President Bill Clinton received a glamour shot of a pretty lady named Ellen today, but don’t worry, Hillary, it’s just a chicken.
PETA announced they would adopt the hen to commemorate the former President’s 67th birthday, which he celebrated Monday. Ellen, said chicken, was rescued from an egg factory farm and currently lives at Kindred Spirits Sanctuary in Florida.
“PETA is delighted to sponsor Ellen as a birthday gift to you for saving the lives of countless animals by eating vegan meals and inspiring others to do the same,” a framed certificate given to Clinton reads.
After undergoing emergency surgery to repair a pair of stents from Clinton’s quadruple bypass surgery in 2004, the 42nd President became a vegan in an effort to improve his health. Clinton said he wanted to make sure he was around to enjoy his future grandchildren and was named the group’s Person of the Year in 2010.
And since changing his diet — which at one time consisted of steaks and burgers — Clinton has lost more than 30 pounds, AARP Magazine reported.
“I just decided that I was the high-risk person, and I didn’t want to fool with this anymore. And I wanted to live to be a grandfather,” Clinton told the magazine. “So I decided to pick the diet that I thought would maximize my chances of long-term survival.”
Since becoming a vegan, Clinton has helped save the lives of more than 200 animals, both on land and in the sea, PETA said.
So happy birthday, President Clinton, here’s to hoping you enjoy that hen!
