To the leadership of Prestonwood Baptist Church and the broader Dallas–Fort Worth community:

We, the undersigned, respectfully urge Prestonwood Baptist Church to end the use of live animals in its annual Christmas pageant. While the intent may be to create a memorable celebration, using animals for entertainment places them in loud, chaotic, and unnatural environments that can cause significant stress, fear, injury, and long-term harm.

Live animals cannot consent to being handled, transported, restrained, or exposed to bright lights, crowds, noise, and unpredictable conditions. Even “trained” animals experience stress responses that they instinctively hide, and the demand for these exotic displays fuels an industry built on exploitation, profit, and aesthetic spectacle—not compassion.

We believe a church—especially one as influential as Prestonwood—should set an example of kindness and stewardship. Compassionate alternatives already exist: beautiful storytelling, creative visual arts, music, pageantry, costuming, and modern technology can bring the Nativity to life without causing harm to any living being.

By choosing humane, ethical practices, Prestonwood has an opportunity to lead with integrity and reflect the true spirit of Christmas: peace, dignity, and reverence for all God’s creatures.

We urge Prestonwood Baptist Church to immediately discontinue the use of live animals in its Christmas pageants and commit to cruelty-free celebrations moving forward.

Signed,

Members of the community who care about compassion, safety, and the wellbeing of all creatures.