PETA wants Mark Cuban to turn 'The O' into vegan hot dog spot
PETA has an idea for Mark Cuban, should he go through with a big Pittsburgh purchase.
The animal rights organization Thursday sent a letter to Cuban, the “Shark Tank” star and Mt. Lebanon native, that suggested turning the now-closed Original Hot Dog Shop in Oakland into a “vegan hot dog chain,” according to a release.
“Delicious veggie dogs could be the ticket to success for Mark Cuban’s latest venture,” PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange said. “PETA is urging Cuban to jump on this opportunity to revive a Pittsburgh institution in a way that protects animals, the environment, and the health of the city’s residents.”
The Dallas Mavericks owner made headlines last week during an interview on The Pat McAfee Show when he said he was trying to buy “The O.”
“I inquired. We haven’t been able to work anything out,” Cuban told the Trib by email.
“I can’t say it will happen,” Cuban said, “but it’s not dead yet, either.”
According to PETA, the demand for vegan meats is skyrocketing, with sales up 158% year on year.
“The O” has been closed since April.
The complete letter to Cuban from Matt Kilbourne, PETA’s assistant manager of celebrity relations, can be found below.
Dear Mark,
We saw your interview on The Pat McAfee Show and learned of your plan to buy Pittsburgh’s Original Hot Dog Shop. If the purchase goes through, why don’t you make the “O” vegan? As a vegetarian and an investor in multiple vegan brands on Shark Tank, you already know that vegan eating is delicious and healthy, saves animals, and is the single best way to fight climate change. Of course, it also makes great business sense. Since COVID-19 originated in a live-animal market (as SARS and H5N1 bird flu had earlier), more people have become aware of similar conditions on factory farms and in slaughterhouses in the U.S., where extreme cruelty and crowding create a breeding ground for pathogens that can be transmitted from other species to humans.
What do you think?
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. We’re always more than happy to help. Thanks so much!
All the best,
Matt Kilbourne
PETA
Zach Brendza is a Tribune-Review digital producer. You can contact Zach at 724-850-1288, zbrendza@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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