Animal Protection

Carrie Underwood's pretty pipes have made her one of the most influential artists in country music. But now she's piping up about something truly ugly: "ag-gag" bills. Currently being considered in several states, these unconstitutional bills would make it illegal for anyone to shoot video on factory farms in order to expose cruelty to animals, in essence making whistleblowers out to be criminals. That doesn't sit well with this vegan gal, who tweeted, "'@nytimes: Taping of Farm Cruelty Is Becoming the Crime nyti.ms/10HpjWn' What the what? Terrorism? Really? Dumbest. Idea. Ever." 

Elsewhere on Twitter, Amanda Seyfried joined multitudes of celebrities and supporters in defending PETA's euthanasia policy, Ireland Baldwin declared that she's going to go vegan (with a little help from PETA)—we sent her a vegan starter kit, Paul McCartney's "Glass Walls" video, and cookbooks to help her get started—and Leona Lewis vented about England's Grand National horse race:

We love our "Never Be Silent" campaign, and Waka Flocka Flame does, too: He never passes up an opportunity to speak up against the cruelty of fur. This time, in an interview with AOL's TheBoombox, Waka called fur "nasty as hell." We couldn't agree more.

Two and a Half Men's Jon Cryer didn't pass up the opportunity to brag about his two rescued dogs in his Us magazine "25 Things You Don't Know About Me" article. 

And over on NBC, Jimmy Fallon's Late Night audience simultaneously screamed with delight and "Awww"ed when the host talked about how überhunk Ryan Gosling has teamed up with PETA to ask for more humane treatment of cows on dairy farms. 

Hey, girl. Ryan Gosling wants you to keep up with what he's doing for animals by following @PETA on Twitter. 

PETA is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of any individual who may have caused a rash of sudden deaths among thoroughbred horses in California, currently being investigated by the California Horse Racing Board.

Acute, unexpected deaths are rare for thoroughbreds, but since July 2011, at least 26 horses in California have died suddenly—seven of them from the barn of prominent trainer Bob Baffert.

Horses die every day in racing from causes that are appallingly preventable, but these deaths are different. Necropsy reports show that at least one of the horses suffered from massive internal bleeding from unknown causes, and others reportedly died of apparent heart failure from unknown causes. An abrupt spike in the number of sudden, unexplained deaths—followed by reportedly inconclusive necropsy results—inevitably raises concerns about possible foul play. 

What You Can Do

If you or someone you know has information about these suspicious deaths, PETA wants to hear about it—and if that information results in a conviction, it could earn the person who reported it both a $5,000 reward and the satisfaction of knowing that the culprit or culprits will be held accountable for these deaths. The whistleblower hotline is 757-962-8383—all calls will be kept confidential. 

To help eradicate even more suffering of horses used for racing, speak out today. 

Paul McCartney once went to Kansas City to get his baby back, and now PETA is blazing the same trail to help teens get their baby faces back.

A new study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that teenagers who drank more milk had more problems with acne. It confirmed similar findings by the Harvard School of Public Health. So PETA plans to take this message to high schools around the country, starting with the ad that we've placed in the Kansas City, Missouri, metro area:  

Besides being crappy for the complexion, milk is cruel to cows.  Want to save face? Grab a carton of tasty nondairy soy, almond, or rice milk the next time you're at the grocery store and keep your skin and your conscience clear.  

Police are investigating the shooting of an elephant used by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. The incident reportedly occurred outside the Bancorp South Arena in Tupelo, Mississippi, early on the morning of April 9. Knowing Ringling's shady history when it comes to animals (some years ago, a trainer traveling with Ringling shot a tiger to death while the animal was locked in his cage), PETA is urging authorities to interview all circus employees carefully. Also, as usual, it appears that no veterinarian was on the road with the circus despite a history of animal illnesses and injuries. So with only the self-interested circus's word to rely on, who knows if the elephant is receiving proper care? PETA has increased the reward for information leading to a conviction in the attack.

In the wild, elephants form strong social bonds, and walk up to 30 miles each day. But in the circus, they live in constant fear of punishment.

