PETA pitches for Pet Shop Animal Shelter Boys

The Pet Shop Boys have said they're "unable to agree" to a request by animal rights organisation PETA to change their name to "Animal Shelter Boys".

According to the pop duo's website, they got a nice letter from PETA's Special Projects Manager, Yvonne Taylor, which began:

Dear Neil and Chris,
You have many loyal fans of the Pet Shop Boys here at PETA. We have a request that may at first seem bizarre, but we hope that after considering the following facts, you will understand why we are asking this of you: will you please consider changing your name from the Pet Shop Boys to the Rescue Shelter Boys?

The facts in question include: "Most dogs and cats sold in pet shops are sourced from profit-hungry breeders who may have bred them in cramped, filthy conditions"; "Hamsters, mice and other rodents are often bred by the pet shops themselves, leading to inbreeding, genetic weaknesses, physical deformities and behavioural disorders"; and "Most pet-shop animals are kept in cages or runs that are far too small for their needs."

The missive concludes:

By agreeing to change your name to the Rescue Shelter Boys, you would help raise awareness about the cruelty involved in the pet trade and encourage your millions of fans to consider giving a home to an abandoned or unwanted animal from an animal shelter. So, what do you say?

In a word, Neil and Chris said "no", but did concede the suggestion "raises an issue worth thinking about". ®

Bootnote

I dunno about you lot, but having learned of this latest PETA stunt, I'm off for a bloody enormous bacon sarnie.