1. Sleeping until noon every day is soon to be a reality
2. Finals are FINALLY over, which means …

PLENTY OF FREE TIME TO HELP ANIMALS!

Yep, once those tests are completed and your textbooks are returned, school is basically just one giant opportunity for fun activism! Check out some of my fave ways to speak up for animals in your final days before freedom. :)

Speak up for chickens by taking a photo with one of our adorable printable (Not a) Nuggets at your end-of-school events! You can get 1,000 Street Team points for submitting a photo of you holding (Not a) Nugget at prom or graduation or while signing yearbooks with friends!

Lorena spoke with the principal of her old middle school to get permission to give a presentation on how “meat’s not green.” Not only did he accept, he even asked her to come back to do another one after her first talk was so successful! We can help you arrange your own talk—e-mail us at peta2@peta2.com.

Since all your friends are going to be on vacation soon, what better time to let them know SeaWorld is super-cruel to animals and that it shouldn’t be a part of their vacay plans? Spread the word by posting a pic on Facebook or Twitter of you holding our sign in your bathtub!

Besides owning very cool T-shirts, Zakieh is also very cool to animals! Earlier this month, she ran a booth on all things vegan at a cancer event that lasted 24 hours! Zakieh passed out leaflets on the cruelty of meat and talked about great vegan alternatives to common foods.

It was really fun, and I got to have some great conversations with people. I think I even got a few people to try going vegan! We also sold vegan snacks to fundraise. I’ll definitely be doing things like this again!

—Zakieh

SO AWESOME, girl!

As you can see, it’s never too late or a bad time to speak up for animals!

Still looking for more easy ways to help animals? Be sure to sign up for our Street Team for tons more awesome ideas on how YOU can make a difference for animals this summer. Join now and start earning free stuff!

Portia de Rossi is vegan.

©starmaxinc.com

David Cross would rather go naked than wear fur.

Mae Whitman (she’s no Bland Ann to us!) is vegan.

©starmaxinc.com

Jason Bateman loves dogs.

©starmaxinc.com

The Bluth Banana Stand was in Los Angeles this week.

Of course, peta2 was there, in “Never Nude” fashion …

… and for fun group photo ops.

That’s right … here at peta2, we’re proud to state that we’re all “never nude but always vegan!”

So why not get a jump on summer with a rockin’, fit beach bod by going vegan?! Got more questions? We’re here to help with all you need to know about how to go vegan!

What’s the perfect accessory for your active new lifestyle? Why, the Stainless Steel PETA Logo Water Bottle, of course!

Comment below for your chance to win!

Need more animal-friendly ways to get ready for summer?

Check out:

• Vegan workout tips
• Helping animals on the go
• Vegan-friendly vacations
• Cool summer drinks and smoothies
• Fun contests

Want to win this water bottle? Leave a comment below telling us your favorite summer activity, and you could be our winner.

Good luck!

*The winner will be chosen at random from submitted animal-friendly comments in which the commenters tell us their favorite summer activity. This contest is open to U.S. residents only. Entries must be received by May 31, 2013. The winner will be notified on June 4, 2013. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.

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.

1. You totally forget that money exists and want to buy everything with Street Team points. 

 Unfortunately, Street Team points can’t buy everything … just happiness!

2. You own more than three peta2 shirts—and the best part? You got them all for FREE!

Everyone knows that peta2 is the new black.

3. EVERYTHING starts to look like (Not a) Nugget. 

We don’t blame you. He’s hella cute!

4. You’re friends on Facebook with everyone on the Street Team staff. 

 

You know that Whitney loves cats and Harry Potter, that Rachelle is obsessed with Hanson and really into hockey, that Sara has the most hilarious Facebook statuses and has traveled all over the world, Nina works with teachers all over the country through our TeachKind program and is a total book junkie, and I, well, I love vegan food and Glee.

5. Every time you see a dumb comment, you can’t help but think, “OMG, Newman is going to be so pissed!” 

And you obviously know who Newman is—such a joyful face! *Extra awesome points if you knew that Newman is Whitney’s kitty

6. You have the peta2 “Action“ page bookmarked. 

Gotta know the latest on how you can help animals!

7. You can take a screenshot in 0.2 seconds. 

You’re a total beast when it comes to getting your Street Team points.

8. Stickers are no longer fun adhesive labels—they’re a lifestyle!

STICKERS!

9. You hate math, but when it comes to figuring out how many more points you need to get that awesome FREE shirt, you become a mathematical machine. 

I knew math had to come in handy somehow!

10. You have a peta2 Facebook cover photo!

And since we have SO many cool ones, you probably have a couple on rotation. Bonus points if you have the awesome “Action for Animals” Facebook app—it’s the fastest way to share everything peta2-related with your friends!

11. YOU ARE AWESOME!

Street Teamers are compassionate, brave, and pretty much unstoppable! Thanks so much for being part of this amazing team—animals are lucky to have you on their side.  Here’s to changing the world!

Be sure to share this post if these signs totally scream you!

Not part of the Street Team? No worries! You can sign up for FREE and start earning awesome merch (like T-shirts, stickers, books, and more!) right now! You’ll identify with this post in no time!

Photo: Timmy | CC by 2.0

Arguably the most adored series of all is HBO’s Game of Thrones. Seriously, I have friends who are obsessed! There are conventions, themed parties, fan sites, merchandise, homemade “crafts”—you name it!

Photo: Pop Culture Geek | CC by 2.0

So here’s a little trivia for you diehards: Which award-winning Games of Thrones cast member is saving 100 animals every year by being vegetarian?

If you guessed Tyrion Lannister—also known as Peter Dinklage—you’re right!

As if you needed it, now you have another reason to talk endlessly about Game of Thrones. Check out some of our other favorite vegetarian TV characters!

Comment to win this summer essential!

With school out and beautiful sunny days ahead, people love to take their dogs with them everywhere! Just remember: Dogs should NEVER be left alone in a car.

Even in the shade, temperatures on a mild 73-degree day can skyrocket to more than 100 degrees in just minutes inside a car. Imagine how you’d feel in a sweltering car, but then add a fur coat! That’s how dogs feel, and every summer, many die from heatstroke.

So help save a life and keep your furry friends home in the cool house while running errands. And don’t be afraid to speak up if you see a dog stuck in a hot car!

Want to win this summertastic tee? Leave a comment telling us your fave way to stay cool with your animals, and you could be our winner.

Good luck!

Psst … if you don’t win, you can always save up your Street Team points and get the shirt for free in our store!

*The winner will be chosen at random from submitted animal-friendly comments in which the commenters tell us their favorite way to stay cool with their animal. This contest is open to U.S. residents only. Entries must be received by May 28, 2013. The winner will be notified on May 31, 2013. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.

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.

Whatever the case, if you need a little pick-me-up today, have we got some news for you!

peta2 fave Chester Bennington (ya know, the frontman of a little band called Linkin Park) teamed up with rockers Stone Temple Pilots at a festival show in SoCal this weekend, and they already released a new track! There’s even talk of a tour!

At peta2, we love our music loud, awesome, and filled with compassion, so you know that we’re rockin’ out to the new track, “Out of Time,” today! They’re currently offering it as a free download and you can give it a listen below.

But first! Head over to Chester’s page, and watch his video interview with peta2. Because he’s so articulate and an obvious animal lover, you can easily see why we ♥ the singer for more than his badass songs!

Want to know who else is helping animals? Check out peta2′s Heroes page!

Everything about their little feathers and tiny chirps makes our  ♥s melt. This time of year, there are tons of baby birds out and about, so before you spot one of these cuties on the ground and swoop in to help, check out the deets below to figure out whether or not your help is actually needed:

Fledglings: The Basics

• Fledglings are juvenile birds who have “fledged” from their nests and are learning to fly.
• If healthy, they can stand upright and will tuck their wings tightly to their bodies.
• They have a mix of fuzzy down and adult feathers, with typically very short tail feathers.
• They are typically found on the ground near bushes or trees and will hop around, appear generally awkward, and remain very still if approached.
• They can find their own food but will get assistance from parents in a pinch.

IMPORTANT: Fledgling birds are often “rescued” when they don’t need to be. But sometimes birds found on the ground DO need our help!

If you find a fledgling, go through this checklist:

• Are there bloody wounds, wet feathers, legs that aren’t bearing weight, drooping wings, or matted or highly ruffled feathers?
• Is the bird lying on his or her side or back or scooting along the ground on his or her belly?
• Is the bird’s body or head tilting to one side? Is there blood around the nostrils?
• Is the bird cold to the touch and/or noticeably shivering?
• Is the bird in the wide open, nowhere near trees or bushes?
• Are there other animals, such as dogs or cats, stalking the bird?

If the answer to all these questions is “No,” the fledgling should be left alone.

If the answer to any of the above questions is “Yes,” or if the grounded bird is a nestling (a baby bird who is too young to leave the nest), YOUR help is needed!

 What should you do?

1. Stay with the bird and take a photo if you can.
2. Call your local animal control agency or wildlife rehabilitation center, and transport the animal for care immediately.
3. Not sure how to reach either of the above? Contact PETA right away at 757-622-7382 and follow the instructions to report an animal emergency. We can help!

Find out other ways YOU can help an animal in danger:

Here at peta2, we revamped our “Glass Walls” video, gave you some fun new Street Team missions, posted workout advice for vegans, and, of course, hooked you up with some great contests, including today’s 2fer prize!

Comment to win BOTH a peta2 button pack and a limited-edition peta2 10th-anniversary tote bag.

You know we hook you up with chances to win every week, but did you know that you can get free swag all the time? If you don’t win this prize pack, you can still score the button pack and tote FOR FREE by signing up for the Street Team and earning points.

Points? Yeah, just help animals by signing a petition, snapping photos, or completing another fun Street Team mission, and you’ll rack up points for free stuff.

Don’t forget to click the “Get Points” button, though! If you don’t tell us that you did the mission, we can’t give you points for free stuff.  

Easy as pie, right? Go sign up now!

But first leave a comment telling us what you did this week to help animals, and you’ll be in the running for this week’s contest.

Good luck!

*The winner will be chosen at random from submitted animal-friendly comments in which the commenters tell us what they did to help animals this week. This contest is open to U.S. residents only. Entries must be received by May 24, 2013. The winner will be notified on May 28, 2013. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.

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.

Before you get to know teenage Annie, you need to know child Annie. Like most people, I grew up saying that I loved animals, but I ate them anyway (makes no sense, I know!). Annie was sad. She didn’t want to eat cute animals, but she didn’t know any better! (Don’t you love listening to me talk in the third person—totally not annoying, right?)

Anyway, years went by, and I started high school. I was super-nervous because I didn’t know anybody at that school, but I quickly met the most amazing people ever (my besties!). It was all well and good except when it came time for me to study—I felt tired and sluggish all the time, and my stomach was always hurting (damn you, dairy!). Fun story: I puked on the bus the very first day of high school. How was I not the target of major bullying? The world will never know!

Oh, and knowing that I was eating animals I “loved” was still not cool.

But everything changed when I met my super-amazing teacher Ms. Lucia. She would talk about how she was vegetarian and how great she felt because she wasn’t supporting an industry that slaughters billions of animals every year. “Wait … I can say NO to eating animals?” I didn’t even know that was an option! I went home and that same day saw the peta2 video “Chew On This,” and it changed my life FOREVER.

I went vegan right away and felt super-happy that I was helping animals—plus, I felt way better, and my grades even improved! But I wanted to do more, so I joined the peta2 Street Team (BEST DECISION EVER)!  The Street Team staff gave me super-amazing ideas on what I could do to help animals and sent me a ton of FREE stickers and leaflets! I started gathering petitions, decorating my school supplies with peta2 lit, organizing tablings, cooking yummy vegan food for my friends, and doing other super-fun peta2 missions to spread the word!

And no, Dr. Drew, I wasn’t pregnant—I was acting for a video project for computer class, but you know I had to rock my peta2 stickers at all times! Can you spot the peta2 poster in the back?

My friends also joined in on the fun and started helping me out with outreach, and many of them even went vegan!

Yep, high school was awesome! I made a decision that improved my health, the environment, and the lives of hundreds of animals. Years later, I’m now part of the Street Team staff, which means that I get to help YOU do amazing things for animals! See? Dreams really do come true!

Can you see me?

Want to make your high school (or college!) years life-changing for animals? Join the peta2 Street Team for FREE right now! We’ll send you ideas on what you can do to speak up for animals, and you can even get peta2 merchandise for FREE. :D

How old were you when you started helping animals?