food insurgency excites you , good—channel that excitement into saving even more lives .
Click below to keep the momentum going : Help persuade Applebee ’ s , Sonic , Domino ’ s , and other chains to add vegan options , too :

December 1, 2020 by Katherine Sullivan Publishedby
The future present is vegan, and the tons of animal-friendly menu options that fast-food chains have added throughout 2020 prove it. From dairy-free cheddar cheese to Beyond Meat Italian Sausage Crumbles to vegan chicken sandwiches that’ll make you go, “Popeyes who?” the 2020 vegan fast-food scene has been lit.
Get nostalgic—peruse some of the most exciting vegan fast-food additions of 2020:
Pizza Hut Goes Above and Beyond
We asked, we urged, we insisted—and it paid off: In November, unable to deny the rising demand for vegan options any longer, Pizza Hut began offering two new pies with Beyond Meat Italian Sausage Crumbles in the U.S. Click to find out how to order the new Pizza Hut x Beyond Meat pizzas vegan.
Jack in the Box Gives Popeyes and Chick-fil-A Runs for Their Money
If you’re lucky enough to live in or near Reno, Nevada, or Monterey or Salinas, California, you can try Jack in the Box’s new Unchicken Sandwich, which can be ordered vegan simply by asking for no mayo. It’s available through December 12—so run, don’t walk, to get yours.
Atlanta Isn’t the Only One Getting Kentucky Fried Vegan
We’ve been urging KFC to sell vegan chicken for years—in 2019, the chain listened, testing tempting vegan fried chicken from Beyond Meat at an Atlanta location (which saw customers and cars wrapped around the building and sold out within hours). Unable to deny its popularity, Kentucky fried vegan chicken returned in 2020, this time with tests in Nashville, Tennessee, and Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as at more than 50 locations in Southern California—each of them equally successful. Surely, this is a sign that KFC will make vegan fried chicken available nationwide in the near future.
El Pollo Loco Becomes the Biggest Chain to Offer Vegan Chicken Burritos
El Polloless Loco? In July 2020, El Pollo Loco became the largest chain to offer vegan chicken burritos and tacos with its vegan Chickenless Pollo. Kind diners can now order tacos, burritos, and bowls—all vegan and all with plant-based “chicken” protein. Check out our complete guide to eating vegan at El Pollo Loco.
Dairy Queen Listens to PETA, Launches Vegan Ice Cream Bar
After years of offering treats made with cruelly obtained cow’s milk, Dairy Queen finally (at PETA’s urging) embraced a delicious dairy-free dessert: a vegan ice cream bar. Its Non-Dairy Dilly Bars—made with coconut cream and covered with vegan chocolate—are available nationwide.
California Pizza Kitchen Debuts Its First Vegan Meat Option
We’ve known and loved the veganizable pizzas at California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), including the cheese-less Cali veggie pizza, for some time …
… but in 2020, the chain stepped things up a notch. Following KFC, Jack in the Box, and El Pollo Loco’s leads, CPK got on the vegan chicken train, too. You can now order the BBQ “Don’t Call Me Chicken” Pizza vegan—just ask for no cheese and opt for either the Pizza Marinara or Spicy Marinara sauce instead of the BBQ base. You can also add CPK’s new vegan chicken to any of its veggie pizzas—check out our vegan CPK guide to find out how.
The Vegan Options at White Castle Just Keep Coming
First came the debut of White Castle’s vegan Dr. Praeger’s patty …
… then the chain reworked its bun recipes to make them entirely vegan. Then March brought New Yorkers and New Jerseyites even more exciting news: Vegan. Cheddar. Cheese. “The country’s first fast-food hamburger chain will soon become the first fast-food hamburger chain in the U.S. to offer a dairy-free alternative to cheddar cheese,” White Castle excitedly announced in a news release earlier this year. The chain partnered with GOOD PLANeT Foods, the maker of the nondairy cheddar, to release the exciting new menu option.
Beyond Meat Gets a Mediterranean Makeover at Luna Grill
With options like falafel, hummus, stuffed grape leaves, and roasted serrano peppers, Luna Grill was already relatively vegan-friendly, but in 2020, the Mediterranean chain stepped things up a notch by adding Beyond Meat. Order a Beyond Burger (hold the bun and spicy feta), or mix it up with the Beyond Meat Coastal Med Bowl, featuring Beyond Beef, basmati rice, torshi, Greek cabbage, tomato and cucumber medley, pickled onions, and Mediterranean pesto. (Just swap the tzatziki for tahini for a vegan feast.) Yum!
Two Boots Gives Diners Options: Vegan Chicken, Pepperoni …
…or sausage! When you visit TwoBoots.com, you’ll find a whole “Vegan Pizzas” menu section! And it is stacked. Thanks to Two Boots’ 2020 additions of vegan chicken and vegan pepperoni (vegan sausage had already been a menu staple for some time), there are now nine vegan signature pizzas to choose from (or you can build your own). The Vegan Mr. Pink (vegan chicken, plum tomatoes, fresh garlic, and Daiya cheese), The VCBGB (vegan chicken, broccoli, garlic and basil pesto, and Daiya cheese), and the new Be-Hive vegan pepperoni pizza are only a few of Two Boots’ animal-friendly selections.
BONUS: Beyond Meat and McDonald’s Announce New McPlant Line
Bring on 2021! McDonald’s is apparently done denying how massively popular vegan foods are. According to reports, the fast-food chain will begin testing a new McPlant line of products—developed with help from Beyond Meat—next year. (This exciting news follows a decades-long PETA campaign.)
Turns out the big winner in the plant-based burger wars is McDonald’s https://t.co/JbqLwGFpvd — Bloomberg (@business) November 16, 2020
*****
This year gave us a lot to be thankful for. It also made one thing abundantly clear: The vegan revolution is undeniable. Just consider that also in 2020, Denny’s added vegan burgers, Beyond Meat is now on the menu at Starbucks locations in Canada, and IKEA launched a second “meatier” vegan meatball. We’re changing fast-food menus, and that means things are changing for the better for animals. Chain restaurants are extremely popular, which is why PETA works so hard—talking with companies behind the scenes, hosting action alerts on PETA.org, and getting loud on social media—so that opting for vegan food (aka saving lives) can be easy for everyone.
If 2020’s vegan fast-food insurgency excites you, good—channel that excitement into saving even more lives. Click below to keep the momentum going: Help persuade Applebee’s, Sonic, Domino’s, and other chains to add vegan options, too:
Urge More Chains to Add Vegan Options


petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-02--Thomas Edison Charter Academy Name Must Go, Says PETA

