(ANIMAL WELFARE) PETA is never one to shy away from controversy. The organization is famous for its use of shocking media to stir up conversation on animal rights issues, and their newest ad takes the cake for shock value. The video is narrated by Academy Award winner Adrien Brody who walks viewers through the dismal life of apes used for entertainment.  The thought-provoking ad ends with a shocking image of the ape holding a gun, ready to end his unhappy life. Read on to find out why it's never okay to use live animal actors and see the controversial video for yourself. — Global Animal

(ANIMAL CRUELTY) Writer/Director Todd Phillips’ third installment of The Hangover Trilogy certainly has its moments, but falls far short of capturing the magic that made the first film so charming. And in its portrayal of animals, it plummets down a dark and nasty path, never to recover. There are many scenes in Hangover III that are supposed to be funny, but are merely ghastly or cruel, depicting the deaths of numerous animals. Read on for more on the film's tasteless decision to swap good humor for cruelty. — Global Animal

(ANIMAL CRUELTY) AUSTRALIA — Many Australian activists may be starting to question how well their government handles disturbingly gruesome acts of animal cruelty. Although the country’s jail sentences for aggravated cruelty towards animals range from 2 to 5 years, the full penalties are rarely invoked, with some abusers getting off without serving any jail time at all. Perhaps the most disturbing knowledge surrounding these issues is the fact that extreme violence towards animals often later manifests in extreme violence toward humans. If the Australian Government sticks to tougher penalties for animal abusers, it could very well diminish the number of severe abuse cases the country faces. Continue reading to find out how Australia has handled specific cases of ruthless cruelty, and to see where the legal problems may be residing. — Global Animal

(ANIMAL RESCUE) While Oklahoma residents have only begun picking up the pieces in the wake of the massive tornado that tore through the region earlier this week, it's encouraging to see miracles are still possible. One such moment occurred during a CBS interview with a woman named Barbara Garcia, whose home was completely destroyed by the colossal tornado. But her greatest loss was her missing dog, who she tried so hard to protect during the disaster. As the woman told her heartbreaking story, the news crew noticed a dog's head poking out from beneath the rubble. Read on for more details on this touching tale and check out the tear-jerking video of the miraculous reunion below. — Global Animal

(ANIMAL SHELTERS) Whether they are promoting a healthy vegan diet, curbing the fur trade, influencing cruelty-free product marketing, or working to implement non-animal testing methods, PETA has been the driving force behind many groundbreaking successes for millions of individual animals. However, the question behind PETA's euthanization policy remains in the center of hot debate as many activists believe it is wrong, and even hypocritical for one of the world’s leading animal rights organizations to support the practice. The organization is once again under attack following a scathing blog post published in the Huffington Post in April. In the detailed article, Nathan Winograd, executive director of the No Kill Advocacy Center, unveils the shocking numbers behind PETA's "kill rate," positing that shelters should only euthanize animals who are essentially unadoptable and cannot be rehabilitated due to aggression or health reasons. However, President and co-founder of PETA Ingrid Newkirk's rebuttle entitled Euthanasia: We Won't Run From What Needs To Be Done! claims, "PETA's statistics are also often used, as they are being used now, in a truly perverted way by some 'no-kill' evangelists to try to turn people away from the 'evil' of what is actually a dignified, merciful release from suffering." Read on to learn more about the ongoing debate between PETA and supporters of the no-kill movement. — Global Animal

(ANIMAL VIDEO) Every musician needs a muse...and a meow! With music festival season in full swing, now's the time to check out these purrfect pictures of some very talented musicians and their adorable feline friends. — Global Animal

(VEGAN) Opa! Let your Monday festivities begin with a meatless extravaganza! Rich with culture and vegetables, a savory serving of vegan Greek caponata will take your taste buds on a journey straight to Athens. Eggplant, summer squash, and tomato keep this recipe fresh, fun, and animal-friendly, so try this Grecian-inspired delight today! — Global Animal

(CELEBRITY ACTIVISM) Forget the British Invasion—Sir Paul McCartney hopes to be on the forefront of yet another globe sweeping movement. Ever since the European Union banned cosmetic testing on animals a few months ago, animal rights advocates have wished for the rest of the world to follow in the EU’s footsteps. Together with Cruelty Free International (BUAV), Sir Paul has recently started promoting the worldwide adoption of an animal testing ban. Read on to learn more about this famed animal activist and the BUAV's compassionate efforts. — Global Animal