CELEBRITIES TO MCDONALD’S: “I’M HATIN’ IT”

Ryan Gosling, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Deschanel, Alicia Silverstone, Maria Menounos, Kristin Bauer, Ed Begley, Jr., Wendie Malick, Bryan Adams and Steve-O Speak Out Against Fast Food Giant’s Cruel Treatment of Egg-Laying Hens

Hollywood, CA – Hollywood stars are crying foul over McDonald’s inhumane treatment of egg-laying hens after an undercover investigation exposed rampant cruelty to animals at factory farms supplying eggs for Egg McMuffins. In a letter fired off today to McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner, at the behest of the animal protection organization, Mercy For Animals, Ryan Gosling, Zooey Deschanel, Emily Deschanel, Alicia Silverstone, Maria Menounos, Kristin Bauer, Ed Begley, Jr., Wendie Malick, Bryan Adams and Steve-O wrote: “On behalf of compassionate people everywhere, we implore you to help end the needless suffering of these animals by adopting strict and meaningful animal welfare policies worldwide, including the commitment to prohibit the purchase of eggs produced by hens who spend their miserable lives crammed into tiny wire cages.”

Emily Deschanel

The appeal comes after hidden-camera video, shot at Sparboe Farms facilities in Iowa, Minnesota, and Colorado by an investigator with Mercy For Animals, revealed unconscionable cruelty. The footage shows hens crammed in tiny wire cages, dead hens left to rot in cages with birds still laying eggs for human consumption, and workers burning off the beaks of birds without painkillers, throwing them, breaking their necks, and swinging them by their legs. The investigation — which broke on ABC’s Good Morning America and 20/20 — prompted McDonald’s to cut ties with the factory farm. However, the company has failed to implement any meaningful animal welfare policies to actually address the main issue of concern: the inherently cruel practice of confining hens in tiny wire cages for their entire lives.

The letter points out:

While McDonald’s has already established a 100% cage-free purchasing policy in Europe, your U.S. restaurants continue to support egg factory farms that confine hens for most of their lives in cages so small they can’t even spread their wings. These poor birds never get to walk, run, perch, roost, dustbathe, build nests, see the sun, breathe fresh air, or do nearly anything that comes naturally to them. Common sense tells us that animals with legs and wings should be given the basic freedom to move.

Sadly, there is not a single federal law to protect hens from cruelty from the time they hatch to the time they are killed. While McDonald's brags about the "billions and billions served," millions of hens exploited for your restaurants are being grossly underserved. In fact, these animals are being abused in ways that could land your egg suppliers in jail, if dogs or cats were the victims.

The letter concludes:

It’s a good time for some great changes at McDonald’s. As the largest egg buyer in the entire country, McDonald’s has the power — and the moral responsibility — to ensure that the eggs in its Egg McMuffins don’t come from rotten egg suppliers.

Celebrities Speak Against NASA’s Monkey Radiation Experiments

Woody Harrelson, Zachary Quinto, Alicia Silverstone, James Cromwell, Allison Janney, Kristen Bell, Emily Deschanel and Elizabeth Perkins Join IDA’s Effort To Save Monkeys

San Rafael, Calif. – In Defense of Animals (IDA), an international animal protection organization with over 85,000 members, today released letters from celebrities opposed to NASA-funded experiments. The experiments, which NASA wants conducted at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), involve irradiating squirrel monkeys. IDA and the International Primate Protection League (IPPL), a South Carolina-based non-profit dedicated to protecting the world’s primates, filed a complaint about the experiments.

The celebrities signed on to the IDA-drafted letter to U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, NASA Administrator Charles F. Bolden, Jr., and BNL Director Dr. Samuel Aronson. Those who have signed to date are: Woody Harrelson, Zachary Quinto, Alicia Silverstone, James Cromwell, Allison Janney, Kristen Bell, Emily Deschanel, and Elizabeth Perkins.

NASA’s proposed experiments would inundate these tiny monkeys - only a foot tall – with one massive burst of gamma radiation equal to a 3-year journey to Mars and back. Since the 1950's, thousands of primates have been exposed to various dosages of radiation including radio frequency, microwave, X-ray, gamma, electron, proton, neutron and other particle radiation. Studies have already shown that gamma radiation can cause depressive behavior, immobility, hyperirritability, convulsions, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, hair loss, open sores, skin hemorrhages, and even death.
Previous research has also proven that animals of different species – even of different strains of the same species – react differently to radiation, which calls into question the experiments’ scientific value in advancing protection for human astronauts.

NASA has already committed $1.75 million in taxpayer money to the experiments. NASA wants BNL - a lab run by the Department of Energy - to conduct the radiation portion of the experiments. BNL has not yet decided to proceed. The experiments are being reviewed by BNL's safety, science, and animal welfare committees.

Copies of the IDA/IPPL complaint and the celebrities’ letters are available upon request.     

BETTY WHITE AND JACQUELINE BISSET SUPPORT EYE CARE FOR ANIMALS

Los Angeles, CA – May 24, 2011 – Eye Care for Animals is offering free screening ocular exams to Service Animals throughout May as part of the ACVO/Merial National Service Dog Eye Exam event. Ophthalmologists at over 30 of their locations nationwide are donating their time for active working dogs, cats or horses who are certified in order to give back to those who serve people in need.

Actress Betty White is a supporter of Eye Care for Animals, stating “my congratulations and deep appreciation for the good work done by Eye Care for Animals.”

To date almost 200 Service Dogs have been examined this month at Eye Care for Animals. “We are proud to be a part of this worthy event and committed to giving back to animals who serve,” states Dr. Reuben Merideth, founder of Eye Care for Animals. “For over 20 years we have offered complimentary eye exams to Guide Dogs. This event is another way for us to give back and do our part to support the great work Service Animals do.”

“These animals open our eyes to many things in life. The doctors give them a little pay back,” states actress Jacqueline Bisset on behalf of Eye Care for Animals.

Merideth founded Eye Care for Animals in 1981 to provide veterinary ophthalmology services in underserved markets. Over the past 30 years, they have expanded from Arizona to 38 facilities in 13 states including California, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin. Eye Care for Animals offer the highest level of medical and surgical ophthalmic care, board certified doctors, state-of-the-art equipment, and 24-hour emergency availability to referring veterinarians. Their practice treats multiple breeds and species including dogs, cats, equine, birds and wildlife.

About Eye Care for Animals

Eye Care for Animals is dedicated to providing the finest in veterinary ophthalmology services. Their staff of board certified ophthalmologists and clinical specialists have over 200 years combined experience and provide the highest level of care, education and understanding to their clients, their companions, and their referring veterinarians. They are continually innovating and exploring new technologies to provide the latest in veterinary ophthalmology care. www.eyecareforanimals.com.

About ACVO

The National Service Dog Eye Exam event is hosted annually by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. Over 200 ACVO board certified veterinary ophthalmologists are donating their services in May to provide eye exams to registered Service Animals across America and Canada, at no cost to the guardian or agent. It is anticipated that through these efforts, the health of thousands of Service Animals can be improved and potential disease prevented.