Energizing Sugar Scrub/
Victoria’s Secret

“Think Green. Live Pink” is the slogan of the new body-care line by Victoria’s Secret, Pink Body.

Just when we thought that we couldn’t love Victoria’s Secret any more than we already do—after all, it has been on our cruelty-free company list since way back in 1991—now it has gone and launched this new and completely vegan line of body-care products!

Pink Body is made up of natural, organic, 100 percent vegan ingredients. With nearly 16 different products, including body wash, lotion, sugar scrub, shave cream, lip balm, and fragrance, there is certainly something for everyone, and these products are as easy to find as going to your nearest mall. So if you are thinking of using a little of your tax refund for some pampering this year—go get this stuff!

Find a Victoria’s Secret near you.

Darla: “I just can’t resist―
chewing gum is so tempting!”

The following post was originally published by Karen on KP’s Dog Blog, May 14, 2008.

I used to say that my dog Dexter couldn’t walk and chew gum at the same time, because whenever we were out on a walk and I gave him a treat, he would stop walking in order to chew. He’s gotten quite a bit better at this, but I hope he never really gets to try out his gum-chewing skills because many gums today are extremely toxic to dogs. Sugar-free gum very often contains a sugar substitute called xylitol.

A blog post by an editor with the Los Angeles Times Sports Section, Steve Clow, detailed the ordeal that can follow when dogs get their paws on xylitol-containing gum or other xylitol-containing products. Clow’s dachshund, Hershey, wolfed down 15 mini-sticks of sugarless gum and had to be rushed to the emergency room.

Xylitol is the sweetest of the sugar substitutes sold in bulk, and it has really taken off in the food and dental hygiene industries. Not only can you find it in chewing gum, it’s also added to toothpaste, mints, mouthwash, candy, and many foods as a sugar substitute (you’ll see it on the label). It’s great for humans―it inhibits the bacteria that cause tooth decay and can cut calories from sugar―but it does a number on dogs. When dogs ingest it, their blood sugar plummets to dangerous levels and they need medical attention right away.

If you catch Fido eating a xylitol-containing product, try to induce vomiting by giving him a tablespoonful or two of hydrogen peroxide. Then rush him to the vet, but on the way, try to get him to eat something sweet and rich, like soy ice cream. This can help to prop up his blood sugar while you’re en route. Without veterinary treatment, Fido can start to experience vomiting, lack of coordination, and weakness within a half-hour and proceed quickly to seizures, coma, and, finally, liver failure. This is serious!

So keep that sugar-free gum, toothpaste, and any other xylitol-containing products out of your chowhound’s reach. Don’t keep gum in your coat pocket, either.

Sable Faux Fur Stroller/
Fabulous Furs

All fake fur is not created equal. Donna Salyers’ Fabulous-Furs are some of the finest faux-fur coats, faux-fur jackets, and faux-fur throws in the world. What better way to show off how unnecessary real fur is when there are so many fabulous fakes? That’s why we’re giving one lucky winner the chance to win the coat of their choice (excluding items they may no longer carry) from Salyer’s online catalog.

In addition, we will send you one of our “Faux Not Fur” pins so that you can help get the message out while wearing your fabulous faux.

This contest has now ended!

dailypets / cc

On a recent episode of a TV talk show—which shall go unnamed—a doctor advised a woman who was planning to become pregnant to avoid contact with her three cats because of the risk of toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can spread through cats’ feces and cause birth defects.

I’m always one for the “better safe than sorry” route, but it’s simply not necessary (or fair!) to ignore and avoid—or worse, abandon—your beloved feline friends when there’s a baby on the way. For one, indoor cats are extremely unlikely to carry toxoplasmosis, and second, even if they were infected, pretty much the only way that you could catch the parasite would be to actually touch the cats’ feces and then touch your mouth or eat before washing your hands. I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to be sifting through my darlings’ litterboxes with my bare hands anytime soon! That’s what scoopers are for, right?