Edison Unfit and Unkind : He Electrocuted Animals , Abused His Family San Francisco – In response to San Francisco ’ s plan to change the names of 42 schools that pay homage to problematic historical figures , including those “ connected to any human rights or environmental abuse , ” PETA has fired off a letter urging the San Francisco Unified School District School Names Advisory Committee and San Francisco Board of Education President Mark Sanchez to add Thomas Edison Charter Academy to its list , after it had been previously turned down by the committee for “ not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says , was an oversight .
PETA points out that Edison was a cruel person whose human-supremacist beliefs led him to electrocute scores of animals—including an elephant named Topsy—fatally and painfully and who abused his own family .
PETA suggests that the school be renamed after Mark Twain , Mahatma Gandhi , William Wilberforce , or Leonardo da Vinci , all enlightened individuals who were demonstrably kind to all living , feeling beings .
“ PETA hopes to see a lightbulb go on—everyone must realize that an inclusive world means consideration for not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk .
“ Anyone who was cruel enough to electrocute vulnerable animals shouldn ’ t be honored by having his name on a teaching institution.
” PETA ’ s motto reads , in part , that “ animals are not ours to abuse.
” For more information , please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter , Facebook , or Instagram .
PETA ’ s letter to Jeffries and Sanchez follows .
I ’ m writing on behalf of PETA and its more than 6.5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16,000 in San Francisco , to urge the San Francisco School Names Advisory Committee to reconsider its decision not to add Thomas Edison Charter Academy to the list of school names to be renamed .
It ’ s laudable that the committee has recognized that individuals involved in abhorrent human right abuses , such as slavery , oppression , and genocide , should not be held up as examples for children to follow .
However , speciesism allows people to acknowledge the suffering that these marginalized groups endured and yet dismiss the suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition to being a greedy and corrupt businessperson and an unkind husband and father , Edison committed disturbing acts of cruelty to animals .
If curious schoolchildren at Thomas Edison Charter Academy search the internet for information on their school ’ s namesake , they ’ ll find that he held public animal-electrocution events , painfully killing horses , cows , stray dogs and cats , and Topsy the elephant .
Allowing the academy to bear Edison ’ s name sends kids the harmful message that it ’ s acceptable to commit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different from them , a lesson I ’ m sure the committee does not want to teach .
In addition , research in psychology and criminology has repeatedly shown that people who commit acts of cruelty to animals often don ’ t stop there—many of them move on to hurting their fellow humans .
Committee member Mary Travis Allen rightly stated , “ The names of all the schools in this city should reflect people to be admired.
” Many worthy candidates meet that criterion .
Mark Twain was called the “ Moralist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of corruption , greed , and violence—including objecting to vivisection .
Mahatma Gandhi , one of the world ’ s strongest advocates for kindness and peace , noted , “ The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
” William Wilberforce was instrumental in the abolition of slavery in the British Empire and was a staunch supporter of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals .
In addition to being one of the greatest painters and thinkers in history @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been a vegetarian who refused to wear animals ’ skins and was said to purchase caged birds so as to let them fly away .
Please use this opportunity to spread a message of compassion to all .
We look forward to hearing from you .
Very truly yours , Ingrid E. Newkirk President People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Edison Unfit and Unkind: He Electrocuted Animals, Abused His Family
For Immediate Release:
December 2, 2020
Contact:
Brooke Rossi 202-483-7382
San Francisco – In response to San Francisco’s plan to change the names of 42 schools that pay homage to problematic historical figures, including those “connected to any human rights or environmental abuse,” PETA has fired off a letter urging the San Francisco Unified School District School Names Advisory Committee and San Francisco Board of Education President Mark Sanchez to add Thomas Edison Charter Academy to its list, after it had been previously turned down by the committee for “not meeting the criteria.” That, PETA says, was an oversight.
PETA points out that Edison was a cruel person whose human-supremacist beliefs led him to electrocute scores of animals—including an elephant named Topsy—fatally and painfully and who abused his own family. PETA suggests that the school be renamed after Mark Twain, Mahatma Gandhi, William Wilberforce, or Leonardo da Vinci, all enlightened individuals who were demonstrably kind to all living, feeling beings.
“PETA hopes to see a lightbulb go on—everyone must realize that an inclusive world means consideration for not only humans but also all other animals,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “Anyone who was cruel enough to electrocute vulnerable animals shouldn’t be honored by having his name on a teaching institution.”
PETA’s motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse.” For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
PETA’s letter to Jeffries and Sanchez follows.
December 2, 2020
Jeremiah Jeffries
Facilitator
School Names Advisory Committee
Mark Sanchez
President
San Francisco Board of Education
Dear Messrs. Jeffries and Sanchez:
I’m writing on behalf of PETA and its more than 6.5 million members and supporters worldwide, including over 16,000 in San Francisco, to urge the San Francisco School Names Advisory Committee to reconsider its decision not to add Thomas Edison Charter Academy to the list of school names to be renamed.
It’s laudable that the committee has recognized that individuals involved in abhorrent human right abuses, such as slavery, oppression, and genocide, should not be held up as examples for children to follow. However, speciesism allows people to acknowledge the suffering that these marginalized groups endured and yet dismiss the suffering of other thinking, feeling beings. In addition to being a greedy and corrupt businessperson and an unkind husband and father, Edison committed disturbing acts of cruelty to animals.
If curious schoolchildren at Thomas Edison Charter Academy search the internet for information on their school’s namesake, they’ll find that he held public animal-electrocution events, painfully killing horses, cows, stray dogs and cats, and Topsy the elephant. Allowing the academy to bear Edison’s name sends kids the harmful message that it’s acceptable to commit violent acts against an individual who is different from them, a lesson I’m sure the committee does not want to teach. In addition, research in psychology and criminology has repeatedly shown that people who commit acts of cruelty to animals often don’t stop there—many of them move on to hurting their fellow humans.
Committee member Mary Travis Allen rightly stated, “The names of all the schools in this city should reflect people to be admired.” Many worthy candidates meet that criterion. Mark Twain was called the “Moralist of the Main” for his abhorrence of corruption, greed, and violence—including objecting to vivisection. Mahatma Gandhi, one of the world’s strongest advocates for kindness and peace, noted, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” William Wilberforce was instrumental in the abolition of slavery in the British Empire and was a staunch supporter of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. In addition to being one of the greatest painters and thinkers in history, Leonardo da Vinci is believed to have been a vegetarian who refused to wear animals’ skins and was said to purchase caged birds so as to let them fly away.
Please use this opportunity to spread a message of compassion to all. We look forward to hearing from you.
Very truly yours,
Ingrid E. Newkirk
President
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals


petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-02--Cow Repeatedly Shot in the Head; PETA Seeks Criminal Probe

