A team of scientists led by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) biologist Heng-wei Cheng, has developed a line of laying hens that display far less aggression than their commercial counterparts, while maintaining industry-standard egg production. As a result of this development, the researchers were able to cut mortality losses among the birds without the usual beak-trimming. http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090610.htm

With all the post-Twilight buzz, movie critics are all over the news that Kristen Stewart (along with costar Dakota Fanning) has taken on a leading role in a new film, The Runaways, about iconic female rock star—and vegetarian extraordinaire—Joan Jett.

As the executive producer, Joan has been closely involved in the making of the movie. But we know that she never lets her busy schedule interrupt her dedication to animals. While recording her most recent album, she recorded a “veggie testimonial” for PETA, and now she’s found time to visit some sanctuary friends.

We’re sure that a movie about this trailblazing rocker will be a hit with both animal and music lovers alike. Now, turn up “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” on your stereo and leave a comment below to let us know which other animal rights icons’ lives would make for an inspiring movie.

Posted by Liz Graffeo

I’ve never quite understood it when people talk about the cats they “own.” Anyone with a feline companion knows that we don’t own cats—they own us. As soon as they enter our homes, they become our kings and queens and we their devoted subjects.

What could be a more appropriate abode for kitty royalty than a Kitty Castle? A Kitty Castle is a playhouse that Princess Fluffy can retire to after she’s done taking over your house. It’s the perfect size for playing or sleeping, and it’s fun for the kids (or you) to decorate (with her majesty’s permission, of course). This week, we’ve got five of them to give away!

How do you win? Tell us why your feline friend deserves to be pampered. The five most touching comments will take home a Kitty Castle and a few other treats.

The contest ends on June 24, 2009, and we’ll choose five comments as the winners on June 29, 2009. Be sure to read our privacy policy and terms and conditions, as you’re agreeing to both by commenting. Check back every Wednesday for new prizes. Good luck!

Posted by Lianne Turner

Video: Dogs can provide emotional support for everyone involved in the criminal justice system. Facility dogs from Canine Companions for Independence are at work in King County, WA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPVdie1-Jdc

The following is a guest post from peta2’s Marta.

I’m pretty excited about the release of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen tomorrow, since word on the street is that the movie has a positive animal rights message in it. There’s even a scene set in a butcher shop, where Megan Fox’s and Shia Labeouf’s characters learn that every animal you eat had a story. We hear them on that.

In honor of the release of the movie, we’re transforming the classic Transformers tagline into “More Than Meats the Eye” for the title of our top-five list that takes a closer look at the meat industry. Most people never take an up-close look at the food they’re eating. I mean, seriously, who wants to think about their food actually looking like this (even though it does)?

Click for larger image

Want seconds of this fatty blob of nastiness? *Shudder!* Anyway, here are the top five foods that I think are “More Than Meats the Eye”:

1. Jell-O: How does Jell-O stay firm but wiggly? You can thank gelatin (aka the ground-up skin, intestines, and bones of animals) for that jiggle. Who doesn’t like bones in their fruity snacks?
2. Hot Dogs: These are made from mechanically recovered meat, which Wikipedia describes as, “a paste-like meat product produced by forcing beef, pork, turkey or chicken bones, with attached edible meat, under high pressure through a sieve or similar device to separate the bone from the edible meat tissue.” If you’re in the mood for tails, bones, and anuses topped with relish at a ball game, steer clear of the veggie dogs, since they’re mostly just made of plain ol’ boring soy protein.
3. Milk: Pus doesn’t exactly conjure up the most pleasant of images, but if the idea of a tall frosty glass of pus sounds good to you, by all means, feel free to down a glass of milk. That’s right, milk can legally contain a somatic cell count (that’s pus, people) of up to 200 million per liter.
4. Twinkies: Where does that fatty flavor come from? Beef fat, of course! Sponge cake + creamy filling + cow fat = the classic truck-stop snack. Yum.
5. Cheese: Rennet, found in many cheeses, comes from the stomach lining of slaughtered calves. I personally try to avoid baby cow stomach on my nachos, but maybe that’s just me.

