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Writer's pictureDon Lichterman
Jun 16, 201910 min read

Father's Day's Meals & Father's Day Gift Ideas!

Updated: Jun 18, 2019

1. Peppered Tofu Steaks

Image Source: Peppered Tofu Steaks


Unseasoned tofu never draws people over to the barbecue—that’s a fact. However, nobody can resist these delicious, marinated Peppered Tofu Steaks from VBQ: The Ultimate Vegan Barbecue Cookbook by Nadine Horn and Jörg Mayer —that’s a promise.


2. Spicy Lime Cauliflower Steaks


Since cauliflower steaks essentially absorb any flavor you cook them in, they can be made in countless different ways! In this particular Spicy Lime Cauliflower Steaks recipe from Natalie Yonan, they are seasoned with lime, paprika, cumin, and agave nectar for a touch of sweetness. Simple, quick, and extremely flavorful!


3. Teriyaki Glazed Tofu Steaks



This Teriyaki Glazed Tofu Steaks recipe from Maya Sozer is an incredibly delicious way to enjoy the plant protein powerhouse that is tofu. These steaks are pan seared and then glazed with a sweet and zesty homemade teriyaki sauce. Serve with white rice and greens for a hearty and tasty meal.

4. Cauliflower Steak Burger


Using cauliflower for more than side dishes is becoming more and more common in the food world and rightfully so. They’re thick, juicy, and when flavored well absolutely delicious! This Cauliflower Steak Burger from Sofia Von Porat contains a cauliflower “steak,” a generous portion of guacamole, lettuce, and tomato. Simple and nutritious.


5. Portobello Mushroom Steaks


These juicy Portobello Mushroom Steaks from Kathleen Henry will satisfy your cravings and fill you up. Sauteed with onions, balsamic vinegar, mirin, and herbs it’s a compassionate steak alternative!


6. Steak Sandwich

Image Source: Steak Sandwich


The vegan Steak Sandwich from Miriam Sorrell is a fairly simple affair – a slab of good quality grilled or fried ‘beefsteak’ served on bread or in a roll with a choice of toppings. In fact, I have caramelized mine, and also added a simple but tasty mushroom topping. You can accompany this with a simple salad garnishing.


7. Cauliflower Steaks With Sweet Pea Purée


For a unique dinner entrée, give these cauliflower “steaks” a try. Baked to crispy perfection and seasoned with paprika, coriander, and black pepper, they are zesty and flavorful. Sweet pea purée adds a delicious freshness to the dish as well. Check out these Cauliflower Steaks With Sweet Pea Puree from Helyn Dunn!


8. Lemon Paprika Tofu Steaks



These delectable Lemon Paprika Tofu Steaks from Danya Dhanak are bursting with flavor, simple to prepare, and make the perfect addition to almost any dish you care to serve them with. The tofu is marinated in a simple mint, lemon, and black salt dressing and then fried to perfection in a cast iron skillet to give the steaks a crispy outside while the inside remains tender.


9. Buffalo Cauliflower Steaks



This Buffalo Cauliflower Steaks recipe from Robin Runner takes time, not that much, but I will say the end result is crispy crunchy goodness! Totally gluten free and of course, vegan!


10. Seitan Steak and Mushroom Pie


This Seitan Steak and Mushroom Pie from Jenny Marie is perfect for a Sunday dinner, or just as a comforting any-night meal to warm you up when it’s cold outside. They pair perfectly with creamy mashed potatoes, green vegetables, and lashings of rich gravy.


Sharon Vega's Father's Day's Gift Ideas!


1. Vegan Leather Bifold Wallets For Men


These handmade Vegan Leather Bifold Wallets For Men are made with 100 percent faux leather. It has a similar touch and feel to leather, except you can be assured there was no animal cruelty involved in its making. It arrives in a nice gift box. Your dad will love this wallet that’s been stitched with precision and detail. It’s available in four colors: Black, Brown, Navy Blue, and Taupe. The price is $29.98.


James says, “I needed a new wallet and I wanted it to be my first vegan wallet. I was very happy when I received the delivery. I had planned on being disappointed with a vegan wallet. I thought it wouldn’t be as good as a leather wallet. I was very very wrong. I love this wallet. No animal suffered for it and it truly is better made than my prior leather wallets. I showed my new wallet to a friend, and he agreed this wallet is very very nice….with so many pockets for cards, nice texture and the divide in the cash pocket.”


2. Rosemarie Collections Vegan Leather Unisex Round Face Watch



Rosemarie Collections’ Vegan Leather Unisex Round Face Watch is a stylish unisex wristwatch that has a classic design and decorative sub-dials and features. It’s made with faux leather and has an oversized stainless steel case. It has eight size settings so it can fit any wrist from small to large. The watch is also delivered in a gift box with a black velvet pouch so it will look adorable as a gift. The price is $38.78.


3. Sweetbriar Classic Laptop Messenger Bag Vegan Leather Briefcase 


Sweetbriar’s Vegan Leather Briefcase has a quick opening, secure closing, front organizer, and interior pockets. The interior pockets are perfect for pens, cell phones, chargers, iPads, and other tablets. The laptop compartment is 15 inches wide and the shoulder strap is fully adjustable. Your dad would love this gift and would be very proud to wear it to work. It’s available in three colors: Black, Brown, and Tan. The price is $39.95.


