It’s no secret that I love cartoons, and I’m sure it will come as no surprise that I love animals ;) so you can imagine how excited I am for an animated movie about turkeys :) (especially one with a message of compassion):

How cute are those turkeys? You know where I’ll be when this hits cinemas early next year. Probs nosh down on some of this delish tofurkey beforehand :)

It’s no wonder that Jake and Reggie wanted to give their fellow turkeys a hand. We don’t have Thanksgiving here in Australia, but turkeys are by no means safe from the plate. Around 5-6 million turkeys are killed for their flesh in Australia every year. These birds spend their whole lives in large sheds, cramped in with loads of others. (Click here for everything you need to know about how turkeys raised for meat are treated and to sign the pledge to make kind choices.)

Neat little fact about Free Birds: Jake is played by Woody Harrelson, who doesn’t eat turkeys OR any other animal :) In an interview with USA today, Harrelson joked, “I’ve been really studying for this part for a long time because I’ve been a vegan for 23 years. I had an instinct a long time ago: Don’t eat turkeys. Eventually you’re going to play one.” There ya go, straight from the turkey’s mouth - being veg could be a good professional move ;) Click on Woody’s head to kick-start your cruelty-free career today.

What other celebrities do you know of who are meat-free?

Can you believe there’s only one month til Christmas? What is your favourite thing about the holiday season? This beautiful video brought a little tear to my eye as it reminded me of my absolute favourite thing about Christmas time. See if you can guess what it is:

If you guessed alarm clocks, you would be incorrect. The thing I love most about this time of year is getting to spend it with loved ones. My mum wakes us all up with carols and my brother and sisters and I will play card games and eat delicious food until we can’t move.

But it’s also the time of year when I think about all the animals that won’t get to enjoy the simple thing I often take for granted – love. Millions of pigs and chickens will spend Christmas in factory farms, devoid of any kindness. Countless cats and dogs will sleep in shelters, as there is no loving home for them to go to.

There is a way, though, that you (and your loved ones) can help create a world where all animals feel love, just like the bear in the video – by starting an online gift registry and encouraging your friends and family to make a gift this year that will help make a difference for animals.

Have you ever had a sick pet? It can be utterly heartbreaking. Leighton Naylor was devastated when his goldfish Einstein got an illness that affected his swim bladder, making it impossible for him to swim anymore. He would just sink to the bottom, stuck on his side.

“He just looked depressed,” says Naylor. “I thought I’m going to have to do something about this.”

So he used some recycled tubing to make a flotation device just for little Einstein. Now... well, just look at him:

The best thing about this story is that every animal deserves kindness, no matter how small or scaly or different from us they might be. And Einstein was lucky enough to get just that :)

I know that, like Naylor, you’ve been going out of your way to help animals. So what’s something kind you’ve done to make a difference for animals? Pop your story in the comments below.

This bull couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak. But in his last moments, he said more than words ever could:

(What happens to the bull next has been edited out of this version, but you can watch it here.)

Helplessness... desperation... fear... it’s difficult to imagine what was going through this bull’s mind as he lay bound, on the gravel, awaiting his fate. His last moments, in a backyard in Mauritius were captured by Animals Australia's investigators. What he endured won't be forgotten, and it will be exposed.

Sadly, countless other Australian bulls also suffered violent and tragic deaths during the Festival of Sacrifice, this October, in Mauritius. (You can watch the full investigation here).

None of this should’ve ever happened. Our investigators witnessed Australian bulls being sold illegally for private slaughter direct from the importer’s feedlot. They had been abandoned to suffer.

Animals like the bull in this video need your help to make sure their suffering does not go unnoticed. Click here to help share this bull’s story.

OMG. I saw Blackfish during the Melbourne International Film Festival and when Madman Films offered us some free tix to giveaway we jumped at the offer. Blackfish is a doco about a performing killer whale named Tilikum who lives in captivity in SeaWorld, Orlando. It is sooooo ... well it’s very sad but also GREAT that Tilikum’s story is being told. Check out the trailer here:

This movie is already having a massive impact in the U.S. A poll by CNN found that 86% of people said they wouldn’t go to SeaWorld after learning about the cruelty of keeping killer whales in captivity. Orcas are highly social and active animals and keeping them in small tanks (in Tilikum’s case) in isolation is unacceptable.

Loads of celebrities are also speaking out against marine parks including Ellen Page, Leona Lewis and Russell Brand. Blackfish also inspired Pixar to change the ending of Finding Dory (to be released next year)!

It’s so exciting that this film is coming to cinemas on November 21, so that Tilikum’s story can continue to reach people. And what’s even more exciting is that YOU get the chance to see it for FREE!*

There's 10 freebie tix all up so we’ll be giving 2 tickets to 1 winner from each of the following states/territories – NSW, QLD, SA, ACT and Vic. (Sorry if you live in WA, NT or Tas but no cinemas are showing Blackfish as yet :( Why not get in touch with your local cinema and let them know that you’d love them to screen it?)

SO, here’s how to win: Comment below with the coolest fact you know about killer whales. The ones that make my eyes pop out the most will be the winners :) The competition closes on Sunday 17th November so DON’T MISS OUT!

*The movie is only screening in 5 states/territories so please check the full list of venues below to make sure there’s one near you before entering the comp.

Screenings: