Remembering a PETA Legend and a Legend for Animal Rights: Alisa Mullins

Alisa left us far too soon, but she left behind a kinder, better world than the one she found. And though our hearts are hurting, we can be inspired by the joie de vivre that characterized everything Alisa did. Even in the face of the most difficult situations, Alisa kept her endlessly upbeat attitude, found a way to laugh, and made others laugh with her.

Alisa was the epitome of “Keep Calm and Carry On”—a mindset that served her well in her career. For example, when she started at PETA 30 years ago, she probably didn’t think her job would land her in jail. But that’s exactly what happened only a couple of years later. It was 1994, and Alisa volunteered to be part of PETA’s now-famous sit-in at Calvin Klein’s offices in New York City, demanding that he stop using fur. She planted herself there, holding signs and chanting. Eventually, Alisa and six others were hauled off to spend the night behind bars. But her determination paid off: Just weeks later, Klein became the first major designer to swear off fur! Alisa called it her proudest achievement.

Over her next three decades at PETA, Alisa went on to accomplish much, much more. Desi, Blue, Bon Jovi, Jax, Wolfie, and dozens of other formerly abused and neglected animals now have families who love and cherish them, thanks to Alisa’s clever and endearing adoption blog posts. Many people have told us that Alisa’s post was the reason they decided to adopt an animal from PETA. She even wrote one entirely in the format of a Jeopardy! game show—which resulted in a wonderful home for Poe, a shy black cat who might have otherwise been overlooked.

Alisa’s writing was simply brilliant. She could have been a New York Times bestselling author if she wanted to, but she chose to use her gift on behalf of animals. Her pieces advocating for animals have, in fact, appeared in the New York Times—along with dozens of other top publications, from Newsweek to Reader’s Digest and beyond. She could whip up anything—articles, blog posts, op-eds, letters to the editor, annual reviews, you name it—all on a moment’s notice.

As one of her colleagues said, “PETA isn’t just where Alisa worked, it was part of her plasma.” Alisa is in PETA’s blood, too: She not only crafted countless compelling pieces, she honed the messaging and defined the “voice” of the entire organization.

Alisa became the associate editor of Animal Times and then PETA Global, thanks to her big-picture thinking and intuitive grasp of PETA’s unique and ever-evolving style. Over the years, she trained, edited, and mentored every member of Writers Group—taking them under her wing, encouraging them, and shaping the department into an animal rights writing powerhouse.

A whiz at wading through complex issues, Alisa could pick out the interesting and relevant angle from a tangled heap of information and transform it into an expertly crafted piece. She was a pro at getting to the heart of any issue—and always ensured our grammar was impeccable. As one of Alisa’s colleagues said, “She exemplified excellence and integrity, which made everyone around her want to get on her level.”

If she wanted to, Alisa could have found alternate employment as a writer or cast member for Saturday Night Live. Her spot-on send-ups of animal abusers kept her colleagues in stitches, and her wickedly witty puns, titles, and slogans are the stuff of legend. Alisa came up with PETA’s suggestion that the Green Bay Packers become the Green Bay Pickers—which the media ate up. And any time her colleagues struggled to say something with style, they only had to ask Alisa. Not only would she produce the perfect turn of phrase, but she’d suggest a half dozen equally brilliant variations from her treasure trove of ideas.

Case in point: While brainstorming anti-wool Christmas carols for a PETA demo, Alisa came up with this gem:

Rude Oaf the red-faced shearer 

Had a very short fuse 

And if you ever crossed him, you would leave with a bruise… 

“Rude Oaf” will go down in Writers Group history!

And speaking of PETA demos, Alisa was on the frontlines at every protest back in the 1990s, when Ringling Bros. had the nerve to show up in Norfolk. She was also one of the determined demonstrators who ensured that the Virginia Marine Science Museum’s planned dolphinarium never got off the ground.

Always eager to roll up her sleeves to help, she spent hours bagging straw for PETA to distribute to cold “backyard” dogs, and she rescued many animals, from dogs left in hot cars to kittens abandoned under a porch. From Norfolk to Knoxville, she quickly made friends with all of her neighbors—much to the delight of their animal companions, who got to enjoy daily group dog-walks and play dates. She even organized a spay/neuter extravaganza for all the animals on her street!

Alisa adopted many lucky animals over the years, and she will be greatly missed by the feline family members she leaves behind, Hazel and Teddy. Her beloved retired racing greyhound, Jasper, who recently passed away, even had his own Instagram account where Alisa chronicled his adventures, from visiting botanical gardens to “roaching” on his stack of comfy beds, and encouraged everyone to #adoptdontshop.

Animals loved Alisa as much as she loved them: One of her colleagues fondly remembers how excited her dogs would get whenever they saw Alisa. Alisa would get down on the floor and let the dogs pummel her, getting coated in slobber, and laughing the whole time.

She loved her colleagues, too, organizing outings to see the holiday lights at Williamsburg, cracking them up with her commentary on movie nights, and calling to check up on them after they had surgery—sometimes even just days after she’d gotten out of the hospital herself.

A self-avowed Anglophile, Alisa enjoyed watching Midsomer Murders and other British mysteries, and was forever painting and doing DIY projects on her home, which she decorated in English country style. She also designed a gorgeous English garden in her parents’ backyard and made her own gardens a haven for wildlife. Alisa didn’t just have a green thumb—all of her fingers were green! A few years ago, Alisa and a colleague visited England. They rode the train to Cornwall and found a local retired librarian who took them all over the countryside to see old estates and gardens. But the memory that still stands out in that colleague’s mind is how Alisa managed to wear the same pair of jeans for 10 days straight and yet still look fresh!

Alisa’s commitment to animal rights lives on in her extremely close-knit and loving family, who all got on board and went veg not long after Alisa did. She got her brother, Matt, who makes and fits prosthetic limbs, to pose with a head of broccoli and lend his support to an Animal Times article about diabetes. Her parents once rescued a stranded dolphin when they were sailing, and we have Alisa’s dad to thank for his brilliant idea of renaming the Washington Redskins “the Washington Redskins”… potatoes, that is!  

PETA simply would not be where it is today without Alisa and her flawless work, which has helped too many animals to count. All of us will forever be inspired by her talent, skills, and creativity, as well as her fierce and unwavering dedication to animal rights. We love you, Alisa.