The holidays are upon us, and along with mall bargains and festivities, many people look forward to the calming presence of their church's nativity scene. Yet some of these tableaux include camels, sheep and donkeys, which is stressful and dangerous for the animals and also an inaccurate rendition. In his new biography of Jesus Christ, Pope Benedict XVI points out …

The day I turned 50 was the day I finally had to admit that "middle age" had arrived. But one issue that I haven't had to cope with—besides pesky periods—is those creeping pounds that seem to add up as the post-40 years go by. When I went vegan 20 years ago, I lost 10 pounds, and I'm thankfully still a …

The latest must-read from investigative journalist and New York Times bestselling author David Kirby is Death at SeaWorld, which meticulously chronicles the miserable lives and deaths of captive orcas at the marine park, and how the park also puts employees at risk. From the tragic death of trainer Dawn Brancheau in 2010, to many other less-publicized …

What do blaring techno-pop, psychotropic drugs and zoos have in common? The answer, of course, should be "nothing," but in an effort to keep revenue flowing in, zoos and aquariums around the world are welcoming events ranging from raves to weddings at their facilities—at a high cost to the resident animals. It's bad enough that animals are confined …

If your family is already eagerly planning a road trip this summer, there is an easy way to save time and gas—and avoid bringing home awful memories. Simply drive on by decrepit roadside zoos and other cruel tourist traps that use animals. Unfortunately, these archaic exhibits are kept in business, in part, because tired parents and grandparents are looking to …

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Right now, if you're reading this in the comfort of your armchair or a cozy kitchen nook, please give a moment's thought to the dogs who are running through blinding snowstorms, subzero temperatures and howling winds in Alaska's Iditarod. Some will likely not survive. The Iditarod is a life-and-death contest—but only …

Recently, a powerful lobby spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to defeat a bill that would have enhanced public safety, safeguarded the environment and curtailed cruelty to animals. Who is this giant wielding such influence? BP? The NRA? Halliburton? Nope, it's none other than the U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers, which fought a bill that would …