Numerous Ringling workers have histories of animal abuse, which is why PETA is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and local law enforcement to look particularly closely at the circus's employees—some of whom have been caught on film beating elephants with sharp, heavy bullhooks and some of whom are the subjects of recent sworn eyewitness complaints about animal abuse—when seeking the culprit or culprits in this incident.

To help authorities find the person or persons responsible for this horrendous act, PETA will be adding up to $5,000 to the $250 reward offered by former 1st Congressional District Rep. Travis Childers. Because shooting an Asian elephant is a violation of the federal Endangered Species Act, the FWS is also offering a $5,000 reward.

PETA is also asking the USDA to inspect the injured elephant and ensure that she is receiving adequate treatment. Ringling has a long record of failing to provide elephants used in its shows with adequate veterinary care. The circus commonly travels without a veterinarian—despite the large number of animals it carts all over the U.S.—and the veterinarians it does have often sign off on allowing ailing elephants to perform painful tricks.

Even without the threat of being shot, Ringling's elephants must regularly endure violence and distress. Please urge the USDA to confiscate all the ailing animals from Ringling for placement with reputable sanctuaries. Never, ever patronize circuses that use animals, and tell others to avoid them as well. 

Come on—you know we couldn't let Justin Timberlake's performance at the White House go unmarked by a tribute to his immortal Saturday Night Live skit in which he (literally) sang the praises of vegan eating:

Are you thinkin' about your he-ealth, oh, oh? Then veg out! No meat, so chic.

It would break your heart to see the difference that a simple doghouse can make in a dog's life. One recent beneficiary of PETA's doghouse delivery program is Passion, who was spotted by a PETA fieldworker when our Community Animal Project visited the trailer park in which she lives to help a neighbor transport her dog to our no-cost to low-cost spay/neuter clinic. Our fieldworker found Passion—and her pitiful excuse for a doghouse, a collection of metal and wood filled with gaps that had done virtually nothing to keep her warm or dry this winter.

We replaced her decaying, makeshift lean-to with a sturdy, weatherproof doghouse and filled it with straw (which doesn't freeze as towels and blankets do when they get wet). Like all our outdoor clients, Passion also received a lightweight, tangle-free tie-out to replace her heavy chain, a toy and a treat, clean water, and a few minutes of affection, which means the world to a dog stuck outside alone 24 hours a day. Passion was so excited by her new house and all the attention she was getting that her whole body wiggled with delight. It was as if she'd won the lottery.

Countless neglected "backyard dogs" don't have so much as a cardboard box to shelter them from the wind and rain. PETA fieldworkers have found dogs shivering during lashing nor'easters with nothing more to protect them from the elements than end tables, patio chairs, overturned barrels, shells of air-conditioning units, and pieces of plywood propped against fences. Some didn't even have those. During the winter, these dogs run the risk of suffering from exposure or frostbite or becoming dehydrated when water bowls freeze. During the summer, lack of access to water or shade can be fatal when the temperatures soar.

Dogs are pack animals who crave the companionship of others. There are few things worse for a dog than "solitary confinement" on a chain or in a pen or kennel. That constant barking that drives the neighbors crazy? It's a cry for help.

If you know someone with an "outdoor dog," offer to play or go on walks with the pup. Take treats and toys, which mean so much to a dog who would otherwise have nothing to do but watch the mud dry. Make sure that the dog has adequate food, water, and shelter (required by law), and report neglect to animal control. And use our resources to help get a chaining ban passed in your community.

Just what exactly is PETA doing to help combat the animal overpopulation crisis and provide vulnerable animals with assistance? This infographic breaks it down:

What You Can Do

Help animals in your neighborhood as well as low-income areas get spayed and neutered, promote adoption from animal shelters instead of buying from breeders or pet stores, and demand appropriate animal-care standards in your community.

Visit PETASaves.com for more information.