Terry says, “I am delighted with the quality of this bag. It is well made and was exactly the size I was expecting. I especially love the versatility of carrying it using the shoulder strap or using the handle. It is also surprisingly light-weight. The product arrived in excellent condition and on time.”


4. Retreez Modern Tartan Check Styles Woven Microfiber Men’s Tie


This Retreez Modern Tartan Check Styles Tie is made with 100 percent polyester microfiber. A tie is a safe bet for the dad who loves dressing to impress for work. This one costs $10.99.


Fred Goodsell says, “I don’t need any sentient animal capable of feeling pain, even little silk worms, to be killed for my apparel. Humane alternatives are usually less expensive too- like this product! These ties are a bit skinny, but very stylish and come in lots of designs. The ties look great in real life, and seem to be very high-quality.”

5. Coideal Wooden Desktop Storage Organizer/Remote Control Caddy



If your dad could use some desk organization or maybe he’s just a couch potato, get him this gift which doubles as a Desktop Storage Organizer/Remote Control Caddy. It’s made of eco-friendly 100 percent natural pine wood and features a classic brown finish. The price is $13.99.

Sherry says, “Good quality although the inside is not completely finished (a bit rough in spots). Looks good in my living room, keeps chair-side clutter organized. I liked it so much I bought another one to use beside my tv chair in my bedroom. Keeps note pads, pens, cell phone and remotes handy & organized.”


6. Herban Cowboy Cologne



Cologne is a classic gift for Father’s Day. If your dad isn’t tired of it and genuinely would love some cologne, try giving him this Herban Cowboy Cologne. It’s made in the USA, PETA Certified cruelty-free, and free of phthalates, dyes, parabens, sulphates, and triclosan. It costs $17.99.


Josh says, “I love this cologne! I’ve been complimented many times by people about my manly but subtle smell. Goes great with my body chemistry, and I love that it’s not loaded with preservatives or chemicals! Smells great, isn’t over-powering, and lasts for hours. What more could you ask for in a cologne?”


7. George Foreman 5-Serving Removable Plate Grill and Panini Press



George Foreman Indoor Grills are a wonderful addition to the kitchen. Not everyone has the space for an outdoor grill, maybe your dad already has one, or maybe he’d just love to have this when it’s cold out. This grill also works as a panini press and cleanup is easy because the grill plates are removable. The price is $43.49.


Amy says, “This is probably my 3rd George Foreman and the first of the larger sized ones. It is a bit clunky, but that’s a fair enough trade off when you take into consideration the removable, almost self-cleaning grill plates!”


8. Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern


If your dad loves reading and always has a new book in his hands, he might love receiving this funny memoir about a father-son relationship! The hardcover copy of Sh*t My Dad Says costs $11.04.


Jeremiah says, “All I can say is that I loved it! Halpern’s dad is a real character and his analogies and the lessons he teaches his son are colorful, to say the least. I laughed until I cried multiple times and my poor wife had to listen to me repeat quote after quote.”


9. Pacific Shaving Company Natural Shave Cream



Pacific Shaving Company Natural Shave Cream is made with natural, plant-derived ingredients and is free of parabens and synthetic fragrances. It protects your skin from redness, irritation, and bumps. The vegan formula keeps skin health, soothed, and hydrated, and it’s cruelty-free! A 3.4 ounce cream costs $8.99.


James says, “Discovered Pacific Shaving years ago, maybe 5. Thrilled to see they are on Amazon with prime shipping. the product is great. I have a beard that is like sand paper after 6 hours, and I think this is the best shaving cream I have ever used. I haven’t used anything else since I discovered it.”


10. Double Edge Safety Razor


If your dad shaves his beard or any of his hair, you can help him be more eco-friendly with this Double Edge Safety Razor. It will also save him money if he’s been buying many disposable razors. The razor head is traditional and has a heavy-duty old school feel with a cut-minimizing system. It costs $36.97.


Rich says, “Here’s the deal, this is the second safety razor I bought, and I sure wish it was the first. I didn’t know that there was a razor of this type that doesn’t grab and cut the bejeesus out of my face. In fact this razor is downright comfortable. At first I thought the blades that came with it were ringers so I popped in one of my old blades and the shave was even closer and still no grabs or cuts. I took a closer look at the design and it appears that the slight curve in the head keeps the blades rigid and perfectly angled. The “Godfather” earns all five stars.”


11. Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Beer Making Kit



Some people just love beer! If your dad is one of those people, he might really appreciate this Brooklyn Brew Shop Everyday IPA Beer Making Kit. It’s perfect for beginners and makes brewing beer at home simple and fun. You could make this a double gift and add in some quality time by making beer as an activity with your dad! The kit includes the Everyday IPA making mix (grain, hops, and yeast), one gallon reusable glass fermenter, glass spirit-filled thermometer, vinyl tubing, racking cane and tip, chambered airlock, cleanser, and screw-cap stopper. It costs $37.90.


Dan says, “I got this as my first beer brewing kit and had a lot of fun with it. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the beer turned out pretty darn good! I think the best part is that I can still use most of the equipment for brewing small batches of whatever else I want. Overall, if you are looking for a kit to try out brewing with you won’t go wrong with this.”


