PETA

Guide Note

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is a nonprofit group dedicated to preserving animal rights. PETA is said to be the largest animal rights group in the world with 1.8 million members.

Fast Facts

1. Founded in 1980
2. Funded by member contribution
3. President and co-founder: Ingrid Newkirk
4. Employees 187 people
5. Members: 1.8 million
6. Based in Norfolk, Virginia

PETA's headquarters are in Norfolk, Virginia. There are affiliated offices throughout Canada, France, India, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. PETA employs 187 people and is funded by member contributions.

The four core issues of PETA are factory farming, fur farming, animal testing and the use of animals in entertainment. The group conducts cruelty investigations, animal rescue, public education and protest campaigns.

PETA works to help improve the quality of life for animals, and prevent the unnecessary deaths of animals. PETA has fought the use of laboratory animals, and in 1981 their work led to the conviction of an animal experimenter in the first U.S. Supreme Court case related to laboratory animals.

Through PETA's "Fur is Dead Campaign", they exposed the fur industry for their inhumane practices. This convinced retailers like J. Crew, and Ann Taylor to stop selling fur in their stores.