Little Olivia was found in a warehouse district and brought to PETA by a distraught worker. She needed round-the-clock veterinary care to treat an infection that almost left her blind, anemia so severe that she was a candidate for a blood transfusion, and advanced malnutrition, Soon, Olivia started to slowly regain her strength. She had clearly been someone's companion since she was spayed and declawed, but she wound up wandering about by herself and no one knew why. PETA rans ads, but no one responded to them or the "found animal" reports that we filed, or to our fliers. Her background remains a mystery. 

Despite everything that she had endured, Olivia still loved humans especially the devoted PETA fieldworker who spent the night on the floor with Olivia the the first few nights of her sojourn with us. We wanted to make sure that her gentle spirit and seemingly endless desire for affection would never be taken for granted again. Even though we placed Olivia's picture and an appeal to adopt her on the front page of PETA's website, alerted our members and supporters through Facebook, and put fliers around town, we didn't find a suitable adopter. Luckily, one of the PETA staff took her in for the foster care and then decided, well you'd better stay then! She loves her feline brother, Clyde, who is also a PETA rescue. 

Although some people can pay top dollar for a Yorkshire terrier, that doesn't always mean that the little dog will have a great home. And poor Benny certainly didn't. PETA found him dodging traffic in a dangerous street and took him to our headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia. He had a collar but no tags or microchip, and again, although we filed reports and posted fliers and ads, no one bothered to claim him.

Even though Yorkies are popular, Benny had been through enough, and not just anyone who wanted a cute tiny dog would make a suitable adopter. It took a lot of looking for a home, but thanks to a local vet clinic, PETA found a retired couple who had just had to euthanize one of their two Yorkies because of old age and failing health. When we visited with the family at their home, they fit Benny to a T and is now helping the other dog stop grieving.

It isn't easy to find a decent, lasting homes—not just homes where they will be sheltered, fed, walked, and sometimes petted but homes where they are respected members of the family. Every animal deserves companionship, excellent vet care, playtime, fun outings to the park or beach (for dogs), and a peaceful, painless release when their lives have come to an end. PETA won't compromise our standards and send an animal into a substandard home just to make our adoption rates look good.

So, can you help? We are now searching for the perfect home for Bea. She was found wandering the streets, and although she is in good health and thus likely hasn't been on her own for long, no one seems to want to claim her. 

Bea is a calm, sweet beagle-Chihuahua mix who weighs about 25 pounds. She is young and housetrained. She gets along well with children and other dogs and would be happiest with someone who is often home. She is irresistible. 

If you think that you or your family is the perfect adoptive family for Bea and you would like to help with our next success story, please e-mail us at Adopt@peta.org.

Got your dancing shoes on? Several of PETA's celebrity supporters do, and they've been showing off their best moves on ABC's Dancing With the Stars (DWTS). The animal-friendly folks tripping the light fantastic this season include the following:

Andy Dick 

Before he began cutting a rug on DWTS, this compassionate  comic took on the cutting-up of animals for dissection and (with a valuable assist from Martin Short) hilariously showed the unfunny side of a certain fast-food clown in his memorable spots for PETA.

Karina Smirnoff 

The lovely professional dancer dazzled us in her PETA ad declaring that she'd rather dance naked than wear fur!

© StarMaxInc.com

Kellie Pickler 

The country chanteuse (who's also fur-free) has been wowing the judges with her moves and winning over viewers with her sweet smile—not to mention the fit physique that earned her PETA's Sexiest Vegetarian Alive title. Being good to animals is good for your body, too!

© StarMaxInc.com

Zendaya Coleman 

Zendaya has already shown that she has all the right moves on Disney's Shake It Up—and by helping PETA help animals with a fundraiser at the vegan-friendly Millions of Milkshakes. 

Carrie Ann Inaba 

This PETA pal, who is seated at the DWTS judges' table, partnered with her beloved late cat, Shadow, in a stunning ad promoting spaying and neutering to end the animal-overpopulation crisis. 

Keep on dancing, y'all—we'll be cheering you on every week. To us, though, everyone who steps up for animals is a Mirror Ball winner!

PETA has come up with a drone program that even Rand Paul might be able to get behind. Inspired by the increasing use of drones for nonmilitary purposes, such as fighting wildfires and conducting search-and-rescue missions, PETA is planning to acquire a drone of its own to spy on hunters and catch them in the act as they terrorize animals and break game laws.

PETA has decided to use a remote-controlled aircraft to collect and publicize footage of hunters shooting animals and allowing them to escape, only to die slowly and in agony, among other common violations. PETA has contacted Australia-based drone manufacturer Aerobot, maker of the state-of-the-art, remote-controlled helicopters that can be outfitted with a video camera, to discuss which of its products would best fit the purpose. The drones can also be used to fly over factory farms and other areas that are hotbeds of abuse.

quadrocopter | cc by 2.0

Hunters maim and kill millions of animals every year. PETA's office routinely receives reports of deer spooked by hunters and then running wildly onto highways or crashing through plate-glass windows. For some animals who are still mobile but wounded, it can take weeks to succumb to their injuries. And research shows that for every animal killed by a bowhunter, another is maimed, never to be found again. The slaughtered animals aren't the only victims, as weak and young family members are left to starve or be attacked by predators. With more than five times as many wildlife watchers as there are hunters in the U.S., we hope to expose further why hunting is a sick and sickening pursuit.

While hunters disguise themselves as trees and pretend they are ducks, it is only fair to give animals something to fight back with. Duck defender Morrissey would certainly approve.

Back in January, PETA sent out a news release about the number of sick, injured, elderly, and otherwise unadoptable animals we had to euthanize during the previous year. PETA openly publishes these figures every single year and simultaneously calls on the government and citizens to help promote anti-chaining ordinances (many of the dogs our caseworkers encounter are aggressive or horrifically neglected after having been chained outside for their entire lives), to help reduce the cost of euthanasia of old and ill animals who belong to people with a low income (these account for many of the animals PETA helps), and to implement sterilization programs and laws to reduce the homeless-animal crisis.

In other words, old news is now being regurgitated with a vindictive spin by—among others—a front group for Philip Morris, Outback Steakhouse, KFC, cattle ranchers, and other animal exploiters that kill millions of animals every year—and which do so not out of compassion but out of greed. Before falling prey to the hysteria, please have a look at BermanExposed.org and ConsumerDeception.com.

PETA's statistics are also often used, as they are being used now, in a truly perverted way by some "no-kill" evangelists to try to turn people away from the "evil" of what is actually a dignified, merciful release from suffering. They never give a complete picture, and they always use inflammatory language and labels like "puppies" and "kittens," even if the animal was a 17-year-old dog who was unable to breathe properly because of a heart condition. Such people are sure that if you shuffle enough animals around from shelters to hoarders' basements or just throw stones at shelter workers and call them "psycho" and so on, people will join their number. But they offer no realistic solution to the multiple tragic problems associated with easily acquired and easily discarded "pets."

Anyone who reads our website or receives our newsletters, in which we discuss this issue regularly, knows that PETA has a division that does hands-on work with animals. We run a shelter but in the most merciful way. We help—because no one else will—the animals who are society's rejects in the area near our Virginia headquarters. These animals are aggressive, feral, on death's door (often with large tumors hanging from their bodies), or otherwise unadoptable. We have published many blog posts about our caseworkers' heartbreaking work over the years, and more information can be found at PETASaves.com. 

It's important to note that the figures used by anti-PETA campaigners are deliberately chosen because they are just the euthanasia figures. They do not include perspective—i.e., the more than 10,000 dogs and cats PETA provided with no-cost to low-cost spay and neuter surgeries and other veterinary services in the last 12 months alone, the hundreds of animals delivered to large high-traffic shelter facilities for adoption, the counseling and aid services that PETA provides in order to enable people to keep and properly care for their animals, and the animals we have put up for adoption, like the cat currently featured on our website, whom we nursed back to (almost) good health and who is still seeking a permanent home.

The "no-kill" shelters in the area surrounding PETA's headquarters, like many such places that sing the "no-kill" refrain for fundraising purposes, actually not only refuse admission to animals (because they are constantly "too full") and reject dogs and cats who are injured, sick, or dying but also refer these "undesirable" animals to PETA, which bears the veterinary or euthanasia costs. For more information on this topic, visit PETASaves.com.

People who are shocked to learn how many healthy or adoptable animals have to be euthanized annually or are questioning PETA's euthanasia record should ask themselves if they are spaying and neutering their own animal companions, helping people with a low income "fix" theirs, adopting from shelters instead of buying from breeders and pet stores, funding education campaigns about proper animal care and adoption (among other things), and demanding higher animal-protection standards in their own communities. They should also look carefully at the photographs of the animals who come out of the impoverished areas that PETA serves. Of course, they should definitely not be eating or wearing animals or their skins, using products tested on animals (who are usually killed at the end of the tests), or engaging in any activity that results in killing animals not out of mercy but for selfish reasons.

PETA is proud to continue to stand tall and roll up its sleeves to help animals. 

It looks like DJ Pauly D is DTF—Down to Feast (on vegan food). After he watched the game-changing documentary Forks Over Knives, Pauly tweeted, "Just Watched A Movie Called 'Forks Over Knives' Basically Changed My Life!" It isn't surprising, since we know that he likes staying in great shape and looking "fresh to death." PETA sent Pauly some swag to help him get started, including Vegan Cooking for Carnivores and a vegetarian/vegan starter kit. 

And model Ireland Baldwin is making her fridge as green as her namesake. After PETA tweeted that some Easter candy is made from "excretions of a beaver butthole," Ireland responded, "Well, @peta gives me another reason to commit to becoming vegan." Animal-friendly genes must run in the family: Her dad, Alec Baldwin, is a top-notch PETA supporter, and mom Kim Basinger is vegetarian. 

Pauly and Ireland weren't the only ones posting sweet tweets for animals this week:

HLN's Morning Express host Robin Meade has also ditched meat. Maybe Jane Velez-Mitchell is helping her find her way to Veganville. 

Vegan funny lady Ellen DeGeneres will help audiences everywhere remember that fish are friends, not food, in her upcoming Finding Nemo sequel, Finding Dory.

And we'll leave you this week with an "Awww": a video of Pauly D's pal—and ours—Jay Sean hanging with his dog, Tyler. Yeah, buddy!

To keep up with what all your favorite stars are doing for animals, follow @PETA on Twitter. 

When people talk about PETA's euthanasia statistics, those aren't just abstract figures to me—my dog was one of those animals. Kodah, aka "Bug," was technically "taken into custody and euthanized within 24 hours." It was more like euthanized in minutes. That's because she was dying.

Kodah-Bug was diagnosed with cancer on a Friday and went downhill quickly. By 1 a.m. the next night, she was suffering, struggling to breathe. I called PETA, and without a moment's hesitation, someone met me at the building in the wee hours of the morning. The PETA staffers who are certified to perform euthanasia are the most caring, compassionate, gentle people I know. My sweet girl deserved the most peaceful and painless end possible. She found it at PETA.

Almost a year after Kodah's passing, a PETA worker found a dog running loose on the streets. She was a starving, terrified stray who had to be lured with food morsels over the course of several hours. I fostered Emma for several months, getting the word out by putting up fliers, posting her picture on social media, and blogging about her and her need for a good home. No takers. Luckily for her (and me), I was in a position to adopt her. What would have happened to Emma had PETA not rescued her?

PETA's euthanasia numbers are decried by "no-kill" fanatics and others in order to upset people. But behind those numbers, there are animals who need help, and they wouldn't get it elsewhere. No one seems to talk about the much higher numbers of animals helped by PETA's spay-and-neuter program—PETA has sterilized more than 90,000 animals for free or at a fraction of a standard vet's office fee since 2001, preventing millions of animals from being born into a world already overflowing with homeless ones. But those numbers aren't as "sexy." "PETA Saves Countless Dogs and Cats From Abandonment, Abuse, and Neglect" just doesn't have quite the same shock value.

