Officials at animal rights group People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have paid tribute to late Golden Girls star Bea Arthur, who died on Saturday. The actress was a tireless campaigner for PETA and became an honorary director for the organization.

PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews says, "People have lost one of the greatest comic actresses of all time, and animals have lost one of their all-time greatest defenders. She will be missed."

Arthur campaigned against the force-feeding of ducks in the foie gras trade, travelling to London with PETA founder Ingrid E. Newkirk, where she called on Harrods bosses to stop selling the pate.

Arthur also called for a boycott of KFC until the fast food chain's chiefs improved the way it raises and kills its chickens. She also campaigned against animal experimentation, spoke out about the abuse of animals on factory farms, and was a vocal opponent of the use of exotic animals in circuses.

The actress lost her battle with cancer at her Los Angeles home on Saturday.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)