Posted September 4, 2012 by Diana Mendoza
We’ve been giving away tons of Nugget swag lately, and with another awesome prize today—our “I Am Not a Nugget” tank—I want to share a story with you guys about a real-life “Nugget.”
One day, my phone rings, and my friend Alex tells me how his grandma was walking to the store and saw a bird on the side of the road. Now, this little old Ukrainian lady had gone through some serrrrriously rough times before moving to America, speaks barely any English, and was already pressed for time. But she stopped what she was doing and also got several passersby to stop and help her. Then she crawled into the ditch and rescued this scared, filthy chicken.
The hen had definitely been used for egg production, and our guess was that this poor bird had fallen off a transport truck and been left to die of starvation or shock on the side of the road. Not only did she have the telltale beak of a factory-farmed bird—the tips are seared off with a hot blade, usually without the use of any kind of painkillers—one of her wings had also been worn down to the bones, most likely from constantly rubbing against her tiny, cramped cage.
When I picked up this sweet girl from Alex to take her to Farm Sanctuary’s Animal Acres, his grandma was crying. The hen had taken to her, and the two ladies would sit for hours, the kind older woman gently petting her new feathered friend, who would made soft little noises, content to experience love and tenderness probably for the first time in her life.
This story has a happy ending, but so many don’t. So, what’s the point? The point is that anyone can help animals—anyone can take a minute to show them some affection. Sure Nugget is awesome and totes adorbs, but we should never forget the truly heartbreaking reality of what chickens—and all animals—endure to end up on our table in the form of products that we don’t need!
With much respect to my homeboy’s kindhearted grams, this week I want you to tell us who in your life has inspired you to love and care for animals. Leave your shirt size, too, and we’ll pick our winner soon.
Good luck!*
*The winner will be chosen at random from submitted animal-friendly comments in which the commenters tell us who has inspired their love for animals. Entries must be received by September 11, 2012. The winner will be chosen at random and notified on September 13, 2012.
Heads up! By commenting here, you’re acknowledging that you’ve read and you agree to our contest terms and conditions and our privacy policy, and you’re also agreeing to our collection, storage, use, and disclosure of your personal info in accordance with those policies as well as to receiving e-mails from us.
peta2 Street Team Coordinator + lover of vegan food, cats, animal rights, Dawson's Creek, and Harry Potter.
Too long to explain here, it's long enough for a novel.
Father loves to farm, be self sustainable, loves to read, he's a antiques/vintage auctioneer, art student, and looks like mr. Rogers. My mother is a Montessori teacher and is amazing with children, all about local organic foods, loves gardening, cooking etc. my sister who is nine years older than me was into indie music and introduced me to all sorts of things at a young age. This all rubbed of on me and from that base I grew into similar things. I'm an INFJ
I'm tall, a geek, nacho - obsessed, I love sewing and Cath Kidston, also I'm vegetarian (wannabe vegan.)
Jersey girl now I'm all country.
I love animals about as much as rock, heavy metal, tea, and coffee. Hoping to make a difference and help animals through PETA!!!
Life On A Tour Bus
I am Angela. When I am not helping animals I am listening to music, reading, or playing video games. My spirit animal is a fox and I love nature. What else is there to know? Want to know anything about me, need advice or anything message me :)
Well let's just say life ain't always beautiful but it's a beautiful ride. I love all my pets and would do anything for them. I have one dog, two cats, a ferret and my babygirl shaymin,(the cutest hedgehog alive) I'm into all different kinds of music. I'm a singer myself and love art.
247 days ago
0
Over the years, my family has acquired many different animals, from stray cats to flea market bunnies, all of the animals were always made a part of our family. We would care for them and treat them like a human being. Being brought up in a setting like this, it has overall been the influence of my family that has taught and inspired me to love and care for animals. Without my family, I would have never thought I could make a difference in helping animals.
