NYC Rats Deserve A Prom, Too! PETA Hosts 1st Annual Rat Prom In NYC – Where Participants Dressed In Honor Of Rat Pack Characters From 1980s Movies

May 18, 2025 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals 0 Charity, Civil Rights, Equality, Local Voices, Morality and Ethics, Pets and Animals, Staten Islander Exclusive

NYC Rats Deserve A Prom, Too! PETA Hosts 1st Annual Rat Prom In NYC – Where Participants Dressed In Honor Of Rat Pack Characters From 1980s Movies

Editor’s note: This is not the first time PETA has brought light to the rights of rats to exist, and the responsibility humans have played in keeping them around. Instead of deadly poisons, which usually serve to increase rather than decrease their populations, humane methods are better for the environment, as well as for non-target animals. When poisons are used, it has the unwanted effect of killing predator birds (who are far less numerous and able to quickly rebound than rats are) when they eat the poisoned rats who have now become easy prey due to their being poisoned. Glue traps, whose outlawing is being pushed and debated in the NYS government, are also known for killing non-target animals such as sparrows and bees.

New York — Last night, over 70 guests danced the night away at Avant Garden, where PETA hosted a playful spin on prom with an 80s-inspired, rat-themed dance party titled “Under the Trash.” Set against a backdrop of ratical rat décor, attendees hit the dance floor to iconic 80s hits, captured memories with interactive photo ops, refueled with delicious vegan treats, and celebrated the crowning of a Rat Prom King and Queen.

It was a rat-tling and rolling good time summed up best by an attendee: “This event was to help shine a light on these resident New Yorkers that are so misunderstood, and deserve compassion.”

Ready to Rat-tle and Roll? Join PETA for First Annual 80s Themed Rat Prom

New York — Get ready to get tubular… for rats! In time for prom season, PETA is hosting a playful spin on the classic dance party Thursday night with an 80s-inspired, rat-themed prom titled “Under the Trash.” The totally ratical event will help humans celebrate the city’s most misunderstood residents as the intelligent, social beings they are with a night of nostalgic music, interactive photo ops, delicious vegan treats, and, of course, the crowning of a dude and dudette as Rat Prom King and Queen.

“Rats are curious, clever, social individuals just trying to make the best of the environment we’ve created,” says PETA Director of Outreach Ashley Byrne. “With PETA’s ‘Rat Prom,’ we’re encouraging everyone to take a chill pill and show rats some compassion—and maybe even a little admiration.”

PETA notes that New York residents who want rats to move out of town can help do their part by not leaving out food, keeping trash in chew-proof, covered containers, and never buying or using cruel and ineffective traps or poisons. Killing methods such as glue traps, poisons, or drowning are not only cruel to rats but also worthless, as the decreased competition for available food sources leads to accelerated breeding among survivors—and a spike in populations.