Ingrid Newkirk

File:Ingrid Newkirk to David Shankbone on thoughts about herself.ogg

Alex Pacheco (PETA) (2)

Silver-Spring-monkey

ALFbeagles

Ingrid Newkirk and Matthew Galkin by David Shankbone

Ingrid Newkirk (born June 11, 1949) is a British-American animal rights activist and the president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world's largest animal rights organization. She has been a prominent figure in the animal rights movement since the 1980s and is known for her uncompromising stance on animal liberation.

Early Life and Education

Ingrid Newkirk was born in Surrey, England. She spent her early years in the United Kingdom before moving to India, where her father was stationed as a navigational engineer. Newkirk attended a convent boarding school in the Himalayas. Her experiences in India, where she witnessed the mistreatment of animals, played a significant role in shaping her views on animal rights.

Career

Newkirk began her career in animal protection in 1972, working as a deputy sheriff in Montgomery County, Maryland. She later became the first female poundmaster in the District of Columbia. During her tenure, she implemented several reforms to improve the conditions for animals in shelters.

In 1980, Newkirk co-founded PETA with fellow activist Alex Pacheco. The organization gained international attention in 1981 with the "Silver Spring monkeys" case, which exposed the mistreatment of monkeys in a research laboratory. This case led to the first-ever police raid on an animal research facility in the United States and resulted in significant changes to animal welfare laws.

Activism and Philosophy

Newkirk is known for her provocative and often controversial campaigns to raise awareness about animal rights issues. She has been involved in numerous high-profile protests and has been arrested multiple times for civil disobedience. Newkirk advocates for a vegan lifestyle and opposes the use of animals for food, clothing, entertainment, and experimentation.

Her philosophy is rooted in the belief that animals are not ours to use and that they deserve the same consideration and respect as humans. She has authored several books on animal rights, including "Free the Animals" and "The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights."

Publications

• Free the Animals (1992)
• The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights (2009)
• Animalkind: Remarkable Discoveries About Animals and Revolutionary New Ways to Show Them Compassion (2020)

Awards and Recognition

Newkirk has received numerous awards for her work in animal rights, including the Peter Singer Prize for Strategies to Reduce the Suffering of Animals and the Ahimsa Award.

Personal Life

Newkirk is a committed vegan and lives in Norfolk, Virginia, where PETA's headquarters are located. She continues to lead PETA and remains an influential voice in the animal rights movement.

Related Pages

• People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
• Animal rights
• Veganism
• Alex Pacheco
• Silver Spring monkeys

See Also

• Animal welfare
• Animal liberation
• Peter Singer
• Tom Regan