Blog Posts - THE PROTEGO FOUNDATION

Rats As Companion Animals

4/2/2021

Scabbers is having a rough go of it at the beginning of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. After the Weasley family’s trip to Egypt, Ron’s hand-me-down rat companion is looking shabbier than ever. He’s growing thin, losing his fur, and often trembling with fear.

Of course, it’s revealed that the “common garden rat” is none other than Death Eater Peter Pettigrew in Animagus form... who is (rightfully) shaking in his furry little rat feet over the imminent return of his wrongfully imprisoned ex-best friend, Sirius Black.

But that’s not the point.

The point is, today is World Rat Day!

We’re taking a moment today to celebrate these clever, curious, and affectionate critters and to set the record straight on companion rats. These oft-misunderstood creatures are typically depicted as dirty, vicious, and foul-tempered. Even in the Harry Potter books, rats aren’t held in the same respect as the majestic owls, courageous cats, and loving canine characters like Hedwig, Crookshanks, and Fang.

10 Vegan "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" Recipes

3/19/2021

March 20th is MeatOut! This date marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the 36th observance of what’s known as the “largest grassroots diet education campaign.” It’s a day that asks wonderful people like you to make kinder choices for animals and the planet and to go meat-free for the day, in the hopes that they’ll continue to make compassionate, plant-based choices!

To celebrate, we’re bringing you ten recipes from our favorite boy wizard’s second year at Hogwarts, found within Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Read on to unlock the secrets of how to make some of the most iconic recipes from the wizarding world deliciously vegan!

It might even inspire you to pick up a Muggle fellytone and ring up your pandemic pod of friends to hop on Zoom and cook some of these recipes together while chatting about all things Potter.

(Pssst, in case you missed it, we’ve also covered 10 recipes from The Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone, Harry’s first birthday cake, and Chocolate Frogs on the blog!)

The Chamber has been opened, so let’s get cooking!

Warner Bros. Makes A Kind Decision for Owls

3/10/2021

If you’ve been to any of The Protego Foundation’s Book Club meetings, you know that some of our favorite characters in the Potter books are the Boy Who Lived’s feathered, high flying owl friends.

Hedwig, Hermes, Errol, Pigwidgeon, and countless unnamed Hogwarts school owls appear throughout the seven-book series, and they always seem to leave a big impression. Especially Hedwig, who is known for her feisty and sassy personality!

But as much as we love all of the owls in the wizarding world, the one thing we don’t love is the treatment of owls by the magical community at large. Witches and wizards rely on these majestic creatures to deliver their post, and when they’re not “in use,” they’re often confined to cages. Unlike Kneazles, Crups, and Puffskeins (magical creatures comparable to cats, dogs, and hamsters), owls are not domesticated.

We are thrilled to announce that Warner Bros. has confirmed that no live owls will ever make an appearance at any live productions licensed by them going forward. This includes all Universal Parks and Resorts “Wizarding World of Harry Potter” locations, including Orlando, Hollywood, Osaka, and the forthcoming park in Beijing!

Witch Weekly's Most Inspiring Activist Award (World Wildlife Day Edition): Alison Sudol

3/2/2021

Happy World Wildlife Day, magical friends!

Whether you’re an aspiring Magizoologist or are simply a creature enthusiast, we could all take a moment today to celebrate the natural world around us. 2021’s World Wildlife Day theme is “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet.”

Every Potterhead knows just how important the Forbidden Forest is in the entire Harry Potter series. The dense woodland on the edge of the Hogwarts grounds is home to herds of unicorns and Thestrals, Acromantula colonies, and a sprawling centaur camp.

Luna Lovegood and Hagrid are famous for their frequent visits into the forest and the love and respect they show to its fantastic creature inhabitants. Newt Scamander is also well-known for his focus on protecting magical creatures and their habitats.

But they’re not the only wizarding world denizens known for their passion for nature. We’re proud to present to you the very first featured actress in our new Witch Weekly’s Most Inspiring Activist Award series, Alison Sudol!

National Love Your Companion Animal Day: 10 Companion Animals in "Harry Potter" TO Celebrate

2/19/2021

In honor of National Love Your Companion Animal Day, we’re proud to bring you ten of our favorite companion animals and creatures from the wizarding world.