Do some of these sound a bit … unappetizing? Try vegan versions! Grab soy milk the next time you hit the grocery store or give a homemade snack cake a whirl. You can still enjoy all the flavors you love while cutting out the cruelty and crap!

Which foods do you think are “More Than Meats the Eye”?

Posted by Marta Holmberg

Chick-fil-A founder and lifelong Southern Baptist S. Truett Cathy wrote the book Eat Mor Chikin: Inspire More People, but at the Southern Baptist Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, PETA’s “Jesus” and a “Chicken” were there to inspire people to eat no chicken—or any other animal.

PETA immersed convention attendees in our pro-vegetarian message, which is based on biblical teachings of love and compassion. “Jesus” carried a sign reading, “For Christ’s Sake, Go Vegetarian,” while the “chicken” reminded people that “Jesus loves me too.” They also offered conventiongoers free copies of our “Vegetarian Starter Kit” as well as leaflets relating vegetarian living to Christian teachings.

On a related note, our Sexiest Male Vegetarian of 2009, Monty, grew up eating meat in a Southern Baptist household—until he saw the light and announced to his family that he refused to eat abused animals.

I’m a believer—that many conference attendees will alter their diets to be more compassionate by going vegetarian.

Posted by Karin Bennett

nydailynews / CC

Hoop-heads like myself are very well aware that the NBA draft is coming up on Thursday, and it is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable drafts in recent memory. One thing that seems pretty certain, though, is that the Los Angeles Clippers will take Blake Griffin as their number one pick. But here’s a pre-draft revelation about the Oklahoma big man that not many people were expecting—dude’s a vegetarian!

Over the course of two years in college ball, Griffin showed tenacity around the hoop and a willingness to bang down low—he even got himself a concussion to show for it. He simply dominated in the tournament this year, dropping 33 points and 17 rebounds on Michigan in the second round. He’s energetic, a ferocious rebounder, and has unleashed some straight-up highlight-reel dunks that’ll get you humming the SportsCenter theme song while you watch him on YouTube.

And all that? Powered by tofu, of course.

According to yesterday’s SportsCenter, the Clips are as impressed with Griffin as everyone else is. In an attempt to make the Oklahoma boy feel “at home” during a pre-draft meeting with team brass, they took him out to a steakhouse in New York City. Looks like they should have done a bit more homework—they have vegetarians in Oklahoma too, y’all!

No word on what Blake ordered from the steakhouse menu, but as SportsCenter pointed out, he’ll have no lack of great vegetarian restaurants to choose from in the city of angels as he attempts to become the latest savior of the NBA’s most troubled franchise. Best of luck, Blake. You’re gonna need it.

Posted by Dan Shannon

CNN.com — European farm ministers agreed Monday to new rules for slaughterhouses intended to minimize suffering of animals when they are killed. http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200906221340DOWJONESDJONLINE000440_FORTUNE5.htm

24.06.09 Our Southridge Animal Centre in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, is holding its annual Fun Day on Sunday, 5 July 2009.

What is the number-one thing that you need to know about hilarious hottie Bradley Cooper?

I’ll give you a hint: His steely blues and that off-kilter smile don’t have anything to do with it.

theinsider / CC

“I have two beautiful dogs … I cherish. Samson is a 14-year-old German short hair pointer and Charlotte is a 6 or 7 year-old Chow Retriever mix. They are both rescue dogs and they are the best … I’m sort of a hybrid of both my dogs. Samson is stoic and makes me earn it and Charlotte loves me undyingly. They’re my kids.”

There are four other “must know” items on People.com, but learning that the star of The Hangover is making room in his heart and his home for a few of the 8 million dogs and cats who are abandoned at animal shelters each year is more than enough to make this gal swoon.

Posted by Shawna Flavell