After PETA’s fieldworkers urgently rescued him from under a mobile home, 12-week-old kitten Finnegan is ready to begin again.
Our fieldworkers found Finnegan during a visit to help other animals at the mobile home park.
Loud screams and meows led the team to the source of the desperate cries: a shaking, terrified kitten hopelessly entangled in wire and mesh.
The rescuers leaped into action, freed Finnegan, removed the mesh that was painfully wrapped around his neck, and gave him some much-needed care and attention. After persuading his owner to surrender him, they quickly transported him to safety.
It didn’t take long for the rescued kitten, in the care of a compassionate foster family, to learn how to live indoors.
Playful, affectionate, and as fiery as his bright orange fur, young Finnegan is ready to find his permanent home.
Will Finnegan the Rescued Kitten Be Your Best Feline Friend?
If you’ve fallen for Finnegan like we have—and have the resources and endless respect a kitten companion needs—send an e-mail to Adopt@peta.org.
Avian influenza—or “bird flu”— is ripping through the U.S., and more than 22 million chickens and turkeys have been killed in cruel ways since February 2022 in a futile attempt to stop the virus from spreading like wildfire across the country.
Outbreaks have been reported on commercial and “backyard” farms in at least 24 states, and once an animal is determined to have the bird flu, the entire flock is killed.
In the U.S., farms may slaughter farmed animals en masse for “disease control” in horrific ways: Some companies kill birds with a water-based foam, slowly suffocating them to death (sometimes for up to 14 minutes). Others kill animals by shutting off all ventilation in the sheds in a process known as “ventilation shutdown” (VSD), which sometimes incorporates heat, humidity, and carbon dioxide (known as “VSD Plus”)—suffocating them and baking them alive. Egg farms typically gas the birds to death.
As long as the poultry and egg industries continue to raise sensitive birds for slaughter—typically cramming tens of thousands of chickens into filthy, windowless sheds, which are breeding grounds for disease outbreaks—this will keep happening. The best form of disease control on farms and at other facilities—including ones that falsely label their products as “free-range” or “organic”—is for them to stop raising and killing animals for food.
Take Action for Our Fellow Animals Killed in Cruel Ways for ‘Disease Control’
Our fellow animals don’t want to be killed under any circumstance, but the least farms can do is not use extremely cruel and painful methods to slaughter them for “disease control.” The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) still lists VSD and VSD Plus as “permitted in constrained circumstances,” even though they can cause other animals to suffer in agony for hours. Tell the AVMA that these methods of killing are never acceptable, and urge it to not allow them to be used in the future:
A bull-riding participant in the Bell County Rodeo in Belton, Texas, was “bucked off the bull almost immediately after coming out of the gate,” prompting the rider’s father to run into the arena. One outlet called the father a “hero,” but before doling out any more kudos, consider this important detail: The bull was just protecting himself.
This young man voluntarily risked injury and death by participating in the event. The bull he decided to torment had no such choice. This animal was left with one choice only: to defend himself.
Rodeo performers have been observed beating, kicking, and shocking normally docile bulls and other animals in holding pens—abuse they inflict in order to provoke bulls’ instinct to run from harm. It’s no wonder that by the time bulls are released into the arena, they’re frantic.
Rodeos are nothing more than manipulative displays of human dominance over animals, thinly disguised as entertainment. Many bulls forced to participate have sustained fatal injuries, including broken backs and necks, and have experienced heart attacks and aneurysms. The ones who aren’t killed during events, however, often still meet a vicious death: When they’re too old or worn out to continue “performing,” “retirement” often means a one-way trip to the slaughterhouse.
Bulls Are Being Tormented—They Need Us to Speak Up
Students Opposing Speciesism—the PETA-backed, youth-led revolt against human supremacy—doesn’t miss a beat in furthering the mission of ending speciesism, including when it comes to denouncing rodeos.
