Chickens are highly-intelligent animals. But not everyone knows that.

In this PSA for The Humane Society of the United States, pedestrians in New York City’s busy Madison Square Park found out first hand. We set up a booth promising them “free chicken,” but what they didn’t realize is that they were not getting a free lunch, but a once-in-a-lifetime experience to make a new friend. They learned that it’s much more compassionate to “meet a chicken, not eat a chicken.”

The heartwarming and quirky PSA quickly generated nearly one million views in the first month after its release, and created a deep connection between two sweet chickens and some tough New Yorkers!