Cambria County , Pa. – PETA has obtained a U.S. Department of Agriculture report revealing another recent violation of law at Pudliner Packing outside Johnstown .
In response , the group sent a letter this morning calling on Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigation Section Commander Lt. Lisa A. Jobe to review the matter and , as appropriate , file criminal cruelty-to-animals charges against the facility and the personnel who on November 16 ineffectively shot a cow in the head twice .
The animal remained standing until a third shot finally rendered her unconscious .
This is the fourth time since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after shots to the head at Pudliner Packing , including in one incident in January and another in August , which PETA is also asking Jobe to review .
Also , in 2018 , three shots were needed to stun a pig who cried out while blood ran down his or her snout .
“ Animals victimized by the meat industry suffer terribly every single day , as this slaughterhouse ’ s repeated , gruesome violations show , ” says PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch .
“ Anyone disturbed by these incidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping animal flesh off their plates.
” PETA—whose motto reads , in part , that “ animals are not ours to eat ” —opposes speciesism , which is a human-supremacist worldview .
The group notes that cows , pigs , sheep , chickens , and other animals feel pain and fear and value their lives , just as humans do , and that the best way to help prevent them from suffering in slaughterhouses is not to eat them .
I hope this letter finds you well .
I would like to request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal charges against Pudliner Packing and the worker ( s ) responsible for shooting cows in the head up to four times—and cutting the throat of one while she was conscious and crying out—at its slaughterhouse located at 167 Norton Rd.
, outside of Johnstown .
The U.S. Department of Agriculture ’ s Food Safety and Inspection Service ( FSIS ) documented the incidents in the attached reports , which state the following : • November 16 , 2020 : “ Establishment personnel were stunning a dairy cow in the stunning area with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shot , the Consumer Safety Inspector ( CSI ) observed the animal conscious , as it was still standing .
After the second stunning attempt with the .410 shotgun , the CSI observed the animal still standing , alert and looking around .
Establishment personnel then effectively stunned the animal with a 20-gauge shotgun .
Upon examination , there were three distinct holes in the head.
” 1 • August 11 , 2020 : “ Establishment personnel were stunning a beef cow … with a .22 magnum rifle .
After two shots , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the animal in a state of consciousness as it was still standing .
After the next shot attempt , the [ CSI ] observed the animal in sternal recumbency , alert and looking around .
The plant then effectively stunned the animal with the fourth shot .
After the bovine was skinned out , only one large hole was observed in the cranium.
” 2 • January 27 , 2020 : “ Establishment personnel stunned a Holstein dairy cow in the stunning area with a firearm , then proceeded to winch it into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While the bovine was hanging on the rail , the CSI was able to determine that the animal was not insensible as it was vocalizing loudly and looking around .
The establishment employee ignored the vocalization and continued to hang the bovine , then made the bleeding cut on a conscious animal .
Shortly after the bleeding cut , the animal lost sensibility .
After the bovine was skinned out , three holes were observed in the cranium.
” 3 • June 26 , 2019 : “ The [ federal inspector ] @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a cow … .
He heard the first gunshot but did not hear the animal fall .
He heard a second gunshot and then heard the cow bellowing from the alley .
He heard a third stunning attempt with the hand held captive bolt and heard the cow fall .
The employees brought the animal into the slaughter floor and removed the head .
Three holes were observed in the skull.
” 4 This conduct appears to violate 18 Pa. Cons .
Stat .
§ 5533 ( a ) .
Importantly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under state law for slaughterhouse workers who perpetrate acts of cruelty to animals.5 Please let us know what we might do to assist you .
Thank you for your consideration and for the difficult work that you do .
5See Nat ’ l .
Meat Assoc .
v. Harris , 132 S. Ct. 965 , 974 n.10 ( 2012 ) ( “ .
.
.
States may exact civil or criminal penalties for animal cruelty or other conduct that also violates the [ Federal Meat Inspection Act ( FMIA ) ] .
See @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cf .
Bates v. Dow Agrosciences , LLC , 544 U.S. 431 , 447 ( 2005 ) ( holding that a preemption clause barring state laws ‘ in addition to or different ’ from a federal Act does not interfere with an ‘ equivalent ’ state provision ) .
Although the FMIA preempts much state law involving slaughterhouses , it thus leaves some room for the States to regulate.
” ) .

For Immediate Release:
December 2, 2020
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Cambria County, Pa. – PETA has obtained a U.S. Department of Agriculture report revealing another recent violation of law at Pudliner Packing outside Johnstown. In response, the group sent a letter this morning calling on Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigation Section Commander Lt. Lisa A. Jobe to review the matter and, as appropriate, file criminal cruelty-to-animals charges against the facility and the personnel who on November 16 ineffectively shot a cow in the head twice. The animal remained standing until a third shot finally rendered her unconscious.
This is the fourth time since June 2019 that a cow remained conscious after shots to the head at Pudliner Packing, including in one incident in January and another in August, which PETA is also asking Jobe to review. Also, in 2018, three shots were needed to stun a pig who cried out while blood ran down his or her snout.
“Animals victimized by the meat industry suffer terribly every single day, as this slaughterhouse’s repeated, gruesome violations show,” says PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “Anyone disturbed by these incidents can help stop this cruelty by simply keeping animal flesh off their plates.”
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—opposes speciesism, which is a human-supremacist worldview. The group notes that cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, and other animals feel pain and fear and value their lives, just as humans do, and that the best way to help prevent them from suffering in slaughterhouses is not to eat them.
For more information, visit PETA.org.
PETA’s letter to Jobe follows.
December 2, 2020
Lieutenant Lisa A. Jobe
Troop A Criminal Investigation Section Commander
Pennsylvania State Police
Dear Lt. Jobe:
I hope this letter finds you well. I would like to request that your office investigate and file suitable criminal charges against Pudliner Packing and the worker(s) responsible for shooting cows in the head up to four times—and cutting the throat of one while she was conscious and crying out—at its slaughterhouse located at 167 Norton Rd., outside of Johnstown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) documented the incidents in the attached reports, which state the following:
November 16, 2020: “Establishment personnel were stunning a dairy cow in the stunning area with a .410 shotgun. After the first shot, the Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) observed the animal conscious, as it was still standing. After the second stunning attempt with the .410 shotgun, the CSI observed the animal still standing, alert and looking around. Establishment personnel then effectively stunned the animal with a 20-gauge shotgun. Upon examination, there were three distinct holes in the head.” 1
“Establishment personnel were stunning a dairy cow in the stunning area with a .410 shotgun. After the first shot, the Consumer Safety Inspector (CSI) observed the animal conscious, as it was still standing. After the second stunning attempt with the .410 shotgun, the CSI observed the animal still standing, alert and looking around. Establishment personnel then effectively stunned the animal with a 20-gauge shotgun. Upon examination, there were three distinct holes in the head.” August 11, 2020: “Establishment personnel were stunning a beef cow … with a .22 magnum rifle. After two shots, the Food Inspector (FI) observed the animal in a state of consciousness as it was still standing. After the next shot attempt, the [CSI] observed the animal in sternal recumbency, alert and looking around. The plant then effectively stunned the animal with the fourth shot. After the bovine was skinned out, only one large hole was observed in the cranium.” 2
“Establishment personnel were stunning a beef cow … with a .22 magnum rifle. After two shots, the Food Inspector (FI) observed the animal in a state of consciousness as it was still standing. After the next shot attempt, the [CSI] observed the animal in sternal recumbency, alert and looking around. The plant then effectively stunned the animal with the fourth shot. After the bovine was skinned out, only one large hole was observed in the cranium.” January 27, 2020: “Establishment personnel stunned a Holstein dairy cow in the stunning area with a firearm, then proceeded to winch it into the area to be shackled and hoisted. While the bovine was hanging on the rail, the CSI was able to determine that the animal was not insensible as it was vocalizing loudly and looking around. The establishment employee ignored the vocalization and continued to hang the bovine, then made the bleeding cut on a conscious animal. Shortly after the bleeding cut, the animal lost sensibility. After the bovine was skinned out, three holes were observed in the cranium.” 3
“Establishment personnel stunned a Holstein dairy cow in the stunning area with a firearm, then proceeded to winch it into the area to be shackled and hoisted. While the bovine was hanging on the rail, the CSI was able to determine that the animal was not insensible as it was vocalizing loudly and looking around. The establishment employee ignored the vocalization and continued to hang the bovine, then made the bleeding cut on a conscious animal. Shortly after the bleeding cut, the animal lost sensibility. After the bovine was skinned out, three holes were observed in the cranium.” June 26, 2019: “The [federal inspector] … was listening to the firearm stunning of a cow …. He heard the first gunshot but did not hear the animal fall. He heard a second gunshot and then heard the cow bellowing from the alley. He heard a third stunning attempt with the hand held captive bolt and heard the cow fall. The employees brought the animal into the slaughter floor and removed the head. Three holes were observed in the skull.”4
This conduct appears to violate 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5533(a). Importantly, FSIS action does not preempt criminal liability under state law for slaughterhouse workers who perpetrate acts of cruelty to animals.5
Please let us know what we might do to assist you. Thank you for your consideration and for the difficult work that you do.
Sincerely,
Colin Henstock
Assistant Manager of Investigations
1FSIS District 60 Manager Dr. Lynda Lilyestrom, Notice of Reinstatement of Suspension, Pudliner Packing (Nov. 16, 2020) https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/9fef12bb-f2ab-4a26-9669-1daed7f8e1ec/4999-noros-11162020.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.
2FSIS District 60 Manager Dr. Lynda Lilyestrom, Notice of Suspension, Pudliner Packing (Aug. 11, 2020) https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/ca7c98e3-998e-4ce1-b53e-b6e3376cad63/4999-nos-08112020.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.
3FSIS District 60 Manager Dr. Lynda Lilyestrom, Reinstatement of Suspension, Pudliner Packing (Jan. 27, 2020) https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/9d05ee70-729b-4b48-bfd2-2f18d4a81016/4999-ros-012720.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.
4FSIS District 60 Manager Dr. Lynda Lilyestrom, Reinstatement of Suspension, Pudliner Packing (Jun. 26, 2019) https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/a64b6eb3-ff42-458c-8172-fe94f09639a1/4999-noros-062619.pdf?MOD=AJPERES.
5See Nat’l. Meat Assoc. v. Harris, 132 S. Ct. 965, 974 n.10 (2012) (“. . . States may exact civil or criminal penalties for animal cruelty or other conduct that also violates the [Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA)]. See [21 U.S.C.] §678; cf. Bates v. Dow Agrosciences, LLC, 544 U.S. 431, 447 (2005) (holding that a preemption clause barring state laws ‘in addition to or different’ from a federal Act does not interfere with an ‘equivalent’ state provision). Although the FMIA preempts much state law involving slaughterhouses, it thus leaves some room for the States to regulate.”).


petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-02--Abundant Life Natural Foods Drops Coconut Milk Tied to Monkey Labor After PETA Push

Hilo , Hawaii – Following a PETA Asia undercover investigation into the use of captive monkeys kept chained and caged in Thailand ’ s coconut-picking industry , Abundant Life Natural Foods has ended its sale of coconut milk from major coconut milk producer Chaokoh .
“ Milk from coconuts picked by chained monkeys doesn ’ t belong on grocery store shelves any more than monkeys belong on those chains , ” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman .
“ Abundant Life Natural Foods heard PETA ’ s message , and now PETA is calling on Walmart , Safeway , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of other stores that reject products of forced monkey labor.
” PETA Asia ’ s investigators found cruelty to monkeys on every farm , at every monkey-training facility , and in every coconut-picking contest that used monkey labor .
When not being forced to pick coconuts or perform in circus-style shows for tourists , the animals were kept tethered , chained to old tires , or confined to cages barely larger than their bodies .
Many displayed repetitive behavior indicative of extreme mental anguish , including one monkey who chewed on one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farmer confirmed that when monkeys are terrified and try to defend themselves , handlers may have their teeth pulled out .
Abundant Life Natural Foods joins more than 26,000 other stores—including chains Wegmans , Costco , Walgreens , Food Lion , and Stop & Shop—that have banned coconut milk brands that use coconuts picked by monkeys .
PETA is now turning its attention to other retailers that still do business with Chaokoh , including Kroger , Walmart , Target , and Safeway .
Photos from the investigation are available here , and broadcast-quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motto reads , in part , that “ animals are not ours to abuse in any way ” —opposes speciesism , a human-supremacist worldview .
For more information , please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter , Facebook , or Instagram .

For Immediate Release:
December 2, 2020
Contact:
Moira Colley 202-483-7382
Hilo, Hawaii – Following a PETA Asia undercover investigation into the use of captive monkeys kept chained and caged in Thailand’s coconut-picking industry, Abundant Life Natural Foods has ended its sale of coconut milk from major coconut milk producer Chaokoh.
“Milk from coconuts picked by chained monkeys doesn’t belong on grocery store shelves any more than monkeys belong on those chains,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “Abundant Life Natural Foods heard PETA’s message, and now PETA is calling on Walmart, Safeway, and Target to join it and the thousands of other stores that reject products of forced monkey labor.”
PETA Asia’s investigators found cruelty to monkeys on every farm, at every monkey-training facility, and in every coconut-picking contest that used monkey labor. When not being forced to pick coconuts or perform in circus-style shows for tourists, the animals were kept tethered, chained to old tires, or confined to cages barely larger than their bodies. Many displayed repetitive behavior indicative of extreme mental anguish, including one monkey who chewed on one of his own limbs. One coconut farmer confirmed that when monkeys are terrified and try to defend themselves, handlers may have their teeth pulled out.
Abundant Life Natural Foods joins more than 26,000 other stores—including chains Wegmans, Costco, Walgreens, Food Lion, and Stop & Shop—that have banned coconut milk brands that use coconuts picked by monkeys. PETA is now turning its attention to other retailers that still do business with Chaokoh, including Walmart and Publix.
Photos from the investigation are available here, and broadcast-quality footage is available upon request. PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.


petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-02--PETA to Michigan Governor and Department of Health & Human Services: Shut Down Animal Labs

Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases , Group Slams Waste of Animals ' Lives , Taxpayer Money and Risk to Public Health Lansing , Mich. – Spiking COVID-19 cases are compromising Michigan ’ s reopening plan , and PETA is calling on the governor and the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services to cut cruel animal experiments statewide—starting with tests on animals , many of whom institutions deemed to be non-essential in response to the pandemic—and protect human health by having staff not come into laboratories to conduct worthless experiments .
In its letter , PETA points out that during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan ( UM ) issued guidance deeming many of its experiments—and the animals used in them—extraneous , which resulted in the apparent euthanasia of numerous animals in its laboratories .
UM urged its experimenters to “ ramp down all noncritical laboratory research activities ” by identifying “ up to 20 % of animals … that [ they ] consider most critical to save ” and euthanizing “ males if there are several of the same strain ” and pups “ prior to weaning.
” PETA questions why animals deemed by the university to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , trapped , or experimented on in the first place and notes that staff conducting these experiments are being put at unnecessary risk as a result of working in close proximity to others .
In addition , if animal testing resumes and Michigan shuts down again , more animals may be euthanized , wasting taxpayer money that could have funded superior , human-relevant studies .
“ This pandemic should be a wake-up call to shift away from experiments on animals and toward a ‘ new normal ’ of modern , non-animal research methods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gala .
“ PETA is calling on state officials to learn from the past and keep all animals from suffering in cruel and wasteful tests.
” More than 90 % of results from basic scientific research—much involving animal testing—fails to lead to treatments for humans , and 95 % of new medications found to be safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials .
PETA previously called for an audit of public money , personnel , property , equipment , and space used by UM for animal tests deemed non-essential , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 370 million in state appropriations in the last fiscal year , some of which may have funded such animal experiments .
PETA—whose motto reads , in part , that “ animals are not ours to experiment on ” —opposes speciesism , a human-supremacist worldview .
For more information , please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter , Facebook , or Instagram .

Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases, Group Slams Waste of Animals' Lives, Taxpayer Money and Risk to Public Health
For Immediate Release:
December 2, 2020
Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382
Lansing, Mich. – Spiking COVID-19 cases are compromising Michigan’s reopening plan, and PETA is calling on the governor and the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services to cut cruel animal experiments statewide—starting with tests on animals, many of whom institutions deemed to be non-essential in response to the pandemic—and protect human health by having staff not come into laboratories to conduct worthless experiments.
In its letter, PETA points out that during the initial COVID-19 shutdown, the University of Michigan (UM) issued guidance deeming many of its experiments—and the animals used in them—extraneous, which resulted in the apparent euthanasia of numerous animals in its laboratories. UM urged its experimenters to “ramp down all noncritical laboratory research activities” by identifying “up to 20% of animals … that [they] consider most critical to save” and euthanizing “males if there are several of the same strain” and pups “prior to weaning.”
PETA questions why animals deemed by the university to be extraneous are being bought, bred, trapped, or experimented on in the first place and notes that staff conducting these experiments are being put at unnecessary risk as a result of working in close proximity to others. In addition, if animal testing resumes and Michigan shuts down again, more animals may be euthanized, wasting taxpayer money that could have funded superior, human-relevant studies.
“This pandemic should be a wake-up call to shift away from experiments on animals and toward a ‘new normal’ of modern, non-animal research methods,” says PETA Vice President Shalin Gala. “PETA is calling on state officials to learn from the past and keep all animals from suffering in cruel and wasteful tests.”
More than 90% of results from basic scientific research—much involving animal testing—fails to lead to treatments for humans, and 95% of new medications found to be safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials.
PETA previously called for an audit of public money, personnel, property, equipment, and space used by UM for animal tests deemed non-essential, noting that the university received nearly $370 million in state appropriations in the last fiscal year, some of which may have funded such animal experiments.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to experiment on”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.


petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-02--PETA to Maryland Governor and Department of Health: Shut Down Animal Labs

Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases , Group Slams Waste of Animals ' Lives , Taxpayer Money and Risk to Public Health Baltimore – Spiking COVID-19 cases are compromising Maryland ’ s reopening plan , and PETA is calling on the governor and the Maryland Department of Health to cut cruel animal experiments statewide—starting with tests on animals , many of whom institutions deemed to be non-essential in response to the pandemic—and protect human health by having staff not come into laboratories to conduct worthless experiments .
In its letter , PETA points out that during the initial COVID-19 shutdown , universities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their experiments—and the animals used in them—extraneous , which resulted in the apparent euthanasia of numerous animals in their laboratories , including the following : • The University of Maryland–Baltimore ( UMB ) asked its experimenters to “ [ r ] educe colony size by euthanizing excess animals ” and “ consider evaluating all animals for status , meaning ‘ high priority ’ , ‘ low priority ’ and ‘ euthanize first . '
” • The University of Maryland–College Park ( UMD ) informed its experimenters that “ all basic and animal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UMD will cease , unless specifically exempted by Deans/VPR.
” PETA questions why animals deemed by the universities to be extraneous are being bought , bred , trapped , or experimented on in the first place and notes that staff conducting these experiments are being put at unnecessary risk as a result of working in close proximity to others .
In addition , if animal testing resumes and Maryland shuts down again , more animals may be euthanized , wasting taxpayer money that could have funded superior , human-relevant studies .
“ This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shift away from experiments on animals and toward a ‘ new normal ’ of modern , non-animal research methods , ” says PETA Vice President Shalin Gala .
“ PETA is calling on state officials to learn from the past and keep all animals from suffering in cruel and wasteful tests.
” More than 90 % of results from basic scientific research—much involving animal testing—fails to lead to treatments for humans , and 95 % of new medications found to be safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials .
PETA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money , personnel , property , equipment , and space used by UMB and UMD for animal tests deemed non-essential , noting that the universities received nearly $ 143 million in state appropriations in the last fiscal year , some of which may have funded such animal experiments .
PETA—whose motto reads , in part , that “ animals are not ours to experiment on ” —opposes speciesism , a human-supremacist worldview .
For more information , please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter , Facebook , or Instagram .

Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases, Group Slams Waste of Animals' Lives, Taxpayer Money and Risk to Public Health
For Immediate Release:
December 2, 2020
Contact:
Amanda Tumbleson 202-483-7382
Baltimore – Spiking COVID-19 cases are compromising Maryland’s reopening plan, and PETA is calling on the governor and the Maryland Department of Health to cut cruel animal experiments statewide—starting with tests on animals, many of whom institutions deemed to be non-essential in response to the pandemic—and protect human health by having staff not come into laboratories to conduct worthless experiments.
In its letter, PETA points out that during the initial COVID-19 shutdown, universities in Maryland issued guidance deeming many of their experiments—and the animals used in them—extraneous, which resulted in the apparent euthanasia of numerous animals in their laboratories, including the following:
The University of Maryland–Baltimore (UMB) asked its experimenters to “[r]educe colony size by euthanizing excess animals” and “consider evaluating all animals for status, meaning ‘high priority’, ‘low priority’ and ‘euthanize first.'”
The University of Maryland–College Park (UMD) informed its experimenters that “all basic and animal research experimentation requiring a physical presence at UMD will cease, unless specifically exempted by Deans/VPR.”
PETA questions why animals deemed by the universities to be extraneous are being bought, bred, trapped, or experimented on in the first place and notes that staff conducting these experiments are being put at unnecessary risk as a result of working in close proximity to others. In addition, if animal testing resumes and Maryland shuts down again, more animals may be euthanized, wasting taxpayer money that could have funded superior, human-relevant studies.
“This pandemic should be a wake-up call to shift away from experiments on animals and toward a ‘new normal’ of modern, non-animal research methods,” says PETA Vice President Shalin Gala. “PETA is calling on state officials to learn from the past and keep all animals from suffering in cruel and wasteful tests.”
More than 90% of results from basic scientific research—much involving animal testing—fails to lead to treatments for humans, and 95% of new medications found to be safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials.
PETA previously called for an audit of public money, personnel, property, equipment, and space used by UMB and UMD for animal tests deemed non-essential, noting that the universities received nearly $143 million in state appropriations in the last fiscal year, some of which may have funded such animal experiments.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to experiment on”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.


petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-02--PETA to Kentucky Governor and Cabinet for Health and Family Services: Shut Down Animal Labs

Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases , Group Slams Waste of Animals ' Lives , Taxpayer Money and Risk to Public Health Louisville , Ky. – Spiking COVID-19 cases are compromising Kentucky ’ s reopening plan , and PETA is calling on the governor and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services to cut cruel animal experiments statewide—starting with tests on animals , many of whom institutions deemed to be non-essential in response to the pandemic—and protect human health by having staff not come into laboratories to conduct worthless experiments .
In its letter , PETA points out that during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louisville ( UofL ) issued guidance deeming many of its experiments—and the animals used in them—extraneous , which resulted in the apparent euthanasia of numerous animals in its laboratories .
UofL informed its experimenters that “ all non-essential research activities are suspended ” and that “ [ n ] on-essential research studies and experiments that have not yet started should be immediately postponed.
” PETA questions why animals deemed by the university to be extraneous are being bought , bred , trapped , or experimented on in the first place and notes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at unnecessary risk as a result of working in close proximity to others .
In addition , if animal testing resumes and Kentucky shuts down again , more animals may be euthanized , wasting taxpayer money that could have funded superior , human-relevant studies .
“ This pandemic should be a wake-up call to shift away from experiments on animals and toward a ‘ new normal ’ of modern , non-animal research methods , ” says PETA Vice President Shalin Gala .
“ PETA is calling on state officials to learn from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in cruel and wasteful tests.
” More than 90 % of results from basic scientific research—much involving animal testing—fails to lead to treatments for humans , and 95 % of new medications found to be safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials .
PETA previously called for an audit of public money , personnel , property , equipment , and space used by UofL for animal tests deemed non-essential , noting that the university received nearly $ 129 million in state appropriations in the last fiscal year , some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
PETA—whose motto reads , in part , that “ animals are not ours to experiment on ” —opposes speciesism , a human-supremacist worldview .
For more information , please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter , Facebook , or Instagram .

Amid Rising COVID-19 Cases, Group Slams Waste of Animals' Lives, Taxpayer Money and Risk to Public Health
For Immediate Release:
December 2, 2020
Contact:
Amanda Tumbleson 202-483-7382
Louisville, Ky. – Spiking COVID-19 cases are compromising Kentucky’s reopening plan, and PETA is calling on the governor and the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services to cut cruel animal experiments statewide—starting with tests on animals, many of whom institutions deemed to be non-essential in response to the pandemic—and protect human health by having staff not come into laboratories to conduct worthless experiments.
In its letter, PETA points out that during the initial COVID-19 shutdown, the University of Louisville (UofL) issued guidance deeming many of its experiments—and the animals used in them—extraneous, which resulted in the apparent euthanasia of numerous animals in its laboratories. UofL informed its experimenters that “all non-essential research activities are suspended” and that “[n]on-essential research studies and experiments that have not yet started should be immediately postponed.”
PETA questions why animals deemed by the university to be extraneous are being bought, bred, trapped, or experimented on in the first place and notes that staff conducting these experiments are being put at unnecessary risk as a result of working in close proximity to others. In addition, if animal testing resumes and Kentucky shuts down again, more animals may be euthanized, wasting taxpayer money that could have funded superior, human-relevant studies.
“This pandemic should be a wake-up call to shift away from experiments on animals and toward a ‘new normal’ of modern, non-animal research methods,” says PETA Vice President Shalin Gala. “PETA is calling on state officials to learn from the past and keep all animals from suffering in cruel and wasteful tests.”
More than 90% of results from basic scientific research—much involving animal testing—fails to lead to treatments for humans, and 95% of new medications found to be safe and effective in animals fail in human clinical trials.
PETA previously called for an audit of public money, personnel, property, equipment, and space used by UofL for animal tests deemed non-essential, noting that the university received nearly $129 million in state appropriations in the last fiscal year, some of which may have funded such animal experiments.
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to experiment on”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.


petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-02--PETA, Dove, Suave, and Many Others Defend Animal Testing Ban

London – This morning , PETA along with Dove , Suave , and over 450 other cruelty-free brands and companies working toward regulatory change—including Simple and The Body Shop—sent an open letter to the European Parliament , the European Commission , and the European Council calling on them to uphold the EU Cosmetics Regulation ’ s animal testing and marketing bans , which set a precedent for assuring safety without subjecting animals to cruel tests .
The letter blasts the European Commission and the European Chemicals Agency for effectively shredding the bans with the requirement that several widely used cosmetic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guise of the Registration , Evaluation , Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals ( REACH ) regulation .
Because of this requirement , thousands of rats and rabbits , including pregnant ones , have been condemned to suffer in tests in which they ’ re force-fed a cosmetics ingredient before being killed and dissected .
“ Testing beauty products and their ingredients on animals is ugly , full stop , ” says PETA Science Policy Manager Dr. Julia Baines .
“ PETA is joining forces with compassionate companies to demand a kind approach to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives and involves non-animal tests only , as required by law.
” Director of public affairs for Cruelty Free Europe Kerry Postlewhite says , “ European citizens and their representatives in the European Parliament fought hard for these bans , which have been a model for many other markets .
They must be upheld as intended so that animals do not suffer for cosmetics in Europe.
” As noted in the letter , the world is moving away from animal testing .
In 2018 , the European Parliament called for a worldwide ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and 84 % of respondents to a recent global survey said that they wouldn ’ t buy a cosmetics product if they knew it had been tested on animals .
The letter—which is also supported by Eurogroup for Animals , the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments , and Humane Society International—is available here .

For Immediate Release:
December 2, 2020
Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382
London – This morning, PETA along with Dove, Suave, and over 450 other cruelty-free brands and companies working toward regulatory change—including Simple and The Body Shop—sent an open letter to the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the European Council calling on them to uphold the EU Cosmetics Regulation’s animal testing and marketing bans, which set a precedent for assuring safety without subjecting animals to cruel tests.
The letter blasts the European Commission and the European Chemicals Agency for effectively shredding the bans with the requirement that several widely used cosmetic ingredients be tested on animals under the guise of the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. Because of this requirement, thousands of rats and rabbits, including pregnant ones, have been condemned to suffer in tests in which they’re force-fed a cosmetics ingredient before being killed and dissected.
“Testing beauty products and their ingredients on animals is ugly, full stop,” says PETA Science Policy Manager Dr. Julia Baines. “PETA is joining forces with compassionate companies to demand a kind approach to cosmetics testing that spares sensitive animals’ lives and involves non-animal tests only, as required by law.”
Director of public affairs for Cruelty Free Europe Kerry Postlewhite says, “European citizens and their representatives in the European Parliament fought hard for these bans, which have been a model for many other markets. They must be upheld as intended so that animals do not suffer for cosmetics in Europe.”
As noted in the letter, the world is moving away from animal testing. In 2018, the European Parliament called for a worldwide ban on testing cosmetics on animals by 2023, and 84% of respondents to a recent global survey said that they wouldn’t buy a cosmetics product if they knew it had been tested on animals.
The letter—which is also supported by Eurogroup for Animals, the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments, and Humane Society International—is available here.


petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-02--How Soon Can SeaWorld End Animal Displays? PETA Submits Shareholder Resolution to Find Out

Orlando , Fla. – PETA , which owns stock in SeaWorld , is submitting a shareholder resolution today asking the company to address two of the most pressing issues it faces—namely , the public ’ s opposition to captive-animal displays and the impact of the pandemic—by conducting a study to determine how soon the park could feasibly eliminate all programs involving live animals except legitimate rescue work .
“ Ending the use of animals in demeaning shows , dangerous encounters , and cruel displays may be SeaWorld ’ s only hope of bringing back compassionate customers in a post-pandemic world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tracy Reiman .
“ PETA is calling on SeaWorld to examine how quickly it could end these archaic practices and start switching to interactive digital displays and other innovative attractions that appeal to ticket buyers.
” PETA—whose motto reads , in part , that “ animals are not ours to use for entertainment ” and which opposes speciesism , a human-supremacist worldview—purchased stock in SeaWorld when it first became publicly available in 2013 .
PETA withdrew previous shareholder resolutions calling on SeaWorld to end its orca-breeding program ( 2016 ) and stop using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 ) after the company agreed to do so .
Meanwhile , the park has eliminated more than 3,300 positions since the release of Blackfish .
PETA ’ s shareholder resolution is available upon request .
For more information , please visit SeaWorldOfHurt.com or follow PETA on Twitter , Facebook , or Instagram .

For Immediate Release:
December 2, 2020
Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382
Orlando, Fla. – PETA, which owns stock in SeaWorld, is submitting a shareholder resolution today asking the company to address two of the most pressing issues it faces—namely, the public’s opposition to captive-animal displays and the impact of the pandemic—by conducting a study to determine how soon the park could feasibly eliminate all programs involving live animals except legitimate rescue work.
“Ending the use of animals in demeaning shows, dangerous encounters, and cruel displays may be SeaWorld’s only hope of bringing back compassionate customers in a post-pandemic world,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is calling on SeaWorld to examine how quickly it could end these archaic practices and start switching to interactive digital displays and other innovative attractions that appeal to ticket buyers.”
PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment” and which opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview—purchased stock in SeaWorld when it first became publicly available in 2013. PETA withdrew previous shareholder resolutions calling on SeaWorld to end its orca-breeding program (2016) and stop using dolphins as surfboards in circus-style shows (2020) after the company agreed to do so. Meanwhile, the park has eliminated more than 3,300 positions since the release of Blackfish.
PETA’s shareholder resolution is available upon request. For more information, please visit SeaWorldOfHurt.com or follow PETA on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.


petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-02--PETA to Local Church: Please Keep Animals Away From the Manger!

Sun Prairie , Wis. – With Advent in full swing , LAMBS—PETA ’ s Christian outreach division—has sent a letter to the Rev .
Jenny Arneson , pastor of the Sun Prairie United Methodist Church , urging her to let animals enjoy peace and goodwill at Christmastime by leaving them out of its upcoming drive-through Nativity .
“ Using animals as living props is not a suitable way to spread the Christmas message of peace on Earth and goodwill to all members of creation , ” says PETA Vice President Daniel Paden .
“ LAMBS is urging Sun Prairie United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stress , confusion , and potential injury by opting for a historically accurate , animal-free manger instead.
” LAMBS—which takes its name from Matthew 25:40 ( “ Whatever you did for the least among my brothers and sisters , you did for me ” ) and whose motto reads , in part , that “ animals are not ours to use for entertainment ” —opposes speciesism , a human-supremacist worldview .
For more information , please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter , Facebook , or Instagram .
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christian outreach division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ( PETA ) , which has more than 6.5 million members and supporters worldwide , including many thousands across Wisconsin , in response to Sun Prairie United Methodist Church ’ s plans to expose animals to the stress of a live Nativity display this Advent .
We hope you will please reconsider for the following reasons .
Forcing stressed animals to appear in Nativity scenes and festive shows contradicts what this holy season represents : peace on Earth and goodwill to all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ verse that inspired LAMBS—Jesus says , “ Whatever you did for the least among my brothers and sisters , you did for me.
” Animals are truly “ the least ” among us and are in need of our compassion and mercy .
What better time is there than Christmas to show kindness to all God ’ s creatures ?
Animals used in public displays , such as live Nativity scenes , are often stressed from transport and from being in a strange environment .
They are denied what ’ s natural and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joy , fear , sadness , pain , and grief and have complex social and emotional lives—but most animals who are exploited for these displays are sentenced to a life of deprivation .
They ’ re hauled from venue to venue inside cramped trailers in all weather conditions .
When they aren ’ t on the road , they may be chained or confined to small holding pens , without ever being able to experience true kinship or select a lifelong mate .
In 2017 , a cow escaped from a live Nativity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She walked on icy roads and through a parking garage .
Luckily , she didn ’ t sustain any injuries , but she could easily have been hit by a car or otherwise harmed .
In 2016 , a live Nativity in Pikeville , Kentucky , was canceled after the shocking video of an animal handler punching a camel surfaced online .
The man was trying to make the camel lie down through the use of force—including hitting her in the face .
Ironically , live Nativity displays that use animals aren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular belief , there were no oxen , camels , donkeys , or other animals of any kind in the manger .
Many other churches have canceled plans for a live Nativity this year because of precautions to keep people safe from COVID-19 .
We hope that in the future , they ’ ll extend the same consideration to animals ’ health and well-being that they ’ ve extended to humans this year .
I hope you ’ ll agree that the abuse I ’ ve described here contradicts the careful stewardship and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we ought to exemplify .
Sun Prairie United Methodist Church has the opportunity to set a meaningful example by not using live animals .
May I please hear back that you ’ ve made the compassionate , Christian decision in this matter ?
Thank you for your consideration .
May you , your family , and your flock have a blessed Advent and Christmas .