Seriously, though, if you’re expecting and your doc tells you that Kitty has to go, you should consider getting rid of your obstetrician—not your cat! Cats can only contract Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in a couple of ways: by eating raw meat or by hunting infected birds, mice, or other animals. Infected cats only—ahem—shed potentially infective “oocysts” in their feces for about two to three weeks (after which time, they develop immunity to the parasite). And since oocysts in feces don’t become infective until one to five days later, cleaning the litterbox daily—which needs to happen anyway, to keep kitties happy—will ensure that there isn’t anything icky hanging around.

For a healthy baby and happy kitties, follow these simple tips:

• Keep cats indoors (this is vital for kitties’ safety—whether you’re pregnant or not).

• Never feed cats raw or undercooked meat.

• Wear gloves while scooping the litterbox and wash your hands thoroughly afterward. Better yet, enlist your spouse, partner, friend, or neighbor to handle litterbox duty until the baby arrives (I would take full advantage of this, if I were you!)

• Clean cats’ litterboxes daily.

• Wear gloves while gardening or working in the soil and thoroughly wash hands afterward—in case stray cats use your garden as a litterbox.

• Thoroughly wash uncooked vegetables and fruit.

• Go vegetarian, if you haven’t already, because the most common way that humans contract toxoplasmosis isn’t from cats but by eating raw or undercooked meat!

So basically, if you’re a responsible kitty guardian and you use a little common sense, you have nothing to worry about! But if you’re still not sure, don’t take my word for it—check out what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has to say.

romanshades / cc

1. Go vegan. A healthy, natural vegan diet can be a really inexpensive way to eat. Prepackaged items can cost you an arm and a leg, but if you go the more natural route, you can really save a lot of cash.

2. Bargain shop. Shop for cruelty-free bargains at dollar and discount stores, and stock up when you find a really good deal. You can usually get a few cents off your purchase at the checkout counter when you take your own bags too.

3. Create your own salon and spa. If you usually go for professional salon or spa treatments, try recreating your favorite spa treatments at home, including coloring your own hair.

4. Switch to homemade cleaners. Making your own household cleaning products is very easy and can be cheaper and gentler on the environment as well as healthier for you. You can even unclog drains with items you may already have in your own pantry.

5. Use coupons whenever you can. The Sunday papers are a good place to start, and many natural food stores even have booklets of coupons for vegan products. Most major grocery chains have programs through which they will offer to double and sometimes triple manufacturer’s coupons. It’s definitely worth checking with your favorite supermarkets about their coupon offers—some even have e-newsletters that will alert you to upcoming coupon promotions. For online shopping, try searching for online coupon codes that you can use with your orders.

Have a great money-saving tip? Post a comment to tell us about it.

If you love clothes and animals, you know that there’s no excuse for making one out of the other. The cruelty behind the leather, fur, and exotic skins trades means that clothes, shoes, and accessories made from animal skins will never be stylish (no matter what fur-hag Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour says).

It’s easy to find cruelty-free fakes on a budget, but what about when you want a really luxurious pair of shoes? Enter Beyond Skin. This U.K. company makes to-die-for shoes for everyday wear and special occasions. We’re hooking one lucky winner up with a pair of shoes from Beyond Skin’s spring/summer ‘09 collection!

Beyond Skin offers shoes that are animal-friendly and fashionable, and the company has a slew of celebrity supporters, including one of PETA’s Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities, Natalie Portman. Fashionistas and shoe disciples will swoon over Beyond Skin’s classic lines, rich colors, and sumptuous fabrics, while everyone else will simply love stepping out in style ethically!

Many shoe companies still make their footwear from leather, which can come from cows, pigs, goats, alligators, kangaroos, or even dogs and cats. Leather is normally not labeled, so you never really know where (or whom) it came from. Animals who end up as shoes usually endure extreme confinement, crowding, castration without anesthetics, tail-docking, and, of course, slaughter. But thanks to progressive footwear companies like Beyond Skin, you don’t have to support these cruel practices to keep up with fashion trends.

