People holding dead animal bodies turned heads next to busy Toronto destinations

Pedestrians near the CN Tower, Rogers Centre, and Ripley's Aquarium encountered a head-turning scene over the weekend when a group took to Toronto streets holding the bodies of actual deceased animals in an effort to get people talking about animal rights.

Animal welfare group Our Planet Theirs Too organized the event at Simcoe Park on Sunday, June 2, as part of a series of demonstrations around the world held for National Animal Rights Day (NARD).

People donning gloves cradled the bodies of deceased animals in a heartwrenching display designed to spark a discussion among passersby about animals that die or are killed due to human activity.

During the demonstration, organizer Jenny McQueen said, "Today we spoke up for the animals who are considered merely commodities - it's time for people to start taking notice, researching the alternatives, and taking action to exclude animals from your everyday life - for example their flesh, their fur, their bodily fluids."

During the event, many raccoons, including babies, were displayed, which organizers say were "failed by the lack of facilities for wildlife in Ontario." A newly created organization, Raccoon Freedom Fighters, spoke on their behalf at the demonstration.

Birds killed due to window collisions were donated by the Fatal Light Awareness Project and displayed by demonstrators, along with a real cow skull to represent animals used in the food industry.

Similar demonstrations occurred in New Zealand, India, the U.K., the U.S., and other countries.