PETA's Christian Outreach Division Prays for Compassionate Nativity Display
For Immediate Release:
December 2, 2020
Contact:
Megan Wiltsie 202-483-7382
Sun Prairie, Wis. – With Advent in full swing, LAMBS—PETA’s Christian outreach division—has sent a letter to the Rev. Jenny Arneson, pastor of the Sun Prairie United Methodist Church, urging her to let animals enjoy peace and goodwill at Christmastime by leaving them out of its upcoming drive-through Nativity.
“Using animals as living props is not a suitable way to spread the Christmas message of peace on Earth and goodwill to all members of creation,” says PETA Vice President Daniel Paden. “LAMBS is urging Sun Prairie United Methodist Church to spare these vulnerable souls stress, confusion, and potential injury by opting for a historically accurate, animal-free manger instead.”
LAMBS—which takes its name from Matthew 25:40 (“Whatever you did for the least among my brothers and sisters, you did for me”) and whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—opposes speciesism, a human-supremacist worldview. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow the group on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
LAMBS’ letter to Arneson follows.
December 2, 2020
The Reverend Jenny Arneson
Pastor
Sun Prairie United Methodist Church
Dear Pastor Arneson:
I’m writing on behalf of LAMBS, the Christian outreach division of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has more than 6.5 million members and supporters worldwide, including many thousands across Wisconsin, in response to Sun Prairie United Methodist Church’s plans to expose animals to the stress of a live Nativity display this Advent. We hope you will please reconsider for the following reasons.
Forcing stressed animals to appear in Nativity scenes and festive shows contradicts what this holy season represents: peace on Earth and goodwill to all members of creation. In Matthew 25:40—the verse that inspired LAMBS—Jesus says, “Whatever you did for the least among my brothers and sisters, you did for me.” Animals are truly “the least” among us and are in need of our compassion and mercy. What better time is there than Christmas to show kindness to all God’s creatures?
Animals used in public displays, such as live Nativity scenes, are often stressed from transport and from being in a strange environment. They are denied what’s natural and important to them. All animals experience joy, fear, sadness, pain, and grief and have complex social and emotional lives—but most animals who are exploited for these displays are sentenced to a life of deprivation. They’re hauled from venue to venue inside cramped trailers in all weather conditions. When they aren’t on the road, they may be chained or confined to small holding pens, without ever being able to experience true kinship or select a lifelong mate.
In 2017, a cow escaped from a live Nativity in Philadelphia twice in one night. She walked on icy roads and through a parking garage. Luckily, she didn’t sustain any injuries, but she could easily have been hit by a car or otherwise harmed. In 2016, a live Nativity in Pikeville, Kentucky, was canceled after the shocking video of an animal handler punching a camel surfaced online. The man was trying to make the camel lie down through the use of force—including hitting her in the face.
Ironically, live Nativity displays that use animals aren’t even historically accurate. Contrary to popular belief, there were no oxen, camels, donkeys, or other animals of any kind in the manger.
Many other churches have canceled plans for a live Nativity this year because of precautions to keep people safe from COVID-19. We hope that in the future, they’ll extend the same consideration to animals’ health and well-being that they’ve extended to humans this year. I hope you’ll agree that the abuse I’ve described here contradicts the careful stewardship and loving dominion of God’s creatures that we ought to exemplify. Sun Prairie United Methodist Church has the opportunity to set a meaningful example by not using live animals. May I please hear back that you’ve made the compassionate, Christian decision in this matter? Thank you for your consideration. May you, your family, and your flock have a blessed Advent and Christmas.
Yours in Christ,
Daniel Paden
Vice President


petapeoplefortheethicaltreatmentofanimals--2020-12-02--PETA, Dove, The Body Shop, and More Than 450 Others Defend Animal Testing Ban

PETA , Cruelty Free Europe , and more than 450 companies , brands , and animal protection organizations—including Dove , Simple , and The Body Shop—have sent an open letter to the European Parliament , European Commission , and European Council .
The letter urges legislators to uphold the EU Cosmetics Regulation ’ s animal testing and marketing bans and not allow cosmetics ingredients to be tested on animals under any circumstances .
Since 2009 , tests on animals for cosmetics ingredients have been banned in the EU under the Cosmetics Regulation .
Likewise , cosmetics products and ingredients that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted after 2013 for safety-assessment purposes can not be sold in the EU .
Yet the European Chemicals Agency ( ECHA ) , supported by the European Commission and the ECHA Board of Appeal , is demanding new tests on animals for cosmetics ingredients under the guise of the REACH chemicals regulation .
In the last five years alone , tests requiring the use of over 10,000 animals have been mandated .
This completely circumvents the purpose of the Cosmetics Regulation—which is to bring cosmetics safely to market without requiring tests on animals—and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make matters worse , the European Commission is also working on plans that could further weaken the Cosmetics Regulation and see a reversal of the hard-won protections for animals it contains .
This would result in the suffering of many more animals in cruel , pointless cosmetics tests and severely limit the availability of products and ingredients marketed within the cruelty-free sector .
What We ’ re Doing About It The Cosmetics Regulation is under threat , and PETA is stepping up to protect it .
We ’ re joining forces with compassionate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand that no more animals suffer for cosmetics , a stance that ’ s overwhelmingly supported by the public and required by law .
The letter to EU authorities blasts them for undermining the Cosmetics Regulation and condemning thousands of animals—including rats and rabbits , some of whom are pregnant—to suffer in tests in which they are force-fed a cosmetics ingredient before being killed and dissected .
Here ’ s What You Can Do to Help Testing beauty products on animals is ugly .
Do your part by always using cruelty-free products , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s international database of companies that do and don ’ t test on animals .
Please help us demonstrate the power of public opposition to testing cosmetics on animals : urge the European Commission and ECHA to respect the Cosmetics Regulation and ban tests on animals for cosmetics ingredients , no matter the circumstances :

PETA, Cruelty Free Europe, and more than 450 companies, brands, and animal protection organizations—including Dove, Simple, and The Body Shop—have sent an open letter to the European Parliament, European Commission, and European Council. The letter urges legislators to uphold the EU Cosmetics Regulation’s animal testing and marketing bans and not allow cosmetics ingredients to be tested on animals under any circumstances.
Isn’t Cosmetics Testing Banned in Europe?
Since 2009, tests on animals for cosmetics ingredients have been banned in the EU under the Cosmetics Regulation. Likewise, cosmetics products and ingredients that rely on the results of animal tests conducted after 2013 for safety-assessment purposes cannot be sold in the EU.
Yet the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), supported by the European Commission and the ECHA Board of Appeal, is demanding new tests on animals for cosmetics ingredients under the guise of the REACH chemicals regulation. In the last five years alone, tests requiring the use of over 10,000 animals have been mandated. This completely circumvents the purpose of the Cosmetics Regulation—which is to bring cosmetics safely to market without requiring tests on animals—and puts animals back in laboratories.
To make matters worse, the European Commission is also working on plans that could further weaken the Cosmetics Regulation and see a reversal of the hard-won protections for animals it contains. This would result in the suffering of many more animals in cruel, pointless cosmetics tests and severely limit the availability of products and ingredients marketed within the cruelty-free sector.
What We’re Doing About It
The Cosmetics Regulation is under threat, and PETA is stepping up to protect it. We’re joining forces with compassionate companies, brands, and organizations to demand that no more animals suffer for cosmetics, a stance that’s overwhelmingly supported by the public and required by law.
The letter to EU authorities blasts them for undermining the Cosmetics Regulation and condemning thousands of animals—including rats and rabbits, some of whom are pregnant—to suffer in tests in which they are force-fed a cosmetics ingredient before being killed and dissected.
© Doctors Against Animal Experiments
Here’s What You Can Do to Help
Testing beauty products on animals is ugly. Do your part by always using cruelty-free products, and when in doubt, check PETA’s international database of companies that do and don’t test on animals.
Please help us demonstrate the power of public opposition to testing cosmetics on animals: urge the European Commission and ECHA to respect the Cosmetics Regulation and ban tests on animals for cosmetics ingredients, no matter the circumstances: