SEALS = FOCAS

MARCH 30 2012

Hundreds of seals killed--ot​hers must be saved

Since my e-mail earlier this week, hundreds of young seals have been clubbed or shot to death on the ice floes off Canada's East Coast, each one a victim of that government's increasingly desperate efforts to keep the failing seal industry afloat.

Please help us drive the final nail in the coffin of the dying seal industry—and support our urgent work for all animals—by making a donation online right now.

As deeply upsetting as the news of the deaths of so many seals is, perhaps even more infuriating is that the slaughter is still happening at all. The U.S. and the E.U. have both banned the import of seal products, and in December, Russia became one of the latest nations to do so following thousands of letters from PETA supporters just like you.

Despite the fact that there's virtually no market left in which to sell the young seals' skins, the Canadian government continues to spend millions of taxpayer dollars to try to prop up this collapsing industry, even going so far as to consider stockpiling these bloody pelts in the hope that someone somewhere in the world will eventually want to buy them.

With no real market to sell the skins, increasingly vocal questions from Canadian media and government officials about why the slaughter continues, and a rapidly growing outcry against the massacre from both Canadian citizens and compassionate people all over the world, it's clear that young seals—some of whom are skinned while they are still alive—may soon be spared the agony of a painful death.

Yet the Canadian government still refuses to acknowledge what so many people like you and me know in our hearts: that this bloody stain on Canada's global reputation must end now.

Through your generous support today, you'll significantly strengthen our work for animals and help us end this massacre.

PETA, our international affiliates, and our supporters have been instrumental in establishing the ban on importing sealskin products into the E.U. and Russia. Even though young seals are being killed in Canadian waters right now, we're more hopeful than ever that we can prevent this tragedy from happening again.

Someday soon, Canada will look back on its annual seal slaughter with shame. But until that day comes, it is up to caring people like you and me to come to the defense of these gentle animals. Thank you for everything that you do to help prevent the suffering of seals and all animals.

Kind regards,

Ingrid E. Newkirk
President

P.S. Your gift right now will help strengthen our campaign to end animal suffering and show the Canadian government how much support there is for ending the bloody seal slaughter. Please help us stop the massacre by making a donation to help all animals today.

APRIL 7 2012

Two quick ways to help seals

More than 2,300 young seals have been killed since this year's slaughter began, and in a few short days, the massacre will move into "the Front"—the area off Newfoundland where the deadliest part of this tragedy will begin. It's there that Canadian sealers will beat, shoot, and skin as many as 70 percent of all the harp seals to be slaughtered this year.

Even as the area of this year's massacre expands, we believe that the prospect that there will be another bloody seal slaughter next year is quickly shrinking.

Despite having no market now that Russia has joined the U.S. and the E.U. in banning the sale of seal products, the Canadian government continues to waste taxpayer dollars to help sustain the failing seal industry for shoddy political purposes.

Ever-greater numbers of Canadian citizens, media outlets, and politicians are adding their voices to those of the hundreds of thousands worldwide working to stop the carnage, and the Canadian government is quickly running out of excuses to let the killing of young seals continue.

PETA has fought hard against the seal slaughter, and we believe that we may be very close to seeing it end. We can't count on it, though! Please take the following two steps right now to help save thousands of innocent animals from the clubs, hooks, knives, and other tools of those who abuse animals:
• Speak out for seals. Use the strength of Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks to help bring the end of the seal slaughter even closer.

• Support PETA's work for animals. Your gift today will help us win vital new victories for seals and all animals.
PETA is dedicated to making sure that this year's seal slaughter is the last, and by taking these two steps, you can help our efforts to protect seals and all other animals in need.

For the seals whose lives we will save—and for all the ways that you help animals—you have the deepest gratitude of everyone here at PETA.