Revealing the Short, Sad Life of ‘Meat’ Chickens

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

Revealing the Sad Truth About Modern Chicken Farming

Once again, NHARL made a real impact at the Market Days Festival in downtown Concord, NH, June 25-27, 2026.

During this three-day event, we revealed the sad truth about modern chicken farming, inviting visitors to view a one-minute video exposing the short, sad life of chickens raised for meat.

In exchange for watching the video, we offered cans of vegan cold brew coffee from RISE Brewing Co.

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1-Min Video: Seeing is Believing

Visitors to our booth were invited to watch the following 1-minute video, which we created with footage filmed by Mercy for Animals and Animal Equality. As we warned viewers, the video is disturbing, but it shows the truth — and people deserve to know the truth about the products on the supermarket shelves.

Plant-Based Chicken Products

To help visitors leave chicken off the plate, we made a poster featuring some popular plant-based chicken options. Many people snapped a photo of it!

Chicken Quiz

We drew kids and their families to our booth by asking if they wanted to test their knowledge of chickens. Quiz takers learned that chickens are intelligent, feeling beings, and that their lives are heartbreakingly short.

Not a Nugget — Just a Friend 🐔

We gave away chick toys, with an educational message attached.

Posters

We had a selection of playful posters, making the point that chickens aren’t food.

See You next Year!

A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated volunteers, festival organizers, and everyone who stopped by to learn the truth about chickens!

Volunteers enjoy a rainbow, a fitting end to the festival

Speaking Out Against the Reptile Expo

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

Speaking Out Against the Reptile Expo

On June 28, 2026, we were on site for the unfortunate return of the Reptile Expo, hosted by the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Manchester. 

NHARL held a peaceful protest in the public park adjacent to the hotel, facing the entrance of the expo. Where we stood, we could be seen by expo staff, vendors, and people waiting in line for tickets.

We attracted a significant amount of attention, with staff and vendors coming out to get a closer look and take our picture.

The cruelty of reptile shows

Reptile shows exploit reptiles and amphibians for profit, disregarding animal welfare, public health, and conservation concerns.

These expos pack convention centers with vendors who confine snakes, lizards, tortoises, frogs, and other animals in tiny containers — treating them as products rather than living beings.

Uninformed Buyers, Unintended Cruelty

A big concern with reptile shows is how how easily reptiles are sold to people with little understanding of their complex needs.

We saw people walking out with snakes tucked inside their sweatshirts — not even in containers.

A Terrible Lesson for Children

Animals fascinate us, and that fascination breeds a desire to possess them. This is why we have zoos, aquariums, and a thriving pet trade.

But our impulse to possess animals robs them of whatever life they were meant to live — whether in a tropical forest, an arid desert, or on a coral reef — among their own kind.

Instead, they end up confined to a tank in the corner of a kid’s bedroom.

A parent who takes their child to a Reptile Expo teaches them, without meaning to, that any creature — however wild, however far from home — is theirs for the buying.

Imagine spending your entire life alone in a tank — unable to fully stretch your limbs, go for a walk, or engage in other natural behaviors.

Unveiling the Truth About Dairy at Mutt Strutt

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

We’re proud to report that our outreach made a real impact at the Manchester Animal Shelter’s annual Mutt Strutt on June 6, 2026.

We revealed the dark side of dairy in a welcoming, non-theatening way and made sure everyone who stopped left knowing that despite the idyllic scenes on milk cartons, dairy cows suffer on even the best of farms.

Visitors to our booth were invited to take a quiz or watch a video in exchange for a can of vegan cold brew coffee from RISE Brewing Co. or oat milk chocolate bar.

Quiz for Adults

Answers are at the end of this post.

Quiz for Kids

Answers are at the end of this post.

Reactions and Results

No one got 100% on the quizzes. As we helped people correct their tests, we indirectly revealed the suffering and exploitation that takes place on dairy farms.

