You just knew this was coming as soon as video started to surface.
Mississippi State mascot Bully the Bulldog got a bit of action on Saturday when Auburn Tigers running back Jatarvious Whitlow collided with him on the sidelines.
During the game, the “Official twitter for MSU’s live mascot Bully XXI, Jak!” tweeted out an update about the animal’s status, writing, “Hey Bulldog Nation. Just want everyone to know I am fine!! I’m headed back out on the field now. Thanks for all the tweets and concerns. We love our fans!!!”
The dog was removed from the game, but was unharmed. That didn’t matter as PETA is now requesting that MSU “retire Jak and pledge not to use live animals in the future,” in a letter it wrote to university president Mark E. Keenum and which the animal rights organization published on its website Tuesday.
The letter reads as:
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October 1, 2019
Dr. Mark E. Keenum
President
Mississippi State University
Dear Dr. Mark E. Keenum,
I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world’s largest animal rights organization, with more than 6.5 million members and supporters worldwide. Concerned citizens are contacting us about an incident in which a football player apparently collided with Jak, Mississippi State’s live bulldog mascot, during the September 28 game against Auburn University.
In light of this close call—which could easily have left Jak severely injured or even dead—as well as the cruelty inherent in using living beings as “mascots,” I urge you to retire Jak and pledge not to use live animals in the future.Using vulnerable animals as mascots is a recipe for disaster. For example, at this year’s Sugar Bowl, Bevo, the longhorn steer used by the University of Texas, apparently broke out of an enclosure and charged the University of Georgia’s bulldog mascot, Uga, nearly trampling him.
Even if animals survive their stints as mascots without losing a limb or their life, it’s hard to imagine that they enjoy appearing before raucous crowds. Being forced into a stadium full of bright lights, screaming fans, and loud noises can be stressful—and even terrifying—for sensitive animals like dogs, who would much rather be at home with loving guardians.
Bulldogs like Jak are also predisposed to many congenital ailments as a result of inbreeding and being bred for distorted physical features, including severe breathing difficulties, hip dysplasia, and heart disorders. Poor ventilation and hot or humid weather can be deadly for bulldogs, and traveling is especially taxing on them. What’s more, breeding dogs to use as mascots—or for any reason—is unconscionable, given our country’s staggering canine overpopulation crisis.
Public opinion has turned against using animals for “entertainment,” and most universities and professional sports teams have switched to using costumed human mascots instead of real animals. Unlike animals, human mascots can lead cheers, interact with the crowd, and pump up the team—all willingly.
May we please have your assurance that you will bring Mississippi State into the 21st century by giving Jak the retirement he deserves and pledging not to use real animals as mascots? Thank you for your attention to this important issue.
Sincerely,
Marta Holmberg
Senior Director
Just when Mississippi State thought losing 56-23 couldn’t get any worse, they get hit up by PETA about their mascot.