Colombia may be known for its coffee, but a cup of joe isn’t the only thing the country has to offer—its terrific dining scene is full of vegan-friendly restaurants.
Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, here are six awesome vegan restaurants in Colombia you won’t want to miss out on.
De/Raíz has garnered popularity for its delicious desserts, such as the tiramisu and mascarpone almond cheesecake. Both of its locations in Bogotá offer many unique dishes to choose from, such as fried mushroom wings and almond ricotta lasagna rolls.
Surrounded by beautiful greenery, this contemporary, upscale vegan restaurant is the perfect vegan date-night spot. Justo serves its dishes tapas style—perfect for sharing over drinks—and the cooks don’t hold back on flavor. Diners can enjoy oat pancakes, tacu tacu (a traditional Peruvian beans-and-rice dish), risotto, samosas, and gyozas.
Attached to the restaurant is a vegan market called Ceres, which sells specialty vegan products as well as fresh produce.
Address: Carrera 37 #10a 58, Medellín, Colombia 050021
Come hungry if you’re dining at Flor de Loto. Diners go to this vegan fast-food hotspot for greasy, savory bites such as the arepa “burger,” the loaded “hot dogs,” frijolada con chicharrónes (savory bean soup with crispy vegan “pig skin”), and more. The restaurant also offers vegan cooking lessons.
Address: Calle 4a #34-40, Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia 760042
Self-described as the first vegan restaurant in Pereira, this health-food hub lives up to its reputation for fresh, tasty dishes. It offers different styles of cuisine, from its Mexican bowl (with vegan chorizo, tortilla chips, beans, avocado, pico de gallo, brown rice, and cream) to its vegan pizza margherita. Diners can eat in or order takeout and enjoy one of Semillas’ vegan plates at the park across the street.
Located near Bucaramanga’s Museum of Modern Art, this popular vegan joint brings art admirers and vegan foodies together to enjoy its famous soups, including the bean, minestrone, and cream of onion. Other popular dishes include the flan and natilla, empanadas, ramen, and tamales. Aldea Vegana also offers a kebab night every Thursday.
This Mexican food spot is vegan- and animal companion–friendly, offering a wide array of veganized Mexican dishes with a unique, modern twist. Menu favorites include the “fish” tacos, “cheese” quesadillas stuffed with caramelized onion and refried beans, and the crispy cauliflower and broccoli popcorn bathed in Buffalo sauce.
Even if you aren’t dining out, eating vegan is simple and tasty—and it’s also the best thing that you can do for our fellow animals, the planet, and your health. Get motivated by joining PETA’s 3-Week Vegan Challenge:
It takes a village to raise hell against powerful institutions. Just ask Mariah Smith, a Students Opposing Speciesism (SOS) organizer who helped PETA and local residents achieve a major victory against Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed)—home of the Southwest National Primate Research Center—through grassroots organizing in her community.
For her resilient work in keeping pressure on Texas Biomed—which led to the withdrawal of its request for local public funding to support the cruel monkey laboratory—PETA is awarding Mariah with our Hero to Animals Award.
To stand up for the animals suffering in Texas Biomed’s laboratories, Mariah spoke during public comment sessions during two bond committee meetings and rallied San Antonio residents to contact their city council members to oppose funding Texas Biomed.
Mariah also pressured city council members on social media to state their position, and District 2 Council Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez even publicly posted his opposition on Instagram Stories. Mariah also organized a protest with local animal rights group Texas Animal Freedom Fighters outside a bond committee meeting.
And thanks to her hard work—along with support from San Antonio residents—Texas Biomed withdrew its request for $11 million from the taxpayer-funded San Antonio bond program. It sends a strong message to all the national primate research centers that residents don’t want their tax dollars to be used for cruel and useless experiments on our fellow animals.
Here’s How You Can Be a Hero to Animals
If you’re a young activist inspired by Mariah’s story, join SOS and help PETA win more victories like this one:
