In what can only be described as 'bizarre', Pet Shop Boys have turned down a request by PETA - "People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals" - to change their name to Rescue Shelter Boys.
How did this happen? Because "most dogs and cats sold in pet shops are sourced from profit-hungry breeders who may have bred them in cramped, filthy conditions."
Considering Pet Shop Boys have been known as Pet Shop Boys since 1981, and they just won an Outstanding Contribution To Music award at this year's Brits as Pet Shop Boys, it's not really surprising that Pet Shop Boys politely declined. Although they do admit that it "raises an issue worth thinking about."
The letter
"Dear Neil [Tennant] and Chris [Lowe]," reads PETA's request, which Pet Shop Boys have kindly posted in full. "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?"
According to Wikipedia, the duo - originally called West End - changed their name to Pet Shop Boys because of "some friends who worked in a pet shop, in Ealing."
Politically correct
Regardless, you've got to admire PETA's tenaciousness. What next? Free Range Chickenfoot? Or Non-Sacrificial Lamb Of God, perhaps?
![A comped image with a young George Harrison [left] onstage with the Beatles in Hamburg, a Gretsch Duo Jet strapped to his shoulder. On the right is his Futurama electric](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b8Kr55ksRwtGJHnbs2GZvg-1280-80.jpg.webp)