1-Min Video: Seeing is Believing

Visitors to our booth were invited to watch the following 1-minute video created by Joey Carbstrong titled, How Dairy Is Made. As we warned viewers, the video is graphic, but it shows the truth — and people deserve to know the truth about the products on the supermarket shelves.

Nut Milk Maker Raffle

Thank you to everyone who joined our mailing list for a chance to win the RELEXNOW Nut Milk Maker Machine! Winner will be contacted by email.

Goodie Bags

We handed out “goodie bags” containing vegan literature (sampling below).

Quiz Answers!

Answers to the Kids’ quiz:

Answers to the Adults’ quiz:

Thank you!

A heartfelt thank you to all our supporters — and to everyone who stopped by to learn the truth about dairy.

See you next year!

Promoting Veganism on Earth Day

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

Did you know that eating vegan is one of the most powerful ways to protect the planet?

NHARL was on site at the 2026 Monadnock Region Earth Festival in Keene helping eventgoers calculate their FOOD PRINT — that is, the environmental impact of their diet.

Carbon Foodprint Calculator

Visitors to our tent were invited to use our foodprint calculator to determine the environmental impact of their food choices — from low impact to high impact.

Carbon Foodprint Quiz

For the kids (and kids at heart), we repurposed our 3-question “carbon foodprint” quiz, opening the door for a conversation about how eating animals harms the environment.

Hardly anyone gets Question #3 right — giving us the perfect chance to highlight the climate impact of dairy, which ranks just behind beef.

Water + Carbon + Nitrogen Footprint of Food

Our impactful poster, created using data from the UNH Sustainability Institute, conveyed how resource-intensive and polluting animal-based products are compared to plant-based food,  

Thank you to all our supporters and everyone who stopped by to learn about the incredible toll animal agriculture takes on our precious Earth.

Kind Conversations at the Wild World of Animals Show

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

On March 22, 2026, members of NHARL gathered outside the Capitol Center for the Arts (CCA) in Concord, NH to share information with people headed in for the Wild World of Animals show.

Wild animals shows may seem harmless, but behind the scenes animals often pay the price.

Front of educational postcard

Back of educational postcard

Wild animals shows also glamorize the possession of exotic animals, indirectly promoting the wildlife trade and the idea that wild beings exist for our amusement.

In the United States alone, there are likely as many or more captive tigers than exist in the wild worldwide.

The crowd was surprisingly receptive, with some even expressing regret for purchasing tickets.

We also gave stuffed animal keychains to the kids, along with an important message: Real wild animals want to be free…

Efforts to stop the show

When we first learned that Wild World of Animals was coming to the Capitol Center for the Arts, we reached out to staff to express our surprise and concern — especially in light of what the public learned from the Tiger King debacle about the darker side of the exotic animal industry.

Wild World of Animals has received multiple USDA citations over the years. While these were classified as non-critical violations, they still raise concerns.

In one inspection report, a 60-hour round-trip is discussed. The animals endured 30 hours of transport to a show, and then 30 hours back. The trip from Wild World of Animals headquarters to the Capitol Center for the Arts is more than 20 hours round-trip.

In response to our letter, we received a polite reply from the Executive Director of the CCA. We responded with a polite action: handing out educational postcards and stuffed animals to eventgoers rather than holding signs. 

(Note: We also had a couple of people inside to watch for violations, such as allowing the public to have contact with the animals.)

We hope this marks the end of wild animal shows at the Capitol Center for the Arts, and that future programming will align with community values grounded in compassion and respect for animals.

Full House for Let’s Talk Turtles

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

Note: The above photo features a permanently disabled wild animal who is given sanctuary at NH Turtle Rescue. In return for a safe and enriched captive life, these animals help to educate our community about wildlife and environmental conservation.

Turtles look tough, but they are in trouble. So in 2024, we launched the Turtle Brigade — a dedicated team on a mission to protect New Hampshire turtles from dangerous, human-made threats like busy roads.

On March 21, 2026 we welcomed Dallas Huggins and Drew Stevens, licensed wildlife rehabilitators who founded NH Turtle Rescue for a presentation about all things turtle!