Unfortunately, PETA's mobile spay-and-neuter clinics can't get to all the animals in need, and there just aren't enough good homes out there for the millions of animals who need them. The shelters are full, and people keep buying from breeders or giving up their animals when their lives change.

If you're angry about euthanasia, volunteer at an animal shelter or donate to PETA's spay-and-neuter efforts—go out and do something. No one should point fingers and complain because everyone is needed to do something good, to take action and make a difference.

Written by Kristen Stine

PETA is calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Moreno Valley, California, officials to stop performances by an unlicensed animal exhibitor. On April 2, the USDA canceled the Ramos Bros. Circus' license to exhibit animals—without this license, it is illegal to exhibit animals. Yet Ramos Bros. is performing in Moreno Valley, in apparent violation of federal law.

The circus's disregard for the law is nothing new: The USDA has previously cited Ramos Bros. for operating without a license. Last year, when Ramos Bros. illegally exhibited exotic animals in Corona, California, PETA notified city officials, who took immediate action, ordering the circus to remove the prohibited animals from the city. 

Ramos Bros. has a horrible track record when it comes to taking care of animals. In January, the USDA issued it a warning for violating the Animal Welfare Act after a 4-year-old camel ran into the street, endangering both herself and others. PETA has received numerous reports that Ramos Bros. ties animals up so tightly that they cannot stand, forces them to live in urine- and feces-covered enclosures, and fails to provide them with adequate water and shade.

The abuse of animals is not entertaining. Please enlist everyone you can to help us end cruelty to animals in circuses and enjoy animal-free circuses instead!

Rutgers University Athletic Director Tim Pernetti has admitted that he should have fired men's basketball coach Mike Rice sooner. Pernetti terminated him after a video showing Rice hitting, kicking, and verbally abusing players went viral—but Pernetti had seen the video in November and had only temporarily suspended Rice and fined him. Players say that the coach's abusive behavior continued throughout the following months.

Rice has learned that bullies aren't winners, and now PETA wants to help the institution promote an abuse-free campus. That's why we're sending the school free anti-bullying posters to display in its athletic facilities:

Bullies' victims cross all species barriers. A study conducted by nearby Northeastern University and the Massachusetts SPCA found that people who abuse animals are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against humans. PETA hopes our posters will remind students and faculty to help stop violence by immediately reporting abuse to authorities—no matter who the victim is.

On Sunday, the University of Louisville's Kevin Ware sustained one of the most gruesome injuries in sports history. The outpouring of support from across the country, along with the response of his teammates, has been fantastic.

However, some horrifying leg injuries don't get the same attention, such as this one sustained by the great-granddaughter of legendary Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew and captured on video during a recent PETA investigation:

This young horse wasn't lauded or celebrated. There was no emergency surgery or outpouring of sympathy. She was just euthanized.

Fatal injuries like this one happen about three times every single day at racetracks across the country, including Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, home of the upcoming Kentucky Derby. That's because horses are forced to run at too young an age on bones that haven't fully developed. They are given drugs to mask pain so that they will run with existing injuries. And they are beaten into running at top speeds on hard, punishing track surfaces.

Unlike Louisville's indomitable Ware and other athletes who sustain injuries, horses used for racing don't choose to compete. And unlike human athletes who receive top-notch medical care and are often up and walking in a matter of days or weeks, horses who suffer catastrophic injuries are often killed right where they fall.

So tune in to the Final Four this weekend and cheer on Louisville (or Michigan, Syracuse, or Wichita State), but please never bet on, watch, or attend a horse race.

On Sunday, the University of Louisville's Kevin Ware sustained one of the most gruesome injuries in sports history. The outpouring of support from across the country, along with the response of his teammates, has been fantastic.

However, some horrifying leg injuries don't get the same attention, such as this one sustained by the great-granddaughter of legendary Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew and captured on video during a recent PETA investigation:

This young horse wasn't lauded or celebrated. There was no emergency surgery or outpouring of sympathy. She was just euthanized.

