They may show skin, but they’re certainly not eating it (meaning meat). Simpsons co-creator, animal rights activist and philanthropist Sam Simon has successfully lobbied Bunny Ranch owner and star of HBO’s “Cathouse” Dennis Hof to institute a “Meatless Monday” policy at each of his seven legal brothels in Nevada. All of Hof’s brothels will now serve an exclusively vegetarian menu once a week in support of a long running effort by animal welfare groups to reduce the overall dependence on and consumption of meat products.
During a recent appearance on Simon’s radio show, Sam asked Dennis to join the effort as the first favor that he’s ever requested of him, noting that he has identified Hof as someone who will eventually become a very committed animal rights activist. Hof himself is not only a dog lover and proud parent of a border collie named Domino, but also provides a very dog friendly work environment for all his employees, including a pit bull who was rescued from Michael Vick’s dogfighting ring.
Last year when Simon was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given only months to live, he pledged to give his entire multimillion dollar fortune to charity. Aware of Simon’s selfless philanthropy, Hof jumped at the chance to offer his support of weekly vegetarian cuisine as a living tribute. “Sam’s selfless act of giving everything he has earned to deserving animal welfare charities is a lesson to all of us who have been fortunate enough to be financially well off” Hof said. “It really makes me ask myself the question ‘What more can I be doing?’, and Sam has pointed me in a great direction towards that answer by having all my kitchens serve a meatless menu once a week.”
Hof estimates that by serving his 250 working girls and employees a vegetarian diet every Monday, he will avoid the consumption of 150 pounds of meat each week. Hof is quick to point out that in addition to contributing to a humane cause, the move will also make for a healthier lifestyle for his workers. “It’s really a win/win for us and the animals” Hof declared.