12. Stainless Steel Classic Cufflinks



Cufflinks are a classic gift for dads. If your dad is often in suits and just loves looking spiffy, you can’t go wrong with these Stainless Steel Classic Cufflinks. There are two pairs and two colors made of high quality stainless steel. They’re sturdy and durable. The price is 14.99.

Mia says, “I ordered these for my hubby and he loved then. The packaging is great and it comes with a small velvet draw string bag to put them in so they wont get lost a plus for my hubby. These are super sleek and look awesome with a suit. My hubby has gotten many compliments on the already. i really liked the black ones. Great gift for dad or that special someone who likes to dress up or who needs to dress up for work or events.”


13. Men’s Slippers House Shoes Moccasin 


Who doesn’t love some comfy slippers? Get your dad these Slippers House Shoes Moccasin and we bet he’ll wear them around the house until they’re completely worn down. They have a thick memory foam cushioning that provides support as well as advance odor protection. The sole is durable and will help prevent sliding. They’re available in five colors: Black, Navy, Gray, Navy/Blue, Dark Black. The price ranges between $16.99 and $22.99.


14. Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Mug with Lid


Perfect for the dad who just loves his coffee or tea, this Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Mug with Lid is stylish and convenient. It’s a camp mug with a strong handle for wide hands. It’s durable, resists dents, and the double-wall vacuum insulation keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot. It’s available in seven colors: Black, Brick Red, Seafoam, Stainless, White, Olive Green, and Navy. The price ranges between $24.99 and $79.99.


Kendra says, Wow, what a great product. I’ve transitioned from a regular coffee cup to this. I was always reheating my coffee but no longer. This mug keeps my coffee hot for a minimum of 2 hours. Allowing me to get a few things done around the house, while i enjoy my coffee here and there.


15. Your Baby’s First Word Will Be Dada by Jimmy Fallon and Miguel Ordóñez


The book above is great for an adult to give their parent, but Your Baby’s First Word Will Be Dada by Jimmy Fallon and Miguel Ordóñez is great for a new dad! Maybe someone close to you will soon be a dad or has just had a baby. They’ll be sure to love this gift! A hardcover copy costs $7.18.


An Amazon customer says, “My daughter already was saying “Dada” but still loves this book. She stares at each animal before we turn the page. I think the simplicity of the words and images is just right for her. I bought it for Father’s Day and we’re still reading it, almost every night. She was 8 months when we bought it and 10 months, now.”

"Corporations Are People Too My Friends."
Our companies are known for creating products that enhance people's lives.  Through Sunset Corporation of America and its companies, we’re equally dedicated to improving lives.  Our commitment extends to helping local communities, fostering better educational systems, supporting the arts and culture, helping disadvantaged youth, protecting and improving the environment, animal welfare, wildlife issues and encouraging employee volunteerism.

The Sustainable Action Network (SAN), A Don Lichterman non-profit organization dedicated to building a global community raising awareness of corruption, injustice and the need for action across a full range of issues impacting people and animal/wildlife welfare around the world, such as conservation, climate change, campaign law, lobbying, government action and rescue work. SAN’s vision is to create safer world, free from political, environmental, and social oppression, where all the inhabitants of Earth can live in harmony within their own natural environments. Our companies are known for creating products that enhance people's lives.  Through Sunset Corporation of America and its companies, we’re equally dedicated to improving lives.   Our commitment extends to helping local communities, fostering better educational systems, supporting the arts and culture, helping disadvantaged youth, protecting and improving the environment, animal welfare, wildlife issues and encouraging employee volunteerism.

Activism and Sustainability:

  • Gun Safety & Gun Laws

  • Cruelty Free

  • Death Penalty

  • Demand Action

  • Sustainable Action Network

Fairness and Equality:

  • Grammy District Advocacy

  • Privatization

  • Voters Issues & Gerrymandering

  • Private Prisons & the War on Drugs

  • Finance, Housing & the Economy

Corporate Responsibility:

  • Candidates, Bills, Laws & Protections

  • Wildlife & Oceania

  • Labeling & Transparency

  • Comprehensive Captivity & Hunting Results Databases



Writer's pictureDon Lichterman
Jun 14, 201910 min read

Yummy, Dog Meat, Weekly Animal & Wildlife Crime, Cruelty & Welfare Report


#PETA, You Won't Believe What This Whistleblower Told Us About Filming on 'Yellowstone'

In a chilling PETA interview, a whistleblower describes the gruesome scene of decomposing cows' bodies and the psychological trauma that crewmembers were forced to endure on the set of Kevin Costner's "Yellowstone."

Traps Meant for Coyotes Are Killing Cats

PETA and Stephen F's Vegan Suit Collection Is Ruling Fashion Week

YUMMMY...DOG MEAT...



In July and August, thousands more will be killed so that vendors at the Boknal Festival can serve the popular Peppery Dog Meat Soup. And in late August, teenage boys will be forced to gorge on dog meat for seven days as part of a coming-of-age ceremony.



But the horror doesn't end with festivals. Dogs are abused and killed for food every day all year round. The dog meat markets of Indonesia, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Vietnam are thriving. Some are even considered tourist destinations. And in certain areas of Switzerland, farmers are still known to kill dogs for personal consumption or to give as a delicacy to friends.


