What’s in a name? A declaration of one’s beliefs, according to animal activists PETA. While it’s not unheard of for performing artists or bands to alter their aliases over time, it’s even more unusual for fans to call for such a change. Known all too well for their unconventional and often controversial protest tactics, the organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) had the gall to ask Brit band Pet Shop Boys to change their name. Yvonne Taylor, the organization’s special projects manager, wrote the duo a rather lengthy letter, requesting that the performers assume the more politically-correct moniker of the “Rescue Shelter Boys.” To support their argument, Taylor described in detail how shelters are more humane than pet stores: “Most dogs and cats sold in pet shops are sourced from profit-hungry breeders who may have bred them in cramped, filthy conditions… Most pet-shop animals are kept in cages or runs that are far too small for their needs.” Though Neil and Chris agree that the letter, which is posted unabridged on their official website, raises some important issues, they will continue to be known as the Pet Shop Boys. Originally known as West End, the electronic dance act took on their current name as a reference to some friends who worked at a London pet store.
