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!

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

Another Great Vegan Thanksgiving Event

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

On November 15, 2025, NHARL hosted another successful catered Vegan Thanksgiving event at the NH Audubon McLane Center in Concord!

The Guests!

It was inspiring to see familiar faces and new ones, all united by the shared purpose of protecting the rights of animals.

The Food!

Our caterer, You’ll Eat It and Like It, served up an incredible Italian buffet followed by an abundance of decadent desserts — including apple and pumpkin pie from Shari’s Sweet Shoppe Vegan Bakery and donuts from Lovebirds — all washed down with complimentary coffee supplied by our good friends at Common Roots!

Raffle Prizes!

Our raffle table was once again packed with wonderful prizes!

Thank you to our sponsors and donors!

  • Design Brand Partners
  • Point and Shoot Photography
  • FarmHouse Fresh
  • Lovebirds
  • Common Roots
  • Trader Joe’s
  • MegaFoods
  • 900 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza
  • Pressed Café
  • A Market
  • Chunky’s Cinema Pub

THE SPEAKER!

We were honored to have Christine Dorchak, co-founder and president of Grey2K USA Worldwide, as our speaker.

Her organization’s work has led to the closure of dog-racing tracks across the U.S. and around the world!

Christine tailored her presentation to focus on the hard-won fight to end dog racing in New Hampshire, and inspired us with a three-step process that could be used to address and end other forms of animal cruelty:

  1. Step One: Command the Data
  2. Step Two: Disable the Opposition
  3. Step Three: Seize Opportunities to Win
Please go to grey2kusa.org/stopusdogracing right now and click “please write to your Representative in Washington, DC” to ask your representative in Congress (Pappas or Goodlander) to support the Greyhound Protection Act!

Thank you to everyone who attended the event!

NHARL Urges Manchester to Skip the Reptile Expo

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

On November 9, 2025, while much of Manchester was absorbed with the city marathon, the DoubleTree Hotel hosted the Reptile Expo for the third time this year. As before, crowds flocked to the event, and countless snakes, turtles, and geckos were sold like mere trinkets.

NHARL held a peaceful protest outside the event. Holding a banner reading “Skip the Reptile Expo” and handing out postcards, we urged attendees to reconsider the ethics of keeping wild animals in captivity.

With runners and spectators lining the streets for the Manchester City Marathon, our banner got plenty of attention.

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.

Beyond the immediate stress and suffering animals endure at the show, reptile expos fuel the harmful captive reptile trade, leading to widespread animal neglect and ecological harm.

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.

Others treated the sentient beings they had purchased like inanimate objects.

What must be going through the minds of these poor creatures — surrounded by bright lights and loud noise, and with nowhere to hide?

Kindness Was on the Menu at Our Thanksgiving Potluck

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

Our 2025 Annual Meeting and Thanksgiving Potluck was a joyful gathering that brought together both longtime friends and new faces in a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Thank you to everyone who attended the event and for your delicious contributions to the potluck!

We also thank FrizzHome Gardens for donating the fall flowers!

Door Prizes!

Along with good food and good company, some lucky guests also took home one of the fantastic door prizes!

P.S. In case you didn’t get a chance to jot down the Vegan Glop recipe, here it is: 😉 

Milk’s Hidden Horror at Amherst Trick-Or-Treat

Posted on by Joan OBrien in In the News

Amherst, NH is known for its Halloween celebrations, attracting thousands of trick-or-treaters from in town and surrounding communities. 

NHARL took advantage of the crowd by renting a space at Doors on the Green and delivering an unequivocal “Dairy Is Scary” message to kids and adults alike.

Our old barn door had a window, through which we looped the following 1-minute video of sad scenes on dairy farms.

Many people stopped to watch…

Plant-Based Milk Chocolate to the Rescue!

About 1,000 trick-or-treaters stopped at our door, receiving either a plant-based Reese’s peanut butter cup or plant-based Hershey’s bar — with an important message securely attached!

Thank you to the donors who helped cover the cost of the candy! 

Visitors were delighted to learn that Reese’s and Hershey’s have plant-based versions, with many parents thanking us for providing a dairy-free option for their lactose-intolerant children. (The web address on the card goes to MILK a Short Film from a Mother’s Perspective.)

Happily, we also got a few fist pumps from vegans and aspiring vegans.

Overall, Halloween in Amherst proved to be a highly effective and efficient way to share a message of compassion for animals with a broad audience.

We’re already looking forward to returning next year!

Driving Home the “Dairy Is Scary” Message at the Howl-O-Ween 5K

Posted on by NHARL in In the News

On October 18, 2025, the NH Animal Rights League once again took part in the Animal Rescue League of NH’s annual Howl-O-Ween 5K, revisiting the Dairy Is Scary message — just in time for Halloween!

Playing the role of a calf taken from her mother, Bella the Dog stayed in character, maintaining a mournful expression. (Bella was, of course, given a chance to get out and walk — she just preferred to ride.)

NHARL was the 2nd place fundraiser — Again!

Thanks to your donations, once again Team NHARL earned 2nd place in the list of Top Team Fundraisers, raising more than $1,300 for the shelter!

Team Captain Liz was joined by Jessica and Sam; Steve, Amy, Amelia, and Sunny the Dog; Joan; and Bella the Dog.

Our signs:

MOTHER COW: “Please don’t take my baby away!”
BABY CALF: “I want to stay with my mom and nurse.”
DAIRY FARMER: “I have to take the baby away so I can sell the mother’s milk.”

Our table was strategically positioned near the starting line, so runners waiting for the race to begin had a good look at our posters.

“I didn’t know that.” “I had no idea.” Nearly everyone we spoke with was shocked to learn these scary facts about the dairy industry.

Dairy-Free Chocolate to the rescue!

Eventgoers who were saddened to learn how scary dairy is were treated to a delicious alternative — dairy-free chocolate peanut butter cups and coconut bars from UNREAL.

Thank you!

Thank you to the NHARL runners and walkers, to those who donated, and to everyone who stopped by our table!

Have a happy and cruelty-free Halloween!