Care2 is launching a campaign to stop dog meat consumption worldwide. By adding your name to this petition, you are signing on to help stop dog meat festivals and markets across the globe. Over the next several weeks, you will get the opportunity to sign petitions and take other actions to end the inhumane slaughter of millions of dogs each year — starting with the Yulin Dog Meat Festival.


Are you ready to send a strong message to world leaders that you won't rest until all dogs are safe from butchers? Then join us in making 2019 the year that dog meat festivals and markets are stopped once and for all.

Congress takes steps to block high-speed slaughter -- Add your voice!


Legislators are pushing an amendment through the US House of Representatives that could put the brakes on the USDA’s cruel high-speed slaughter program. Add your voice today with a quick, polite call to the agency at 202-720-9113 urging it to scrap this reckless plan (use our sample script below)!


The amendment, sponsored by Representatives Rosa DeLauro and David Price, would block funding of the USDA’s proposed rule to expand high-speed slaughter nationwide until the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) provides findings on the data used to develop this program. USDA must then address whatever issues the OIG raises. But if the USDA is allowed to increase line speeds and reduce accountability, it will be dangerous for animals, workers, and consumers alike.

Compassion Over Killing investigator Scott David has witnessed these high-speed horrors firsthand. Working in a plant operating under this slaughter rate of 1,300 pigs per hour, he documentedpigs being beaten, shocked, dragged, and improperly stunned, as workers tried to keep up.


This bill could be a step in delaying--and hopefully ending--this rule, which has been widely criticized by animal welfare, workers’ rights, and food safety groups. The New York Times editorial board even recently took a formal stance against the rule, writing that it  “the government — rather astonishingly — has maintained the [fast-speed] pilot program for two decades without proving that it works.”


TAKE ACTION: Call the USDA at 202-720-9113 and urge it to put the brakes on high-speed slaughter! Use our sample below (or your own polite message), and don’t forget to email campaigns@cok.net to let us know how your call went. Click Here to Sign the Petition.

Through our investigations of Petland, three things have become clear to us and to the public: One, Petland is aware of the sick and dying animals it buys (and sells) from puppy mills. Two, Petland and puppy mills see only dollar signs when they look at puppies. Three, unless we double down on our efforts, Petland will use its lobbyists to make this country a great place for puppy mills. Stop them today!


We need to reach 5,000 gifts by this Friday to continue our investigations, local and national advocacy work, rescues and more. We can't stop now! Petland and its lobbyists are working around the clock all over the country, fighting to overturn our legislation, to ensure that America becomes a country where puppy mills can thrive.



Do you know what a backyard butcher is?


It sounds like something out of a horror movie. But for residents just outside of Fort Myers, Florida, it is all too real.


The piercing cries and squeals of pigs, goats, horses, chickens, and other animals being cruelly and illegally slaughtered at “backyard butcher” operations are unbearable. The sounds of their pain have even brought people to tears.


It’s illegal and unethical — and the Animal Legal Defense Fund is suing to shut them down. Your can help support our legal work to shut down illegal, inhumane backyard slaughter operations.


Florida law requires that animals be unconscious and rendered insensitive to pain before being killed. But video footage of these backyard slaughterhouses reveal that animals routinely retain consciousness during slaughter. Workers stab squealing pigs in the chest and throat, and even attempt to skin animals alive.


No wonder their cries of pain are so upsetting to people nearby. I can’t begin to imagine the horror of hearing animals cry out in pain as they are being violently slaughtered.


Cruelty like this cannot...will not...be tolerated in our society. Our lawsuit aims to stop this cruel and illegal slaughter, but we need your help.



Please support for the Animal Legal Defense Fund right now to make twice the impact in the fight for animals! With your support we can bring black market slaughter operations out of the shadows and shut them down.


The vet called it “extreme emaciation”


When one of the horses died, the owner left him to rot. And it wasn’t the first time.

When law enforcement in Lebanon, Oregon came to investigate, they found 34 neglected, malnourished horses standing in mud that was full of their own urine and feces. They were so thin that deputies could see their hip and rib bones.


This is animal cruelty — plain and simple.


With the help of a local horse rescue and the Animal Legal Defense Fund, law enforcement were able to seize the 34 horses and transport them to a sanctuary. This story might remind you of another severely neglected horse from Oregon — Justice.


Justice suffered severe neglect, starvation, frostbite, and other grave injuries due to his owner’s negligence, and will require expensive medical care for the rest of his life due to the injuries he sustained.


Unfortunately, animal abuse like this is all too common — which is why your support is so critical. The fight against animal cruelty and injustice will be long and hard — and animals like Justice and those 34 horses need people like you in their corner fighting on their behalf.




The Animal Legal Defense Fund is fighting right now to make sure Justice and those 34 horses get the justice they deserve, but there are millions more animal victims that need justice, too. Your gift drives our innovative legal work and saves animals’ lives.


So please don’t miss your chance to make an impact on animals’ lives today — animals are depending on you.


Man Arrested for Torturing and Killing Cats From Craigslist

Punish Craigslist Kitten Killer! It's happened again. A man has been arrested for picking up "free to good home" animals off Craigslist and torturing and killing them. It's impossible to say how many victims there might be, but the investigation is ongoing. Act now to ensure this horrible man pays for his violent crimes against helpless animals. TAKE ACTION


A Missouri man has been charged with two felony counts of animal abuse for killing and dismembering at least 12 cats and kittens he found on Craigslist, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.


According to police, deceased cats were found throughout the suspect’s neighborhood since January. The crimes stayed hidden until a man spotted someone dumping a dead cat. After finding a match to the car used during the dump, police arrested Kaine A. Louzader for the heinous crimes. Louzader admitted to police that he obtained cats through Craigslist ads, stomped on their heads and strangled them, according to the Post-Dispatch.


This tragic case serves as an important reminder of the dangers of selling pets online instead of relinquishing them to reputable shelters and rescues.


Although there is little information available on who was selling the cats who were eventually killed, it is possible they were pet owners thinking their animals were going to a loving home.

Instead, these animals were senselessly tortured, likely enduring severe pain and suffering before being killed and discarded outside like garbage.


Animal advocates have long urged the public not to give away their pets online. Cases such as this one are far from isolated incidents.


In 2015, a man was arrested for tying a dog’s legs together, muzzling her and setting her on fire while she was still alive. The man got the dog through a Craigslist ad.


In 2013, a dog known as Puppy Doe was found in a park struggling to survive. The young dog was starved, stabbed and burned, and her tongue had been sliced. Puppy Doe ended up in the hands of her abuser after being passed to multiple owners through Craigslist ads, leading to national calls to ban animal ads on Craigslist.


Pets available on Craigslist make easy targets for animal abusers. Unlike shelters and rescues, which have protocols in place to screen potential adopters, people giving away their pets on Craigslist may not know the right questions to ask. For instance, shelters and rescues usually have standardized application forms and may conduct reference checks or home visits.


Animal abusers also avoid leaving a paper trail by acquiring animals through Craigslist, where they can use fake phone numbers and email addresses instead of signing adoption paperwork at a shelter or rescue. There is no reliable way to monitor the transfer of animal exchanges on Craigslist.


Pet owners may prefer Craigslist over traditional outlets for relinquishing a pet. After all, shelters and rescues may be filled to capacity or euthanize animals due to overcrowding. But putting animals in the hands of an unknown stranger is a dangerous and potentially fatal alternative. Instead, pet owners who want to find their animals new homes on their own should only give them to known friends and family.


Additionally, we must work to eliminate the stigma of giving up a pet, so people do not have to resort to online sales or abandoning their animals.


Both Craigslist and Facebook have attempted to put policies in place to control animal ads. Facebook prohibits the sale of live animals on its website. Craigslist’s policy states pet sales are prohibited but allows “re-homing with [a] small adoption fee.” Clearly, Craigslist’s policy is not enough to prevent brutal acts of animal cruelty.


Supporters of animal ads on Craigslist argue that instances of animal cruelty encompass just a small portion of the animal rehomings through the website. In a blog post, Craigslist defended ads for animals, saying, “Direct rehoming via classifieds is a solution, not a problem. Countless pets find good homes on CL, saved from unnecessary euthanization [sic].”


But even the small chance of placing a pet into the hands of a depraved animal abuser is too high of a risk. We cannot allow animal abusers to find their next victim with a few clicks online.


TAKE ACTION!

Craigslist must do more to prevent animal abuse by prohibiting all ads that attempt to give away a pet. Join us by signing this petition calling for Craigslist to update its policy on pet ads.

YouTuber Erin Janus is shining a spotlight an industry that is responsible for inconceivable animal suffering. Her world-famous viral video, Dairy is Scary, has over 5.4 million views and climbs higher each day as more and more people grow conscious of their food choices.


Erin exposes scary dairy industry practices of forcibly impregnating cows and slaughtering their newborns as "waste products" so cow milk can be pumped and sold for human consumption.


Last year we partnered with Erin to launch a huge campaign that saw 60 billboards dropped on Los Angeles advertising the Dairy is Scary video to broadcast the truth on behalf of animals.


Thanks to local groups around the globe, these ads continue to circulate and expose an uncomfortable truth that we have the power to change.

New Brunswick in Canada is the latest "Dairy is Scary" city—just in time for June Dairy Month! Launching June 10, the ads will be featured on three buses circulating the Fredericton area, and two billboards located in Moncton and Saint John. They have been funded by Vegan Education Group NB through the generous donations of individuals and The Save Movement.


If you haven't signed up yet, what’s holding you back? Try our 21-day Dairy-Free Challenge today!


Stop Russia Illegally Trafficking Endangered Tigers to China

Something terrible is happening to endangered Amur tigers in Russian zoos—they are disappearing. The Euro-Asian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums is charged with preserving these rare cats, yet is actually selling baby tigers to China. Take action now to stop the sales of endangered big cats and free them from horrific conditions! TAKE ACTION

"Corporations Are People Too My Friends."
Our companies are known for creating products that enhance people's lives.  Through Sunset Corporation of America and its companies, we’re equally dedicated to improving lives.  Our commitment extends to helping local communities, fostering better educational systems, supporting the arts and culture, helping disadvantaged youth, protecting and improving the environment, animal welfare, wildlife issues and encouraging employee volunteerism.

The Sustainable Action Network (SAN), A Don Lichterman non-profit organization dedicated to building a global community raising awareness of corruption, injustice and the need for action across a full range of issues impacting people and animal/wildlife welfare around the world, such as conservation, climate change, campaign law, lobbying, government action and rescue work. SAN’s vision is to create safer world, free from political, environmental, and social oppression, where all the inhabitants of Earth can live in harmony within their own natural environments. Our companies are known for creating products that enhance people's lives.  Through Sunset Corporation of America and its companies, we’re equally dedicated to improving lives.   Our commitment extends to helping local communities, fostering better educational systems, supporting the arts and culture, helping disadvantaged youth, protecting and improving the environment, animal welfare, wildlife issues and encouraging employee volunteerism.

Activism and Sustainability:

  • Gun Safety & Gun Laws

  • Cruelty Free

  • Death Penalty

  • Demand Action

  • Sustainable Action Network

Fairness and Equality:

  • Grammy District Advocacy

  • Privatization

  • Voters Issues & Gerrymandering

  • Private Prisons & the War on Drugs

  • Finance, Housing & the Economy

Corporate Responsibility:

  • Candidates, Bills, Laws & Protections

  • Wildlife & Oceania

  • Labeling & Transparency

  • Comprehensive Captivity & Hunting Results Databases



Writer's pictureDon Lichterman
May 31, 201912 min read

Debarking? (Really?), Animal Crimes, Animal Abusers, New Legal Claims on Animal & Wildlife Report!

Hearing of the CA Senate's and Assembly's Govt. Organization Committees on Horse Racing

PETA and Social Compassion in Legislation call for an end to horse-racing deaths (May 22, 2019).

We have only a few hours before the Anti-Poaching Challenge ends.

Don't give poachers a pass when elephants, rhinos, lions, pangolins, and other beloved species are moving ever-closer to extinction.


Last month, I shared with you the story of Michael Gallagher, who beat his dog Bella with a shovel so severely that she had to be euthanized — and then spent just four months in jail for his crime.

Abusers like Gallagher should be punished proportionately to their crimes — with a potent combination of prison time, fines, psychiatric treatment, supervised probation, and most importantly, strict bans on possessing animals.


When the punishment doesn’t fit the crime, more animals are forced to suffer. But you can help change that today by writing a message to your governor to demand that when it comes to cruelty, animal victims in NJ deserve justice.


Your letter will demonstrate your support for stronger animal protection laws in your state — strengthening our collective efforts to improve legal protections for animals across the country.


And these laws must be changed. Because sadly, stories like Bella’s are not uncommon. Just last year…


A banker stabbed his girlfriend’s dog to death and tossed the animal into a garbage chute…and only received 30 days in jail.A man who stabbed a dog, Onyx, more than 50 times and slit his throat received one year in jail, despite the prosecutor’s urging that he receive the maximum two-year sentence.


The clock is ticking on wildlife and wild places.

Without immediate action, more than a million species could face extinction.

Keystone species like wolves, grizzly bears and polar bears are on the front lines of this crisis. Without our top predators, whole ecosystems and the endangered animals that depend on them will collapse.


When predators like wolves and grizzlies thrive, the web of life around them is stronger and more resilient. Their presence restores balance and integrity.

In Yellowstone, for example, wolf reintroduction led to fewer elk, in turn allowing willows and aspens on streamsides to flourish. Those vibrant rivers meant more songbirds, beavers, fish and frogs. Bears have the same effect by keeping down the number of herbivores.

And now, just when we desperately need to go all out to save the planet's biodiversity, the Trump administration is doing everything it can to wipe out protections for vulnerable species.

It has launched the worst attack yet on the Endangered Species Act, is gunning to strip protection from gray wolves, and is dragging its feet on grizzly bear recovery.

We face an extinction crisis that's deepening by the hour. But hope remains.

We're in court now for keystone predators — going up against a massive mining operation in southern Arizona that threatens jaguars and fighting for wolves across the country. Just last week we took legal action for eight endangered species the administration has failed to protect, including the Sierra Nevada red fox.

The Center was founded 30 years ago to save biodiversity, and since then we've led the fight for endangered species great and small. Now we need you with us more than ever.

Which animal would you miss the most?

I've been asking myself that same question ever since the recent United Nations report confirmed our worst fears: up to a million species are facing extinction – some within the next decade – unless we take immediate action to save them.


It's painful to imagine a world where gray wolves have been hunted to extinction, the remainder of the southern resident orcas have starved to death, or the last of the polar bears simply couldn't keep up with the rapidly changing climate.



The truth is, vulnerable wildlife – and our very planet – are in an unprecedented crisis. For many of these species, the only thing standing between them and extinction is the passion and dedication of wildlife lovers like you.

It's not too late to fight back: Our team of legal experts, biologists, policy advocates and more are working right now in communities across the country to protect wildlife wherever they're threatened.


Defenders has been successfully helping species return from the brink of extinction for decades – but we need your help to keep winning for wildlife.



Whether we're challenging anti-wolf groups, Big Oil, corporate lobbyists, administration officials or other anti-wildlife forces, your support makes wildlife safer in the face of non-stop assaults on their lives and habitat.


Do you know which animal you'd miss the most? With your help, we may never have to answer that terrible question.



Ban The Inhumane Debarking Procedure!

This inhumane and cruel procedure is a harsh reality for many dogs. Known as debarking, this dangerous and unnecessary surgery is becoming more and more common. Not only is the pain and stress of the procedure hard on the dog, complications can include pneumonia, complicated breathing, coughing and a muffled sound.

Dogs communicate with us through barking and need their voice to alert us and communicate. Even if a dog’s barking may be overwhelming, it can be controlled with proper training and an exercise regime – not surgery.


Michigan lawmaker introduces bill that would ban debarking of dogs

State Rep. Tim Sneller, D-Burton, has owned dogs all his life, including his current rescue pet Oscar, a miniature Dachsund whose woof is always welcome.


He wants to make sure that other pet owners appreciate that a dog’s bark is an essential multi-purpose signal —that they need to go out, eat or provide a warning of impending danger — and prohibit veterinarians from performing debarking procedures.


He’s introduced a bill that bans the procedure of removing tissue from a pet’s vocal cords in order to reduce or soften a dog’s bark.


“That’s the way the dog communicates with us,” he said. “To have this done just because you don’t want to hear a dog bark is cruel and unusual punishment.”


According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, four states have laws in place that prohibit devocalization of dogs in most circumstances: Massachusetts, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. And California and Rhode Island have laws that prohibit landlords from requiring devocalization or declawing of pets as a condition for renters.


Sneller doesn’t have high expectations that his bill will get much traction in the state Capitol.

“I don’t see it going anywhere, but it was really a point to bring the issue up and urge dog owners to think about it before you do it,” he said. "Before you rip out their vocal cords, take your dog to training.”


He also suggested that, while not ideal and not an option that he would ever choose, that a shock collar or electric fence could be another, less permanent choice for pet owners.

The veterinary association's official stance on debarking dogs is that it should only be done as a final alternative to euthanizing a dog after other behavior modification techniques have failed.

We deployed to the two properties at the request of the Indiana Gaming Commission. In addition to the dogs, who were eager for our attention, our team found hundreds of roosters. Some birds were kept in crude cages, unable to spread their wings, while others were tethered outside. Many birds had physical conditions that suggested the cruel bloodsport of cockfighting.

To betray any animals by forcing them to fight for their lives for so-called entertainment is despicable. After rescuing the animals, we are now assisting local authorities with evidence collection, medical assessments, and veterinary forensic exams. 

We never know what we’ll find in cases like this. But the only way we can be there for helpless animals is with you beside us. Please help us end cruelty and protect vulnerable animals from coast to coast. Thank you for your generous, unwavering support.

In a profit-first, quid pro quo kind of way, Petland supports the puppy mill industry.


With over 30 lobbyists across the nation, Petland is fighting hard to overturn legislation that keeps puppy mill dogs from being sold in pet stores—because puppy mills supply them with cheap puppies, quickly. They invest big bucks in legislation and passion alone is not enough to take them on. We’re doing all we can to keep those laws in place, but we need your help!


Our most recent undercover investigation at Petland, revealed even more horrors for the puppies in the chain's stores. The footage showed sick puppies languishing in cages with insufficient care. These sick puppies are often sold to unsuspecting families who are subjected to massive medical bills shortly thereafter. This is a tragedy and injustice for people and puppies alike.

More than 300 localities nationwide have banned the sale of puppy mill dogs in pet stores. If Petland has their way that number will be zero. Their interest is in getting the most money out of sick puppies, not improving welfare standards.


Petland is not unaware of the dark way their business is run. In fact, at least one of their franchises has people sign papers before they can buy an animal that make it more difficult to sue Petland. A Petland employee brags about this on camera.


We aren't letting Petland get away with this! We're continuing to fight for legislation to ban puppy mills as well as continuing our investigations to expose what Petland attempts to keep hidden. Your generous gift will help us continue to do this on local and federal levels and be able to take on the big fights facing ALL animals.



The ASPCA deployed across two counties to the sites of a suspected animal fighting operation, where we found pit bull-type dogs chained outdoors in the mud, some with scars consistent with dogfighting.

Their water bowls were filthy, while only small, wooden houses and plastic barrels offered shelter for the dogs. Even in their heartbreaking condition, they still wagged their tails when they saw us.

Your gift now can have an immediate impact on our efforts to rescue animals like these, and provide medical treatment, food and care that animal victims need. 


This report will also update you on our lawsuit against California Carolina Dogs, a puppy mill in Vallejo, California. Today we are in court presenting our lawsuit to shut down this puppy mill, and I am hopeful that we will win.


I want to thank you for your support in our fight against animal cruelty and injustice — because we couldn’t have made it this far without you.


Thanks to your generosity, we extended the deadline for our matching gift campaign to allow more of our supporters to participate. You can take the next step in the two following ways:




Your support will make a bigger impact in the fight against puppy mills like California Carolina Dogs that has bred dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions for years — violating local ordinances and state laws that the Animal Legal Defense Fund is suing to enforce. Our lawsuit aims to shut down this inhumane facility for good — and with your help, we will win.


We’re fighting puppy mills at every level — suing exploitative businesses and working to pass laws like retail pet sale bans. By advocating for retail pet sale bans, we can prevent stores from selling puppy mill puppies in the first place and reduce the demand for these dogs.



These Men Tore the Wings of a Live Pheasant — And That Was Just the Start

A hidden camera in Burnham, Buckinghamshire, set up to catch illegal dumpers, has caught something far more disturbing. An unfortunate pheasant was the victim of a brutal act of animal cruelty as three boys filmed themselves torturing it to death.

