What We Achieved for Animals in 2015

It’s been another huge year for helping animals. With your help, we’ve ended abuse, raised awareness of cruelty and made the high street more humane.

Here’s a look back at just some of the many highlights of 2015:

Cruelty in the fashion industry exposed

A series of hard-hitting videos and eyewitness reports opened the world’s eyes to how animals are abused and killed for wool, angora, exotic skins and leather.

Victories on local planning applications

Our supporters helped us to speak out against planning applications for horrific factory farms, breeding facilities and other unethical projects all over the country. Victories include the withdrawal of an application for a horrific pig “prison” in Foston and the approval of an application which will close down Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium.

“Reptiles” gave Hermès grief over the cruelty of producing exotic skins outside stores all over the world

A series of striking protests by PETA and our international affiliates raised awareness of how alligators and crocodiles are killed in horrible ways to make handbags and watchstraps for the “luxury” retailer.

International campaigns stop animals from being killed for soy sauce

Kikkoman Corporation vowed to end horrific animal testing after receiving tens of thousands of messages.

Compassionate people unite to oppose fox hunting

When the government threatened to amend the Hunting Act 2004 to make hunting foxes with dogs legal again, people all over the country sprang into action, writing to their MPs, signing petitions and generally making it known that they wouldn’t let this cruel pastime return to Britain. Other animal-protection groups, including Save Me, the RSPCA, the League Against Cruel Sports and the Humane Society International, joined us for a huge rally outside Parliament, along with rock legend Brian May. In the face of this pressure, the government shelved the vote.

Bullfighting is left out in the cold

The Spanish people made it clearer than ever that most of them have no interest in bullfights. More than 100 brave activists joined us for a graphic protest against the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona this summer, while towns continued to ban bullfights and races and high-ranking politicians, including the Mayor of Madrid, promised to end support for the cruel tradition. And a historic vote in the European Union, the European Parliament voted to stop EU subsidies being used to breed bulls for fights.

PETA International Science Consortium (PISC) Ltd, of which PETA is a member, walks away with a prestigious Lush Prize

Compassionate PISC scientists received the £25,000 award for their educational training and outreach to promote non-animal testing methods.

Circuses with animals are shunned

Although the government hasn’t yet banned wild-animal circuses as it promised, the movement to end this archaic form of cruelty is still going strong, as a whopping 98 per cent of Scots came out in favour of a ban in a government consultation, celebs such as Michael Sheen and Robert Carlyle spoke out, and empty arenas at Thomas Chipperfield’s wild cat show in Wales followed a wave of local protests.

The “V” word goes mainstream

More than ever, everybody has been talking about a vegan lifestyle this year. Celebs such as Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus have taken the plunge, helping their millions of fans learn about plant-based eating. IKEA started serving vegan meatballs, Quorn introduced a new vegan range and thousands of compassionate people took our vegan pledge. And every single one of those new vegans is saving animals every time they eat.

Benetton drops angora

Protests, e-mails, social media messages and phone calls from caring PETA supporters eventually persuaded this international retailer to stop selling products made from the wool of angora rabbits – who often have the hair torn from their skin on Chinese farms.

Celebrities go all out for animals

Some of the prominent figures who joined us to raise their voice for animals this year include actor Tom Hardy, whose pro-adoption campaign has reached millions, and singer Leona Lewis, who narrated a hard-hitting video that reveals the full horrors of Bangladesh’s leather industry. We also joined forces with The Vamps star James McVey, YouTube sensation Sprinkle of Glitter, soul singer Joss Stone, ballerina Sylvie Guillem, girl group Little Mix and many more.

Protester makes bold move on behalf of mutts at Crufts

When this activist stormed the arena during the “Best in Show”, everyone got the message that selectively breeding dogs for their looks – often to the detriment of their health – is not cool.

Innovative ads raise eyebrows and get people talking about animals

We’re forever finding new, creative ways to reach more people with the animal rights message. Our biggest-ever London bus ad campaign this December encouraged commuters to make the connection between the animals they share their homes with and the animals they eat, while our thought-provoking video “Labels” asked shoppers to think about where their leather comes from. And in Dublin, a series of furry artworks appeared on the city’s streets to raise awareness of cruel fur farms.

*****

We couldn’t have achieved any of these victories without our many compassionate supporters, so thank you to everyone who’s been there with us during this groundbreaking year.

Here’s to an even more epic 2016! Help us be a voice for animals next year and beyond by signing up to our Action Team:

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