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Russian Tattooist Timur Rimut recently inked his hairless sphynx cat with a large tattoo reading "Carpe Diem." Rimut sedated his pet during the session so she would keep still while he inked the design permanently on her chest. This is not the first case of a pet receiving a vanity tattoo in Russia: in 2010, owner Oskana Popova had her cat Mickey sedated for three hours to receive a colored chest tattoo of King Tut.

Cats have often received tiny ear tattoos for identification purposes, but these procedures are always performed by a trained veterinary specialist. Unnecessary vanity tattoos leave skin open to infection, especially if the owner neglects proper aftercare. When cats wake up after the inking session, they experience the same pain and soreness that humans feel while their tattooed skin heals. Obviously, cats are unable to give their consent to receive a tattoo.

Please sign the petition to outlaw vanity tattoos for Russian pets.

Despite public outcry over a Utah shelter cat who survived two attempts to euthanize by gassing, most states still allow animals to be put down in archaic, cruel gas chambers. When euthanasia by gassing works, it can take up to 25 minutes to end an animal's life, and is especially cruel to large and medium sized dogs and young, old, pregnant or sick animals -- the majority of most shelter populations. Death by gassing is especially sad, as it prevents animals from being held and comforted in their last moments.

Gas chambers physically and psychologically harm shelter workers as well as animals; there is no excuse for this method of euthanasia to continue in any state. Running gas chambers is more expensive than comparatively quick and painless euthanasia by injection, leaving less money in the shelter's budget for taking care of animals and maintaining the facility.

Nine states -- Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington and Wyoming -- currently ban euthanasia by gassing. Please sign the petition to ban this cruel practice in ALL states. 

Recovering heroin addict Daniel Dockery raised his kitten Scruffy from birth, hand-feeding him and letting him sleep on his pillow. Their relationship was symbiotic; as Dockery nurtured his pet, he found a sense of purpose that helped him overcome his drug addiction.

On December 8, 2011, Scruffy cut himself on a barbed-wire fence and sustained easily treatable, non-life-threatening lacerations. Concerned for the kitten's comfort and health, Dockery brought his pet to the Arizona Humane Society. Unable to pay the $400 vet bill, he signed his ownership rights away to ensure prompt treatment.

Two days after Christmas, Humane society officials confirmed that Scuffy was put down due to Dockery's inability to immediately pay the vet bill. Dockery's mother offered to pay the bill over the phone with a credit card or wire the money in so that Dockery could pay cash, but the clinic manager refused her offers. Dockery had also been receiving donations from sympathizers, but the clinic didn't want to wait.

The decision to euthanize Scruffy was completely unnecessary and cruel, especially in light of his role as a therapy pet. Please sign the petition to make Arizona a no-kill state to prevent this type of tragedy from happening again.