In the undercover film, one of the men holds the bird by its wings while the other one cuts it with a knife and uses a slingshot on it. They even tear its wings off it's still alive. Another creep films the entire thing.

The bird eventually dies but the hidden video reveals that, unfortunately, he was not their only victim. The thugs pull another dead, presumedly tortured, pheasant from the trunk. Then they jump on both of them as if they were stomping on grapes to make wine.

The entire scene is vulgar and it would bring any animal lover to tears.

All the evidence needed to find these men and bring them to justice is available in the video including their faces and their car license plates. Let's make sure this case of animal abuse isn't swept under the rug. Sign to ask Buckinghamshire Police to do all they can to find these abusers and bring them to justice.


Will You Help Threatened Marine Mammals?

I know you love marine mammals. And I also know that you would never do anything like what this lawbreaker did.

A few weeks ago, a Guadalupe fur seal pup was killed at Point Reyes National Seashore because someone decided to break the law and let their dog off its leash.

Guadalupe fur seals are threatened, and every individual is important to their recovery as a species.

Guadalupe fur seals rarely come to shore. So the fact that this pup was all alone in an unusual place is a sign that something is very wrong out in the ocean.

When we examined the pup after its death, our scientists confirmed that while this young seal died from severe trauma from the dog attack, she was also underweight. This seal pup would have stood a chance if the beachgoer had respected the posted signs. She would have been rescued and brought to the Center for rehabilitative care.

Yes, Friend, this story has a sad ending. And the law-breaker has not been found.

But I want you to imagine a story with a happy ending.

The one where you help solve the bigger problem marine mammals are facing – the reason this pup stranded on shore in the first place.

Lambs are prey animals who know that a sound could give them away to a predator, so normally, they suffer in silence rather than drawing any attention to themselves, but they are in such agony when farmworkers cut off their tails with a hot knife—without anesthetics—that they cannot stop themselves from crying out in pain.



With support from kind people like you, PETA and our international affiliates have released 11 eye-opening exposés of the wool industry, each one revealing the rampant abuse of lambs and sheep. They've sent shockwaves around the fashion world and showed millions of people the suffering behind every wool sweater and scarf.


The tide is turning against the wool trade—and against all industries that exploit, abuse, and kill animals for their skin, fur, or feathers. But as long as ANY animal suffers, we must strengthen this vital work.


Thank you for everything that you do to help animals.


PETA eyewitnesses documented living conditions at more than 100 Petco stores across the country and found filth, sickness, and death for betta fish.

Millions of sensitive betta fish continue to suffer in the pet trade, as they're subjected to inadequate care and neglect from the time they're bred to the time they're sold. Please, never buy bettas from Petco or anywhere else. Take action today: https://investigations.peta.org/petco...


The world is turning its back on fur, and companies like Canada Goose know it.


But rather than doing the humane thing and switching to luxe, warm, high-quality faux fur as so many top designers and popular brands have done, certain companies simply claim to use fur obtained according to certified "humane" standards, some of which encourage the use of "padded" steel traps, which have a thin layer of plastic or rubber lining the jaws.


These traps are virtually identical to their nonpadded counterparts, which slam shut on the limbs of unsuspecting coyotes (or any other animals who step in them) and restrain them there, helpless, vulnerable, and terrified.


Just how much damage can a steel trap do when it has "padding" in place? Watch what a Canada Goose–approved "humane" coyote trap does to pencils, vegetables, and more—and decide for yourself whether any trap that kills animals can ever be "ethical."


Urge Canada Goose to be fur-free: https://support.peta.org/page/3398/ac....


"Corporations Are People Too My Friends."

Our companies are known for creating products that enhance people's lives.  Through Sunset Corporation of America and its companies, we’re equally dedicated to improving lives.  Our commitment extends to helping local communities, fostering better educational systems, supporting the arts and culture, helping disadvantaged youth, protecting and improving the environment, animal welfare, wildlife issues and encouraging employee volunteerism.

The Sustainable Action Network (SAN), A Don Lichterman non-profit organization dedicated to building a global community raising awareness of corruption, injustice and the need for action across a full range of issues impacting people and animal/wildlife welfare around the world, such as conservation, climate change, campaign law, lobbying, government action and rescue work. SAN’s vision is to create safer world, free from political, environmental, and social oppression, where all the inhabitants of Earth can live in harmony within their own natural environments. Our companies are known for creating products that enhance people's lives.  Through Sunset Corporation of America and its companies, we’re equally dedicated to improving lives.   Our commitment extends to helping local communities, fostering better educational systems, supporting the arts and culture, helping disadvantaged youth, protecting and improving the environment, animal welfare, wildlife issues and encouraging employee volunteerism.

Activism and Sustainability:

  • Gun Safety & Gun Laws

  • Cruelty Free

  • Death Penalty

  • Demand Action

  • Sustainable Action Network

Fairness and Equality:

  • Grammy District Advocacy

  • Privatization

  • Voters Issues & Gerrymandering

  • Private Prisons & the War on Drugs

  • Finance, Housing & the Economy

Corporate Responsibility:

  • Candidates, Bills, Laws & Protections

  • Wildlife & Oceania

  • Labeling & Transparency

  • Comprehensive Captivity & Hunting Results Databases



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