Drew delivered an outstanding presentation on New Hampshire’s turtles, including identification, habits, and conservation efforts.

Dallas displays an “ambassador turtle” — a permanently disabled wild animal who receives medical care and sanctuary at NH Turtle Rescue.

Turtle Brigade lead Caelin Graber explained how the program works and invited attendees to get involved.

How You Can Help Turtles

  • Go to our Turtle Brigade page and join the Turtle Brigade, report a turtle crossing sighting, or sponsor a turtle crossing.

  • Report turtle sightings to NHFG. Go to Reporting NH Reptile and Amphibian Sightings or contact Josh at Joshua.Megyesy@wildlife.nh.gov.

  • Advocate for land conservation. Large preserved areas reduce threats like habitat fragmentation, human interaction, and predation from animals like raccoons.

  • Get involved with your town’s conservation commission or planning board to ensure turtles and other wildlife are considered in development projects.

  • Support better wetland crossings in road construction and seasonal timing for land management to minimize turtle risks.

  • Create or enhance nesting habitats. Many turtles lay eggs in residential areas or roadsides, increasing their risk. If you own land, consider adding a sand mound to provide safe nesting spots.

  • Take advantage of conservation programs. The NRCS Initiative offers incentives to landowners for habitat improvements and best management practices (BMPs).
Special thanks to Lynn Kavanagh of You’ll Eat It and Like It who baked and delivered the delicious vegan blueberry muffins and cinnamon rolls — which were to die for — and to the Hilton Garden Inn Manchester for donating the use of the room!

Join the Turtle Brigade

Posted on by NHARL in Turtle Brigade

The Turtle Brigade is a team of people dedicated to protecting New Hampshire turtles from dangerous, human-made threats like busy roads.

At this time, our primary activity is installing turtle crossing signs.

Join the Turtle Brigade

Want to help us help turtles? The “Turtle Brigade” installs turtle crossing signs all around the state.

Please sign up if you might like to be involved. Signing up is not a commitment!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Feel free to provide some additional information about your interest in turtles and any turtle experience or expertise you might have. Thank you!

Sat, Jan 31, 2026 – Vegan Meetup

Posted on by NHARL in Events (Passed)
Join us on Saturday, January 31, at Pressed Café in Bedford for a relaxed end-of-the-month get-together!

Pressed Café is well known for its extensive vegan menu, featuring everything from hearty breakfast burritos and nourishing bowls to delicious smoothies.

Drop by between 10:00 and 12:00 to grab a bite and connect with others who share your compassion for animals.

Everyone is welcome, and you don’t need to be vegan to come along. Just keep in mind that we’ll be enjoying delicious plant-based foods together.

Denial on Display at Bull Riding Event

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

In what has become a sad ritual, once again NHARL had vegan boots on the ground at the SNHU Arena in Manchester to protest the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) before their two shows on Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.

Petition: Please sign our petition to end bull riding in Manchester. Manchester residents can play a key role. Contact us to take the next step!

There was a larger police presence this year, perhaps because of the buzz created by our billboard, in view of the arena and covered by the press, as well as our visit to the home of the SNHU Arena’s General Manager, Tim Bechert.

Our digital billboard on Elm St. in Manchester in view of the SNHU Arena
Protest outside the home of the SNHU Arena’s General Manager Tim Bechert

As always, we were peaceful and respectful — in fact, better behaved than those who taunted us, including one young lady who pranced by gleefully shouting, “I love eating steak and watching bull riding!”

As in past years, we had video of bulls getting hurt at PBR events — this year projected on a larger screen which could be seen by passing cars as well as those approaching the arena. We received a few shouts and honks of support from drivers. 

Thanks to our friends from Positive Change for Animals and Compassionate Alliance for Nonhumans (CAN) who made the long drive from western Massachusetts to join us.

Together, we are working with the Christian Animal Rights Association, sharing strategies and resources for putting an end to these abusive spectacles across the country.

We also managed to hand out 150 postcards that explained why we were there. 

Front of postcard
Back of postcard with link to our petition