PETA calls for end of live-animal mascots after Bevo/Uga incident

Animal rights organization, PETA, is asking for the end of live-animal mascots after the Texas Longhorn’s mascot, Bevo, charged through a barricade toward Georgia’s mascot Uga during Tuesday’s Sugar Bowl.

According to KTUL, Bevo, a large Longhorn steer, briefly charged at the bulldog before being quickly pulled away by its handlers. Thankfully, Uga was not harmed, but the incident was caught on video and quickly became viral on social media.

PETA released a statement Wednesday in reference to the incident. The organization restated their stance against the use of live-animal mascots.

“This frightening near-tragedy is yet another example of the reason most colleges and professional sports teams retired their live-animal mascots decades ago–and the handful who haven’t yet should quickly follow suit,” the statement from PETA said.

“Uga or any of the humans standing nearby could easily have been trampled and killed,” PETA said.