So now, not only is meat murder, so are the trucks that carry the meat. more ›

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to Bishop J. Peter Sartain, the Bishop of the Diocese of Joliet, urging him to take action to stop Joliet pastor Rev. Richard Ross. According to PETA, Ross has been running a fox farm where dozens of the animals are kept confined to rusty cages, exposed to the elements and left with unclean drinking water. PETA sent the Bishop both photos and video of Ross's fox operation, showing as many as five foxes confined to rusty, wire-bottomed cages, in both snow and extreme heat. In the video a fox can be seen spinning in circles in its cage, the result of the intense stress of confinement. According to PETA, Ross told the organization in a phone conversation that he has seen his foxes cannibalizing their young and defecating in their sleeping spaces. more ›

Today at noon, two activists from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will be handing out free Tofutti Cuties in front of Wrigley Field. Described as "delicious nondairy ice cream sandwiches," the free snacks will help Chicagoans cool off in the summer heat, even if the provocative, 1940's-inspired ice cream parlor outfits might heat a few spectators up. "We hope that these frozen treats will help folks who are feeling the heat in Chicago understand that it's never been easier to help prevent climate change and improve their health," PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said in a statement. "Choosing healthy and delicious vegan foods is good for the planet and your waistline and helps prevent the suffering of countless animals on factory farms." more ›

From the inbox: In a move that doesn't involve nudity or browbeating, PETA has purchased stock in Kraft Foods as part of a plan to pressure Kraft into not using pork for its foodstuffs supplied by farms that utilize gestation crates. Gestation crates (or "sow stalls") are 7-foot by 2-foot cages where pregnant sows are confined during gestation. A recent Humane Society of the United States report on welfare issues gestation crates showed that sows confined to the crates developed enlarged hooves, weakened bones, urinary tract infections and lameness, among other ailments. PETA made the stock purchase Kraft did not respond to requests to work together privately on this and other animal welfare issues. more ›

Say "How you doin'?" to Kristin Gerhart. The 23-year-old Chicagoan is one of the ten finalists in PETA's "Sexy Vegetarian Next Door" competition. According to the press release we received from PETA, Miss Gerhart, a film editor, "regularly hosts vegan dinner parties (including a vegan Oscar party), volunteers at the Anti-Cruelty Society, and enjoys rock climbing and bike riding. She recently adopted a vegan diet (after going vegetarian five years ago) and says that since the switch, she feels more energetic, lighter, and generally more at peace." more ›

After we reported earlier this week on People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals's request that Forest Park pub Doc Ryan's remove the Lobster Zone machine from its restaurant, PETA reached out to Chicagoist to report that Brian Sullivan, owner of the establishment, has agreed to remove the machine. Sullivan spoke with a local PETA activist this week and, noting that he loves animals, told the activist that he doesn't want a machine in his business that tortures animals. more ›

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is calling on Forest Park pub Doc Ryan's to stop using the Lobster Zone novelty machine. Similar to the game you might find in an arcade, where players compete for stuffed animals and other cheap prizes using a hand-operated claw, Lobster Zone lets customers try and catch a live lobster for dinner with a mechanical claw. The lobster is then cooked and served for dinner. PETA says that it was made aware of the game in Forest Park after upset bar patrons contacted the animal welfare organization. PETA has asked Doc Ryan's to get rid of the machine, but recieved no reply. "We hope Doc Ryan's will please everyone by serving up drinks and ditching the nasty 'Lobster Zone' device," says PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews. "Studies show that lobsters are social animals who lead complex lives in the wild. In this economic climate, the decision to get rid of the machine makes good business sense because more and more people are choosing to patronize animal-friendly businesses." more ›

Despite protests from PETA, a donkey basketball fundraiser in Streator will go on as planned tonight. The organization has long protested these events and had called for an end to this particular event but local officials running the game said they're going forward with it and are taking precautions to ensure none of the animals are hurt. Kevin Myers, superintendent of the La Salle County School District, told The Times (of Ottawa, IL), "We looked at the community to see how they were responding. So far, we haven't received any phone calls besides the representative from PETA. We've sold 500 tickets and we plan on selling 200 more. I feel like this is an opportunity for people to come into our building and enjoy it." The game is being held at Streator Township High School and participants will represent a range of local community groups. more ›

Okay, we know it's not Chicago-related, but we got a few emails and tweets about the video we posted yesterday (and was seen all over TV and the web) of San Antonio Spurs player Manu Ginobili swatting down a bat out of mid-air (yes, he received rabies shots later). We also noted we hadn't hear PETA's reaction. Until now. A PETA rep emailed us this morning with the organization's official statement on the matter: more ›

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, well-known for attention-grabbing stunts (as evidenced by this simple and totally NSFW Google search) has enlisted Andy Dick and Martin Short to produce a clever two minute short to draw attention to its campaign to pressure McDonald's to improve its treatment of chickens. more ›

Yesterday, when we shared a video of President Obama swatting a fly, one commenter wondered how long we'd have to wait for PETA to react. The answer is: not long at all. Yesterday, PETA posted a response on their blog that said, in part, "In a nutshell, our position is this: He isn't the Buddha, he's a human being, and human beings have a long way to go before they think before they act." They also said they were sending Obama a humane bug catcher. PETA posted again today, continuing to call for, "compassion for all animals, even the most curious, smallest, and least sympathetic ones." [via CSM] more ›

These days, the hype surround banned Super Bowl commercials is a big as the commercials that make it to air during the big games. This year is no different as PETA puts the "hump" in our Humpday Diversion courtesy of this racy ad that NBC has rejected because of, among other things, a woman "screwing herself with broccoli" and "asparagus on her lap appearing as if it is ready to be inserted into vagina." Read the NBC letter [PDF] and check out the video below. more ›

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or the animal-right group otherwise known as PETA, has named Oprah Winfrey their "Person of the Year" for, as President Ingrid E. Newkirk puts it, using her "powerful voice to defend those without one." A well-known dog lover, Oprah did several shows this year that explored animal rights issues including an exposé on puppy mills and an investigation of California's Proposition 2 which provides more comfortable lodging for livestock. PETA's plaque and letter of appreciation are in the mail. Perhaps they should also send a quick thank you note to those behind that infamous billboard.[S-T] more ›

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals bought 65 shares of Chicago-based DeVry University last week, part of a plan to escalate its campaign against the technical school's veterinary program. PETA plans to show up at DeVry's November 13 shareholders meeting to stage a protest and appeal to the board. According to the animal welfare organization, the St. Kitts-based Ross University veterinary school requires their students to operate on healthy animals. PETA charges that "healthy dogs have their stomachs, intestines and urinary bladders needlessly cut open. Sheep have tissue removed and suffer from infected wounds because skin flaps are improperly sutured. Donkeys have the nerves in their toes severed, their ligaments cut, plastic tubes inserted through their noses to their stomachs, their abdomens punctured, their tracheas (windpipes) cut, and fluid removed from their joints – after which they are killed so that students can practise amputating animals’ bones and drilling into their skulls." more ›

The Kentucky Derby is marketed as a glamorous event, but those who have been there know otherwise – it’s really just a rip-rollicking, drunkified good time. And the “most exciting two minutes in sports,” as a recent documentary would have us know, would not be so without years of dirt, sweat, and hard work. Now, the Kentucky Derby is associated with a different kind of dirty business, after the highly publicized death of one of the race’s thoroughbreds. more ›