PETA Asks Alice In Chains Temporarily Change Their Name To 'Betty In Chains'

A month after urging Led Zeppelin legend Robert Plant to change his name to “Robert Plant Wool,” PETA are asking grunge heroes Alice In Chains to temporarily change their band name to “Betty In Chains.”

The reason? The animal rights organisation are trying to help free an elephant named Betty from the Carden International Circus in Missouri, and they’re asking for the band’s help to shine the spotlight on her, who they describe as the “world’s most depressed elephant.”

PETA allege that Betty is “forced” to perform in approximately 300 circus shows a year. They also claim that Betty is in danger of “fatal collapse” if she isn’t released to a sanctuary.

In a statement, PETA Senior Vice President of Communications Lisa Lange added that Betty has spent “nearly twenty years suffering as a circus prop, and every day that passes with her being hauled from town to town and forced to perform brings her closer to the brink of death.”

So, the animal rights organisation encourage Alice In Chains to “get loud for Betty” and encourages people to “Stay Away from animal-abusing circuses.”

They also described Betty’s demeanour as “withdrawn and unresponsive, frequently standing still with her eyes closed and her trunk on the ground.”

PETA’s request to Alice In Chains reads:

Dear Jerry, Sean, Mike, and William,

Coming to you with a wonderfully strange request from us at PETA. Would Alice in Chains be willing to go by Betty in Chains across social media — for a month — to spotlight a dear elephant who literally spends her life in chains?

In a ‘nutshell,’ we’re turning up the volume on our efforts to rescue an elderly, disabled elephant named Betty, who is being forced to perform in roughly 300 circuses each year. Betty’s over 56 years old, was taken as a baby from Thailand, and has been used in circuses for more than five decades. An elephant expert who recently examined Betty warns that she faces a fatal collapse if not immediately retired to a reputable sanctuary.

By lending (a version of) your iconic name, you could set the stage for freedom, amplify her story to millions, and change the course of history for all animals used in circuses.

Will you help us show the world that Betty’s not fighting this battle alone?

Let’s make some noise,

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

You can show support for Betty here.

In October, PETA urged Robert Plant to temporarily change his name to raise awareness for Plant Wool Month.

Designed as an alternative to sheep farming for their wool, Plant Wool Month celebrates “animal-free and plastic-free yarns” while promoting sustainable fashion, lowering greenhouse gas emissions and protecting sheep.