Size: Small
247 days ago
0
Reading that story reminded me of my mom who bought 6 chickens from someone who had them in terrible conditions at a farmers market when I was younger. They were SUPER cute and funny
shirt size: medium
248 days ago
0
My mom inspires me, she’s brought puppies she found on the road home. Many real skinny, flea infested, with missing fur patches, etc. Or almost getting nearly run over, . She knows my dad will be annoyed, but she does it anyways, because she worries. Size Small
252 days ago
0
my friend Jorrie inspires me. there was one day we went to go grab something to eat and there was a pigeon just chilling right next to the door, i told her if its still there we do something…. so the bird was still there we grabbed a cardboard box, and asked if anyone knew of a bird rescue…. luckily there was one :] so we went on a mini roadtrip (30 min miami traffic) and we arrived at the bird rescue, we got the rescue information and called back in a few days…,. the pigeon had a broken wing… but they were able to fix him up and release him :]
252 days ago
0
I can honestly say that peta2 was the one who definitely inspired me to love and care for animals. I always loved animals, but didn’t know what I was putting in my body or what I was wearing or what was being killed. peta2 really opened up my eyes to the reality of torture and suffering that millions of animals go through everyday. I was the first out of my friends to be that awkward little vegetarian girl, but things have definitely changed! One of my best friends became a vegetarian too, my family agreed to have a vegetarian meal at least once a week, I got veggie burgers at our school, and I am currently trying to get rid of dissection. Animal rights is literally my life, and I don’t know what I would do without it. I must say, thank you peta2 for showing me the cruelty that is unfortunately the reality.
shirt size: medium (:
253 days ago
0
I have always loved animals and my aunt and my mom became vegetarians when i was like 5 and my mom stopped, but my aunt kept going and i decided i wanted to become a vegetarian and show that i love animals too. And that’s worked because i just completed my 3rd year of vegetarianism.
Size Medium Please!
253 days ago
0
the people that have influenced me the most in my path to veg/animal loving were the people that criticized me and said that being a vegetarian was stupid and pointless. I continue with it every day because i want to prove them wrong.
size L
253 days ago
0
This story really made me sad for the poor chicken!!! i am a vegan since like age 5! i have never really liked maet but at age 5 my parents began to give me a choice in what i wanted to eat!
shirt size XXL!!!!!!
253 days ago
0
I’ve always liked animals but I was a meat loving type of person and then my brother inspired me to become a vegetarian I hope to later become a vegan. It took some different type of inspiration but so far it’s been 2 months and I’m loving it.
oops forgot size Large
253 days ago
0
I’ve always liked animals but I was a meat loving type of person and then my brother inspired me to become a vegetarian I hope to later become a vegan. It took some different type of inspiration but so far it’s been 2 months and I’m loving it.
253 days ago
2
I thank PETA for helping me show compassion for animals. I am from texas, and as everyone knows, they love their meat. this has always upset me. i looked into PETA and saw how many people just like me were making a difference in various places around the world. That is when i decided to take a stand against animal cruelty. thank you guys sooo much.
XL
254 days ago
0
My lovely rescue dog, Snowball inspired me. Eventhough he was a purebred and he was the sweetest dog EVER they couldn’t find someone to who would take him for FREE. My mom and I went in the store to get a bird, but I fell in total love with him and convinced her to let us bring him home. He’s now 8, and still the sweetest dog ever, and my best friend in the whole world. I wear size XXL.
254 days ago
0
Well no one really inspired me except for the lovely bunch over at peta2! You guys inspired me! I love you and thank you! Size small.
254 days ago
0
The person, or people who inspired me to love animals is basically everyone around me who loves animals, like all the Peta2 employees! I get inspired by each and every one of them. My shirt size is Medium.
254 days ago
0
I guess Peta2 inspired me. I was always an animal lover (Especially Cats! =^_^=) but I didn’t know what I could do about animal cruelty. My friend told me about Peta an now I’m a officially an animal rights activist. Size small please!
