San Francisco Wants to Make All Pet Sales Illegal

84% put down within 24 hours at Virginia headquarters: documents

(NEWSER) - PETA's controversial campaigns for animal rights dominate headlines—but behind the scenes, the picture is quite different, according to newly released documents. Last year, the organization killed more than 95% of the pets in its charge at its Norfolk, Va., headquarters, the Daily Caller reports. Documents released by the state's agriculture department show that the group placed 24 animals in 2011—and killed 1,911. More»

They're bred inhumanely, says official

(NEWSER) - Proposals to ban cat and dog sales are nothing new in San Francisco, but now animal control officials recommend ending the sale of goldfish, tropical fish, and guppies. Such fish are generally bred inhumanely, a member of the city's animal welfare panel tells the San Francisco Chronicle . “Most fish in aquariums are either mass bred,” he says, “or taken from the wild," which results in "devastation of tropical fish from places like Southeast Asia." More»

Yes, even the Dog Whisperer made it on the list.

(NEWSER) - Kim Kardashian is PETA’s latest target, but her crime (holding a kitten by the scruff of the neck) is tame compared to what other celebrities have been accused of. The Frisky rounds up nine more who are in the doghouse with animal rights organizations:

• Paris Hilton: She has a history of acquiring animal accessories, then forgetting them—one kitten was hit by a car and employees say she abandons animals in closets to die.
• Banksy: The British artist once painted an elephant pink to bring awareness to world poverty. Since the paint was nontoxic, one animal rights group called the move merely "gimmicky."

City aims to stamp out sales of 'puppy-mill' pets

(NEWSER) - The animal-rights trailblazers on West Hollywood's City Council have passed an ordinance banning pet shops from selling cats and dogs. No stores in the city currently sell the animals, but council leaders hope the move will set an example to other cities and help put "puppy mills" and "kitten factories" out of business, the Los Angeles Times reports. More»

NAACP to march at stadium, while SPCA throws 'tailgate' party

(NEWSER) - Michael Vick’s first NFL game since his conviction for dog fighting has triggered strong reactions among animal and civil rights advocates in Philadelphia and they plan to let him know it, AP reports. Before he steps onto the field today as the Eagles’ quarterback, the Pennsylvania SPCA will throw a “tailgate” party across town to support its 2nd Chance Dogs campaign—a stab at Vick, who was granted a second chance by the Eagles. More»