If you’ve joined any of our Harry Potter book club discussions, you know we love all the magical (and non-magical) creatures in the wizarding world! From fluffy Crookshanks to feisty Buckbeak, today we’re celebrating the creatures who bring so much life, love, and spirit to the books.

Note that Scabbers did not make the list, as Peter Pettigrew is an Animagus and a straight up terrible human being, so he’s not technically a magical animal or creature.

Have a Heart This Anti-Fur Day

2/11/2021

If Valentine’s Day isn’t your vibe, then you’re in luck. Those of you who consider animal activism your love language can take heart in knowing February 14th is also Anti-Fur Day!

We’ve already talked about the leather and wool industries on this blog. Now, we’re ready to take on fur.

Are you with us? Accio some vegan butterbeer and find the coziest spot in your common room. It’s time to look into the fur industry and how you can stand up for the animals abused by it.

Fantastic Recipes and Where to Find Them: Occamy Bubble Tea with Magical Food Department

2/6/2021

In our interview with extraordinary kitchen witch, Imana Grashuis, the creator of Magical Food Department, we hinted that she was bringing some of her culinary magic to our vegan table….and here it is!

In the spirit of this Febrewary’s Vegan Cuisine Month, we’re proud to present a recipe that Magical Food Department conjured up exclusively for The Protego Foundation.

And if you missed our Witch Weekly-esque interview with Imana about her vegan journey and the fantastical wizarding world recipes she’s known for, what are you waiting for? Apparate over to that interview!

We hope you’re ready to adventure into the world of Magizoology and revisit creature-loving Newt Scamander, because Magical Food Department’s fantastic recipe (and how to make it) is Occamy Bubble Tea!

February is Vegan Cuisine Month: An Interview with Imana of Magical Food Department

2/4/2021

If you’re coming off of a successful Veganuary, don’t stop now! February is National Vegan Cuisine Month, and we’ve got a special guest to bring a magical vegan recipe to our Protego table!

But first, here are some fast facts about National Vegan Cuisine Month:

The American Vegan Society, the organization behind NVCM, was founded by Freya Dinshah and H. Jay Dinshah in 1960. The power couple is credited with the honor of launching the vegan movement in the US.

In the role of president of the AVS, Freya wrote and published The Vegan Kitchen in 1965. This book made history as the first cookbook in the US to explain the ethics of veganism, use “vegan” in the title, and offer up vegan recipes for Americans.

February was designated National Vegan Cuisine Month soon after and continues to be celebrated in the US and worldwide.

End the Badger Cull: The Protego Foundation’s Newest Campaign, Protect the Puffs

2/3/2021

There are many lessons we can glean from the adventures of our favorite boy wizard. True friendship is a formidable force. Our future doesn’t have to be defined by our past. And we must stand up for what we believe in.

Perhaps the most defining lesson in the wizarding (and Muggle world) is that empathy, kindness, and love are the most powerful and enduring forces in the universe.

These compassionate forces are strong enough to cast their own kind of potent magic. When Lily Potter sacrificed her life to save infant Harry from Voldemort, it wasn’t rage or hate that was coursing through her veins. It was her love for Harry. A love potent enough to defy death.

While we may not always agree on everything in the Potterverse, fans can all agree that killing is never the answer.

10 Vegan "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" Recipes to Keep You Going Through Veganuary

1/19/2021

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, when a scrappy young orphan realizes that he’s a wizard, he embarks on an unforgettable journey into a world of the most extraordinary magic.

We couldn’t think of a better comparison for Veganuary than the book that marks Harry’s first foray into the wizarding world.

There’s magic in compassion—one of the guiding values in veganism. An awareness of our power to impact those around us, including the exploited and abused animals in factory farming, is how we could wield our own magic, one that goes beyond Wingardium Leviosa and Alohomora.

Veganuary, or the month of January that is dedicated to educating and empowering animal-lovers about the many benefits of veganism, is the perfect time to embark on your own new adventure and to learn about the hidden world of the corruption of animal agriculture and the vegan community that fights back against it, Dumbledore’s Army style.

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The Protego Foundation and its activities are not licensed by, sponsored by or associated with Warner Bros., J.K. Rowling, or their affiliates. 'Wizarding World,' 'Harry Potter,' ‘Fantastic Beasts' and all related names, characters and indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. - Harry Potter publishing rights © J.K. Rowling.