PETA News

GLOBAL

Feathers Out of H&M, Other Top Brands

Following a global campaign by PETA entities that included spirited demonstrations, shareholder resolutions, and letters from more than 150,000 of our supporters, H&M – the world’s second-largest clothing retailer – is removing new down feathers from all its brands as it transitions away from down altogether. Elisabetta Franchi joined PETA’s list of feather-free designers, and leading European fashion retailer C&A stopped using leather and new feathers. Urge Italian fashion house Moncler Group to ditch down.

USA

NASCAR Superstar Speeds Up PETA’s Work to Unchain Dogs

Daniel Suárez has helped animals since he was a boy in Mexico, where his father rescued “street dogs.” So he was revved up to appear on PETA billboards, including outside North Carolina’s famed Charlotte Motor Speedway. Following talks with PETA, another North Carolina town – Rich Square – put the brakes on dog chaining, banning it. If you see a dog chained outside without food, water, or adequate shelter, contact local authorities right away. If nothing is done, contact PETA.

INDIA

PETA India Donation Ends Pharmacy School’s Animal Tests

Maharashtra’s Indala Institute of Pharmacy has ended all experiments on animals in favor of interactive simulation software Ex-Pharm, donated by PETA India and the Bureau for Health and Education Status Upliftment. This lifesaving decision will prevent many animals from being used in painful experiments and offers students a superior–and repeatable–learning experience.

USA

Rabbit Sales at Petco Are a No-Go

PETA was hopping mad when Petco announced that it would start selling rabbits again – despite its 2008 promise, made after a campaign led by PETA and rabbit adoption groups, to showcase only those up for adoption. PETA quickly rallied the troops, met with the company, and secured Petco’s commitment not to sell the animals. Give rabbits a reason to “binkie” (jump for joy): Adopt – don’t shop.

GLOBAL

PETA UK to Pope: ‘Stop Supporting Bullfights’

As Pope Francis’ procession made its way through Luxembourg, PETA UK supporters overcame enormous security presence to kneel down right in front of the pope mobile, holding signs aloft to beseech His Holiness to cut the Catholic Church’s disgraceful ties to bullfighting. Police raced to grab the animal advocates, throwing one over a wall before arresting them all. Ads, letters signed by priests, postcards from members of the public, and more have been brushed off, and now we’re asking you to join in the appeal. Add your voice to those of more than 114,000 people asking Pope Francis to condemn bull torture.

USA

National Mango Board Ends Seedy Animal Tests

The National Mango Board will no longer harm and kill mice and rats to promote dubious human health claims about mangoes, following a high pressure PETA campaign that included letters, supporter e-mails, and advertisements. The board stopped funding experiments in which animals were starved, force-fed, injected with cancer cells, and killed. Help end other animal tests for produce.

FRANCE

Grocers Jump to Protect Frogs

After seeing PETA Asia’s investigation into frog slaughter in Indonesia, Système U – a retailers’ cooperative comprising 800 supermarkets – stopped purchasing frogs’ legs from the country. The organization, France’s sixth-largest retail group, joins other grocers in cutting ties with the world’s main exporter of frogs’ legs after learning that workers saw into the backs of frogs’ heads, chop off their feet, and skin them alive. If you see frogs’ legs on a menu or anywhere else, please speak up!

USA

HBO’s Chimp Crazy Aids PETA’s Push to Ban Primate ‘Pets’

The wild HBO docuseries Chimp Crazy, from Tiger King director Eric Goode, shows PETA’s years-long legal battle, our nationwide search, and help from PETA Honorary Director Alan Cumming to find and free Tonka from the basement dungeon where he was being hidden after notorious animal broker Tonia Haddix faked his death. Viewers were left stunned by the hit series’ jaw-dropping twists and turns, and here’s one more: PETA used evidence from Chimp Crazy to show that Haddix violated court orders and petitioned for her to be held in contempt of court. Following Tiger King’s success, the US passed the historic Big Cat Public Safety Act, which bans private ownership of big cats. Now we’re out to protect primates! US readers, please press lawmakers to pass the Captive Primate Safety Act.

USA

Candy Companies Shun SeaWorld

Smarties Candy Company, Albanese Confectionery, and Colombina Candy Company soured on SeaWorld – and severed ties with the shameful abusement park – after hearing from PETA. Please tell everyone you know to stay away from marine mammal prisons – just as the animals would if they could.

USA

First US City Bans ‘Torture Breeding’

After input from PETA, Ojai, California, became the first US city to ban what many European countries describe as “torture breeding,” the intentional inbreeding of animals to have extreme features that cause them a lifetime of silent suffering. The ban protects breathing-impaired breeds (BIB) – such as French bulldogs, pugs, Persian cats, and Scottish Fold cats, whose smushed faces and distorted, restricted airways force them to pant and gasp for air – as well as other breeds who suffer from various painful and debilitating health issues. Advise everyone you know never to buy a BIB dog or cat and to always adopt animals from shelters.

INDIA

Be Kind to All Kinds

Following public outrage over an intercepted shipment of suspected dog meat, PETA India challenged meat-eaters’ speciesism with this provocative billboard. A lot of goats are eaten in India, but of course they’re as friendly, curious, and mischievous as any dog. Be compassionate to all animals: Get free vegan recipes here.

GLOBAL

No Fur, No Badger, No Wild-Animal Leather!

Following a big push from PETA, including thousands of e-mails from animal advocates around the world, Max Mara – one of the final holdouts – banned fur. But PETA entities aren’t stopping there. After hearing from more than 13,000 of our supporters about the cruel ways pythons are killed, watch brand Bulova confirmed that it will no longer buy reptile skins. Marc Jacobs and FAITHFULL binned wild-animal skins, and Acqua di Parma, BeardMan, FREED, and GiftU dropped badger-hair brushes. Learn how to clear your closet of cruelty.

GLOBAL

Rats’ Rights! We Saved Scores of Little Lives

Many mice, rats, birds, squirrels, and other small animals will no longer face ugly deaths while stuck on glue traps now that England, Scotland, and Wales have banned the devices following efforts by PETA UK. PETA entities also secured bans in 32 Indian states and in Ojai and West Hollywood, California. Simon Property Group (the largest owner of shopping malls in the US) and numerous other businesses worldwide vowed not to use the traps. To top it off, PETA helped persuade the New York City Council to introduce a humane, effective rat birth control pilot program. Explore our tips on what to do if you see glue traps being used.

UKRAINE

Inches From Death! Drone Destroys Rescuers’ Van

PETA-supported Animal Rescue Kharkiv’s team had just scooped up a mother dog and her puppies when their van was hit by a drone attack near the front lines. Had they been going only slightly faster, they would all likely have lost their lives. Thankfully, the rescue team and canine family all survived, but their van was irreparably damaged. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, PETA Germany and its partners have saved more than 20,000 animals – and counting! Now Animal Rescue Kharkiv must get another van and increase its drone defense systems, which can steer incoming missiles off course. To help, please donate to PETA’s Global Compassion Fund.