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PETA ‘Mice’ to Encircle Pharma Company Over Forced Swim Test
On Thursday, a mischief of PETA supporters wearing striking latex mouse masks will scamper to the headquarters of Eli Lilly to hold the company’s feet to the fire for refusing to ban the widely discredited, abysmally cruel forced swim test, even though most of its competitors have done so. The “mice” will display a 5-foot-tall poster naming these competitors, including Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer, and challenging Eli Lilly: “They all banned the forced swim test—why can’t you?” In the test, mice and other small animals are forced to swim in order to keep from drowning, supposedly to show the effects of anti-depressant medication. However, Eli Lilly has tormented 3,400 mice and rats in the test since 1993 and none of the drugs developed this way are on the market.
When: Thursday, September 16, 12 noon
Where: Eli Lilly Headquarters, 893 S. Delaware St. (at the intersection with E. McCarty Street), Indianapolis
“Eli Lilly is clinging to the forced swim test like an obstinate child,” says PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo. “PETA is calling on the company to acknowledge the science by banning this useless test.”
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.
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PETA Launches Hotline for Reporting Cruelty to Horses Used for Racing
If you work at a racetrack, a horse training or breeding facility, a veterinary office, or any other business affiliated with or adjacent to the horse racing industry—whether you’re a vet tech, groom, exercise rider, hot walker, or a timer in morning training—you may have seen something that needs to be reported.
PETA has been inundated with tips over the past two years alerting us to unethical and illegal activities in horse racing. This is why we now offer a whistleblower hotline for workers who have witnessed or know about cruelty to animals or other illegal activities involving horses used for racing or other equestrian competitions.
The number to call is 706-Whistle (706-944-7853).
Your confidentiality is important to us. Although you may choose to remain anonymous, we encourage you to let us know how we can follow up with you in case we need to clarify any details.
Whistleblowers Are Champions for Animals
Every week, an average of 24 horses experience fatal breakdowns at racetracks across the country, and this number continues to rise.
By reporting your concerns to PETA, you’ll allow us to expose cruelty and file the appropriate complaints so that racing-industry oversight bodies—and possibly law-enforcement agencies—can investigate and take action against those responsible.
WATCH: A whistleblower tip allowed PETA to secure the heartbreaking footage below, which lead authorities in two different states to ban trainer Amber Cobb.
Please contact PETA if you see or learn about anything that causes you concern, including the following:
- Horses who have been administered prohibited substances in an attempt to mask injuries, including the misuse of anti-inflammatories, painkillers, or muscle relaxants
- Harsh whipping of horses or the use of electric shocking devices
- Any use of whipping, toe grabs, or other techniques that force horses younger than 2 years old to run at excessive speeds for “under tack shows”
- Other inhumane training methods
Please err on the side of caution by reporting anything that troubles you, and PETA will look into it. All calls and e-mails will be treated confidentially. If you have documented potential violations with photographs or video footage, please let us know. You can submit your concerns anonymously to PETA by e-mailing horseabuse@peta.org or calling 706-Whistle (706-944-7853).
Please read the following information carefully:
- If your e-mail account includes a junk-mail (“spam”) filter and you want to receive a response, please make sure that the filter doesn’t block messages from PETA (PETA.org).
- Are you reporting that an animal is in imminent danger? Do you know specifically where to find this animal, and is the abuse or danger taking place right now? If so, please call your local police department. If the police are unresponsive, please call PETA immediately at 757-622-7382.
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2021 Met Gala: Billie Eilish in Oscar de la Renta Makes Going Fur-Free the Star of the Red Carpet
“PETA is celebrating the end of the Meat Gala and hopes to see attendees embrace Earth- and animal-friendly fashion, too—meaning no fur, leather, cashmere, wool, or feathers,” PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said following August’s announcement that this year’s Met Gala would serve an all-vegan menu. And Billie Eilish, one of PETA’s 2021 Most Beautiful Vegans, didn’t let us—or, more importantly, other animals—down. In working with Oscar de la Renta on her 2021 Met Gala look, the vegan singer-songwriter ensured that her dress would be animal-friendly. Last month, PETA announced that the legendary designer would be going fur-free after decades of our runway disruptions, protests, some carefully thrown tofu cream pies, and pressure from activists worldwide. Now we know that Billie Eilish played a major role as well!
“Oscar de la Renta will terminate all fur sales at the urging of Ms. Eilish, who is a vegan and animal rights activist,” wrote The New York Times.
Oscar de la Renta's designers spoke with The New York Times about dressing Billie Eilish in a "risky" ball gown for the #MetGala — and her condition that the brand stop using fur. https://t.co/rTGVWkd7Jd pic.twitter.com/5uv7SdC5yJ
— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 13, 2021
Knowing how easy and important it is to wow the crowd without killing or exploiting animals is second nature to Billie, whose online activism has included sharing with her then 40 million Instagram followers how minks suffer when they’re killed for fur slippers and false eyelashes as well as how sheep are mutilated in the wool industry. “[W]atch this please,” she urged her fans of PETA’s “P!nk Speaks Up for Sheep” video, which exposes the horrendous hidden cruelty of exploiting sheep for their wool.
So it’s no surprise that on “fashion’s biggest night,” Billie was dressed (compassionately) to impress and to help animals.
Billie Eilish is prettier than you.
pic.twitter.com/4SWeQBvmnZ— Billie Eilish Spotify (@billonspotify) September 13, 2021
Is This the Most Animal-Friendly Met Gala to Date?
It’s a sign of the times: First an all-vegan menu that’s sure to set a trend for other fashion events to follow, then Billie making fur-free design the star of the red carpet—the days of Met Gala attendees wearing bits of tormented, dead animals and calling it “fashion” are numbered. Clearly, compassion is in fashion and always will be.
“I find it shocking that wearing fur isn’t completely outlawed at this point in 2021. I am so beyond thrilled that … the Oscar de la Renta team heard me on this issue and have made a change that not only makes an impact for the greater good for animals but also for our planet and environment, too. I’m honored to have been a catalyst and to have been heard on this matter. I urge all designers to do the same.” —Billie Eilish
After you enjoy your own vegan dinner during tonight’s Met Gala livestream, click below to learn more about the animals PETA, Billie, and so many others are speaking out for and to take action against their abusers:
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