255 days ago
0
when i was very little my neighbor was a vet and she had a whole bunch of pets who i used to play with a lot and she would tell me cute stories about them all the time^^ Her pets became my bff’s until we moved :/ and ever since i’ve been wanting to become a vet so i can help animals aswell
other than being a vegan.
size: small
255 days ago
0
My cat is my Inspired me To love animals and go vegetarian
My size is small
255 days ago
0
This is going to sound really silly, but it was the book Eldest by Christopher Paolini. After Eragon gave up meat, I remember telling myself that I was going to do that too..and i did. :3 This was when I was 11.
Size: M
255 days ago
0
My size is Female large
255 days ago
0
Don’t tell my brother but he’s the one who inspire me to care for animals. I was a Meat Lover and he showed me some disturbing graphic images that broke my heart. No one should be in pain, I always knew I wanted to help people but now I want to help animals because no one deserves to suffer torture and slaughter just to end up on my plate.
256 days ago
0
I never really had anyone inspire me to go all Animal Rights FTW. I only became one after I accidentally ended up on PETA.com. I don’t know any other veggies. I guess all the awesome people at PETA and peta2 (and I guess the people at petakids are probably pretty awesome too) inspire me.
XXL.
256 days ago
0
Size small. <3
My next door neighbor inspired me to become vegan. I have always had a love for animals, but when she showed me the horrific videos of how they are treated and gave me some wonderful vegan recipes, I wanted to love animals in every aspect, just like she did.
256 days ago
0
Alot of the people around me really care about of animals, but most of all I think it’s my Mother and my Grams, they are soo wonderful to everyone, humans and animals.
I’m a size Medium.
257 days ago
0
Steve Irvin. I will remember his shows all my life…
Shirt size – M.
257 days ago
0
My sister has always inspired me…since we were kids she has taken care of them for our family and friends, has trained for a career in veterinary medicine and is an outspoken advocate on their behalf. Plus she’s just one of those animal-whisper people that communicate easily and gently with all animals and they respond in kind.
XL
257 days ago
0
Awww that’s such a sweet story! But sad at the same time, the poor Hen.
Size: M
My cousin inspired me to care for animals, because she was the first person I knew to be vegetarian, and I saw how good she was with animals. She would volunteer at shelters a lot and goes to protests a lot. It really changed the way I viewed the world when I saw how terrible we treat animals
258 days ago
0
My friend Jose, who is always hosting protests and encouraging others to speak up for animals
That is an amazing story by the way… I had tears in my eyes, not only out of happiness for that chicken who was saved, but also out of sadness for those who aren’t :/
Size medium please <3
258 days ago
0
My mom, brother, and sister inspired me.
Size extra small
258 days ago
0
My parents, they’ve done so much. My babies(dogs) are all rescued from shelters. They’ve supported me and taught me that animals just want love and affection. It’s really inspired me to help others and promote and inform everyone about peta2.
size:large.
258 days ago
0
Thinking back on who really inspired me, well, i never had a specific person inspire me, since i am the only person i know who is veggie. it came from loving my dogs and cat. when i was little i would always sit and think about what it was like to be an animal and then i thought about what it must feel like to be used for meat and fur and it just broke my heart. that is when i made the official choice to become veggie. i was 8 at the time so my parents wouldnt let me, but eventually they warmed up to the idea a little bit enough to let me try. medium
258 days ago
0
The person who inspired me so much in knowing that animals do have rights just as we do would be my father. He would see a homeless dog and he would take him in and feed him and then later on take full ownership of the dog. He would always tell me “be the voice of the animals” and he is so right i admire my dad for doing all the things he did for any animal that came across his path because he would take care of them and treat them like royalty. He is the reason why i want to be a Vetenarian because i love animals do much and im Vegeterian so that is even better to know im helping animals in both ways .
