Following reports that a semi-truck carrying an oversized load damaged six bridges this week in Oklahoma—one of the top beef-producing states in the country—PETA sent a letter to Tim Gatz, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

The letter included a concrete idea: PETA will chip in on the cost of bridge repairs in return for being granted permission to place a cow-friendly message on each overpass urging drivers to go vegan.

“PETA wants to bridge the dissonance gap that makes people forget that cows value their lives, and don’t deserve to be killed for a fleeting taste,” says PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA urges the Department of Transportation to greenlight PETA’s offer and help Oklahomans get over their meat addictions by choosing delicious vegan foods.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness and free Vegan Starter Kits for anyone thinking of making the switch. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Gatz follows.

December 19, 2025

Tim Gatz
Executive Director
Oklahoma Department of Transportation

Dear Mr. Gatz:

Greetings! I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals—PETA entities have more than 10.4 million members and supporters globally, including over 50,000 in Oklahoma, with a proposal: In light of the recent damage to six Oklahoma bridges, PETA would like to help contribute toward the cost of their repair if, once the repairs are complete, we’d be permitted to place the following advertisement on all the structures:

Our ad would help bridge the gap between meat-eaters’ cognitive dissonance and what’s on their plates. Cows are intelligent, curious animals and excellent mothers who feel joy, stress, love, grief, and fear much as humans do. They form close friendships, mourn the loss of loved ones, enjoy listening to music, and learn by observing one another. Yet despite all this, more than 300 million cows are killed for their flesh each year.

Beyond being kinder to animals, a vegan diet requires significantly less water, land, and energy and helps protect natural resources and reduce pollution. Vegan diets are also kinder to human health, as plant-based foods contain zero cholesterol and help lower the risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. In fact, the World Health Organization and the American Cancer Society have reported that the over-consumption of red meat ranks as the third leading cause of cancer in the U.S., after alcohol and smoking.

We would be delighted to work with you on promoting a safe, kind, and healthy Oklahoma. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid Newkirk

Founder

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