Fatal injuries like this one happen about three times every single day at racetracks across the country, including Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, home of the upcoming Kentucky Derby. That's because horses are forced to run at too young an age on bones that haven't fully developed. They are given drugs to mask pain so that they will run with existing injuries. And they are beaten into running at top speeds on hard, punishing track surfaces.

Unlike Louisville's indomitable Ware and other athletes who sustain injuries, horses used for racing don't choose to compete. And unlike human athletes who receive top-notch medical care and are often up and walking in a matter of days or weeks, horses who suffer catastrophic injuries are often killed right where they fall.

So tune in to the Final Four this weekend and cheer on Louisville (or Michigan, Syracuse, or Wichita State), but please never bet on, watch, or attend a horse race.

When it comes to helping animals, patience and persistence are often key, as was the case with these emaciated horses in Wisconsin. PETA learned about the animals' plight from a concerned person who had already convinced the sheriff's department to monitor their condition, even though the officers said that they could not seize the horses.

PETA's Cruelty Investigations Department exhorted law enforcement to try to reason with the owners—and it worked. The owners agreed to surrender custody of the horses, admitting that they didn't have enough money to care for them. The recovering equines now have plenty to eat and are safe on a wonderful farm.

So please never give up on assisting animals in jeopardy, even if you're told that no laws are being broken. Maybe you just have to connect with the one officer who is willing to go above and beyond the call of duty—but what matters is that help arrives in time.

Although March was notable for its extreme weather and bracket-busting basketball, PETA's Mobile Clinics Division spent the month setting a much more important record—performing the most spay/neuter surgeries in any single month since the program began.

We sterilized a record-breaking 582 females and 477 males in March, for a grand total of 1,059 animals! Here are some of our "March Gladness" clients:

1. 

Coco is one of five female dogs living at a low-income trailer park who were spayed during March. The dogs' guardians were extremely grateful for the service and offered to donate something toward the cost, although as one said, "We are all poor people here."

2. 

Alazae developed a physical condition that required surgery, so her guardian opted to spay her instead of breeding her as he had planned to do.

3. 

Sprucie's guardians don't have much money, but they want what's best for her!

4. 

Zola had already had several litters, but she won't be giving birth to any more puppies who then take homes away from dogs in animal shelters.

By preventing tens of thousands—or even hundreds of thousands—of births in just a few years, our mobile clinics' achievement will continue to offer cause for celebration long after Dunk City alums are teaching their grandkids how to alley-oop.

To help PETA continue to break records and save animals' lives, become a member today! 

As a global leader in the development of toxicology tests for chemicals, the MatTek Corporation has made quite a name for itself among government agencies and manufacturers of all types. But one thing you will never hear the company associated with is animal testing, which is why MatTek has scored a PETA award. 

© Jo-Anne McArthur / We Animals

"MatTek is extremely gratified to be recognized by PETA and appreciates PETA's support in its quest to produce new and improved in vitro test methods that reduce or eliminate animal testing," said Dr. Mitch Klausner, MatTek's vice president of scientific affairs. The chemical engineering professors from MIT who founded the company discovered that by creating in vitro (test tube) test methods using skin constructs made from human-derived cells, they could not only save companies money and spare animals but also provide better protection for humans.

Among the advanced testing methods that MatTek has created is Epiderm, a 3-dimensional model formed from human skin cells. Epiderm provides scientists with a superior indicator of how human skin will react to corrosive and irritating chemicals than the skin of live rabbits does. PETA and PETA UK have helped get Epiderm into use in laboratories around the world, saving tens of thousands of rabbits every year from having chemicals smeared onto their shaved, abraded backs to observe whether the substance burns through or irritates the skin. MatTek has also developed impressive 3-D, human-cell–derived tissue construct models to replace the use of animals in eye, inhalation, immune, and other tests.

Because MatTek is making toxicology testing humane, more reliable, faster, and less expensive, PETA is giving the company its inaugural Laurie and Carlee McGrath Award, in the amount of $5,000. The award was made possible by the McGrath Family Foundation, which generously supports PETA's work to replace animals in laboratories.