Size: Small
258 days ago
0
Someone who inspired me for loving animals is my friend. She got me into the whole veg*n business, and through that experience I was able to see the reality that the animals face.
258 days ago
0
my older sister inspired me when she organized an anti KFC cruelty protest when I was a kid! t shirt size large!
259 days ago
0
When i was about 9, I was flipping through channels on the T.V, when I saw this commercial that caught my attention. It was about cruelty to animals and I was so upset. I loved animals since I was born, Im a vegetarian and my inspiration was myself basically, I loved animals and I wanted to grow to be the best animal rights activist I could
Size- extra small
259 days ago
0
I had met a girl from London when I was on vacation in fourth grade who was a vegetarian. To this day, we still stay in contact. I didn’t really realize the importance of her act of kindness until a year ago when Peta2 members approached me at Warped Tour. I went home and watched the videos they had given me and decided to change my life. I now realize that her introducing me to the idea at a young age had really impacted my decision to stop eating meat today. If I hadn’t known someone who was succeeding as a vegetarian, I probably wouldn’t of decided to become one myself. But becoming one has been one of the best decisions I have ever made!
259 days ago
0
Even though she swears she will never go veg, my mom has played a really important roll in my love of animals. We always has a bunch of animals around as a kid. And whenever we’d find an injured one outside we made sure to take it to a place where they can get better. She still catches cats on her property, gets their shots, fixed, etc. and then gives them a place to come home to.
259 days ago
0
Ever since I was a little girl I’ve had compassion for animals. I don’t think anyone’s ever inspired me. I know PETA has inspired me to become Vegetarian and is helping me on the track to become vegan but aside from that everything I’ve done for animals is just from me adoring them, just knowing they don’t have a voice so I know I have to use mine.
259 days ago
0
Size: Large
When I was about 10 or 11, my dad started dating my now stepmom, Leslie. She’s a vegan and that always inspired me. I would see her peta2 stickers and think they were super cute, but was too young to know anything about that. For the past 3 or 4 years, I’ve learned so much about animal rights and veganism from her. She inspired me to look up peta2 and become an animal rights activist, like her. She loves and cares for animals and that’s why she inspires me!
259 days ago
0
I was veg for about a year back in 2010, but I started getting very lazy with nutrition and gave up. I met a friend at work and she has been veg for 2 years and talking to her re-instilled my passion for animal rights. I’ve been veg again ever since.
Size Medium.
259 days ago
0
I never really knew a person who inspired me as an animal rights activist. I think it was all of the companion animals I had (hamsters, birds, fish) and the ones I live with right now (my adopted dog and guinea pig) that have inspired me to keep pushing for a better future for animals.
Size: extra small
259 days ago
0
Well I am the only one I know who does this but when I was I loved( still do) Steve Irwin !
259 days ago
0
Honestly there are so many animal rights activists that have inspired me. My grandma really pushes me though, really gets me to do what’s right, rather than what I want. She never ceases to amaze me and it’s awesome how she loves animals as much as I do!
259 days ago
0
my mom because she always love to take care of animals. she always took care of the animals who didn’t have a home. i remember she took care of this cat . some one had thow it out from the street. my mom took care of it unil the lady next door took it and name it after my mom because she took very good care of the cat. size large
259 days ago
0
My Mom…I think that I was born with and inherited her love of animals. It is something that grew up in me. My Mom started fostering and nurturing it within me , and I expanded that love though out my life.
259 days ago
0
I had always loved animals since I was a little girl, but I really got into animal rights after becoming friends with my animal companion Lady Luck. I was recommended by someone on YouTube to watch a film called Earthlings and remembered bawling my eyes out. While I was crying though, Lady Luck came into my room and jumped into my lap. She rubbed her face on mine as if trying to reassure me. It was that moment that I realized so many animals like her have the capability of compassion and truly innocent souls. Souls that don’t have to suffer. My cat got me to go veg and to fight for animal rights. She is my best non-human friend too. Small.