Enter to win! Fill out the form below to enter to win a pair of shoes from Beyond Skin’s spring/summer ‘09 collection. The competition ends on March 10, and winners will be selected and notified by March 17. Good luck!

This contest has now ended.

teamsugar / cc

There are lots of things that can damage our hair. Overuse of styling products, harsh winter winds, too much sun, dry climates, changes in hormone levels—the list goes on. There are, however, several things that we can do to get our tresses back in shape.

Follow a healthy diet. Hair needs nourishment, so make sure that you are eating a healthy diet and nourishing yourself from the inside out. Nutrients that help promote healthy hair include vitamins A and C, iron, zinc, biotin, B vitamins, and protein. Make sure that your diet includes an abundance of beans, nuts, legumes, carrots, citrus fruits, and dark leafy greens.

Protect your hair from the elements. Wear a hat, especially if you are leaving the house on a cold morning with damp locks. If you have long hair, it can also be helpful to keep it pulled up so that it’s not exposed. Hair can also be damaged by exposure to the sun. Consider using scarves, bandanas, or hats in the summer, too, when you will be spending prolonged amounts of time outdoors.

Shampoo less frequently. If your hair is becoming dry and you use shampoo everyday, try switching to every other day. If you feel that you need to wash your hair everyday, try simply rinsing with cool water and just using conditioner on days that you don’t shampoo. When you do shampoo, try a shampoo formulated for your specific hair needs, whether you are trying to stimulate hair growth or moisturize a dry scalp.

Play with your hair. Lightly massaging your scalp can help evenly distribute the natural oils in your hair. This can be especially good to do just before washing your hair. The oils will help protect your locks from the cleansing agents in the shampoo. Next time you are lounging around watching television, give your head a little massage!

Indulge in a moisturizing treatment. There is an abundance of commercial, cruelty-free hair-repairing formulas out there, but you can make your own: Simply massage jojoba oil or olive oil into your hair. Leave the oil on your head for about 10 minutes covered with a warm towel (longer if you have lots of damage). Then shampoo it out and style it as usual. This also happens to double as a really great treatment for your hands.

If you opt for a commercial formula, try one from Aveda, LUSH, or The Body Shop, or search for another cruelty-free hair-care company.

Have a great cruelty-free hair tip to share? Let us know about it by leaving a comment.

Order vegan chocolates from PETA

Still stumped about what to get that special person in your life for Valentine’s Day? Whether you are getting a present for your SO, your BFF, or your mom, we have five quick ideas to help you get started:

1. Vegan chocolate, of course!

2. A romantic trip to a bed and breakfast

3. Cruelty-free body-care gift packs

4. A romantic vegan dinner for two (for inspiration and recipe ideas, visit the Veg Cooking blog)

5. A cute digital photo frame with your fave photos

P.S. If your dog or kitty happens to be your Valentine, make them some yummy treats or toys to show your love.

Help inspire others by sharing your Valentine’s Day gift ideas with us!

Cooper: “Remember, I love you.”

The following post was originally published by Karen on KP’s Dog Blog, May 16, 2008.

1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be very painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me―it’s crucial to my well-being.

4. Don’t be angry with me for long, and don’t lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment. I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don’t understand your words, I understand your voice.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I will never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I’ve been out in the sun too long or my heart may be getting old.

9. Take care of me when I get old. You, too, will grow old.

10. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say, “I can’t bear to watch it” or “Let it happen in my absence.” Everything is easier for me if you are there. Remember, I love you.

―Author unknown

destination360 / cc

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and fortunately, this year Valentine’s Day falls on a weekend. So if you’re still looking into what to do with your sweetie, why not have a fun weekend getaway at a romantic vegetarian bed and breakfast?

Check out our list and travel tips for ideas. If you don’t find one near you, and you end up booking a room at a nonvegetarian B&B, you can always call ahead to ask about vegetarian options. In my experience, I’ve found that most will be accommodating if you just let them know ahead of time.

If you’re driving to your destination, be sure to prepare a couple of travel mugs of vegan hot cocoa or hot cider, and be sure to pack plenty of vegan snacks for the road!