An animal rescue in Texas is raising eyebrows after posting a petition to ban the use of its name to advertise in newspapers.
In response to the ban, the Animal Rescue League of Texas filed a lawsuit against the city of Austin on Friday, asking the court to block the city from banning the organization from using its name.
The petition, signed by more than 100 animal rescue organizations across the country, calls on the city to rescind the ban.
“The name of the Animal Recovery League of Austin is synonymous with animal rescue and recovery and is an iconic symbol of our rescue efforts,” the petition says.
“We urge the City of Austin to remove the ban on the use and advertising of the name of this organization.”
A spokesperson for the city said the city will not take action against the group.
The city has received more than 500 calls from people wanting to help in animal rescue efforts, according to a report from the Austin American-Statesman.
A spokeswoman for the animal rescue group, the Texas Wildlife Rescue Association, told the AP that the city is considering its options.
“The City of Texas is considering our legal options,” Laura Jones said.
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of more than 200 animal rescue groups, including the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the American Humane Association, the Humane Society of the United States, the Society for American Biodiversity, the North American Society of Animal Control and the Animal Welfare Institute.
The groups are demanding that the City Council overturn the ban and stop the use.
The Animal Rescue Alliance of Texas said in a statement that the petition was “a clear attempt to restrict the use, promotion and advertisement of an organization that has made the world a better place and has saved countless lives in our communities.”
The organization added that “allowing the name to be used in a marketing campaign is an unfortunate practice that is inconsistent with the very values we uphold.”