Recent Brit award winners Pet Shop Boys have turned down a request from animal rights group PETA to change their name.
PETA stands for People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals and is one of the most prominent animal rights groups working in the UK. The group have apparently written an open letter to synth pop duo Pet Shop Boys asking that they change their name to Rescue Shelter Boys in light of poor conditions in pet shops.
According to The Guardian, the letter reads: “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.”
Pet Shop Boys recently won ‘Outstanding Contribution To British Music’ at the Brit Awards. The group played a spectacular greatest hits medley, with guest appearances from The Killers’ Brandon Flowers and Lady Gaga.
However it seems that even this isn’t enough to protect the band from criticism. The letter continues:
“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?”
However it seems that Pet Shop Boys are unwilling to meet this request. A statement on their website claims that they are “unable to agree (to the request) but nonetheless think it raises an issue worth thinking about”.
Pet Shop Boys new album ‘Love Etc’ is available now.
