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PETA Planning to Protest NBC's 'Animal Practice'
Some people are not finding NBC's new comedy "Animal Practice" particularly funny; specifically, the good people of PETA.
The animal rights group is planning a protest tomorrow in front of NBC studios in North Hollywood, to draw attention to the fact, they say, that animals generally have no desire to be in front of the camera. According to PETA's website, animal actors are often mistreated on their journey to stardom. They write:
There is nothing glamorous about showbiz for primates, big cats, bears, and other animals who are used in television, film, or advertising; exploited as sports mascots; or used as props in novelty displays. Torn away from their mothers as infants, these animals are subjected to abusive training methods and forced to spend most of their lives in small, filthy cages, deprived of everything that is natural and important to them. Trainers who supply animals to the entertainment industry are frequently cited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for violating the federal Animal Welfare Act, which establishes only minimal guidelines for animal care. Social animals such as primates, elephants, and wolves are often forced to live alone, causing them severe psychological stress and anxiety.
The protest is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and the activists are hoping to get volunteers to wear monkey masks.