Ask Ingrid Newkirk
Jeff Kravitz / Getty
As co-founder and president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the world's largest animal-rights organization, Ingrid Newkirk has championed her cause using everything from nude celebrity ads to a request that Ben and Jerry's use human breast milk in their ice cream. Her new book, One Can Make a Difference, is on bookshelves now. Use the form below to submit your questions for Ingrid Newkirk; then look for the upcoming interview in TIME magazine.
Submit your question to Ask Ingrid Newkirk (217 other responses).
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How many pets do you have and what are they?
Seriously, breast milk?
Is there a single reason for the founding of PETA, or a collection of injustices against animals that got you started?
When are we going to see another naked PETA ad with Pamela Anderson?
What is PETA's stance on cloning animals for food or in-vitro meat?
You've inspired so many people, including me. Who inspires you?
So what is your opinion on Alaska's aerial hunting of the wolves?
What do you find is the most common trait among animal activists and plain animal lovers?
What milestones do you think the animal rights movement will accomplish in your lifetime?
People seem to be increasingly aware of the terrible conditions on factory farms, and we're starting to see some reforms (some legislative and some directly from the industry). Do you see this trend continuing steadily over many years, or do you think we may reach a critical mass at some point that results in faster change?
PETA has done so many great things for Animal Rights in the past, often through unusual, even social abrasive, methods. Has there ever been an action in the past that you would have done differently or thought it might have been taken too far, or even recieved more of an extreme reaction than you believed it should have?
What do you think of the facebook group. PETA- people eating tasty animals?
With hundreds of thousands of young children being abused every day as child soldiers, camel jockeys in Arabia or as child prostitutes. Don't you think the welfare of human beings trumps the welfare of animals in these dangerous times?
How will eliminating dairy products from our diets benefit the animals, the planet and our own health?
You have a new book out, One Can Make a Difference. I noticed that, unlike your other books, this one does not have as strong of an animal rights message as your previous books. Is there a reason for this and how do you think this book will help the animal rights movement?
Do you view any of PETA's current or past tactics as having been counter-productive to PETA's goals? If so, what were they?
Using human breast milk for ice cream seems a rather bizarre request; were you trying to make a point about using milk from a mom that moos vs one that doesn't?
PETA's (and your) animal rights philosophy is broad, addressing documentable issues of cruelty toward domesticated, farmed, and wild animals. For example, on page 205 of your previous book, MAKING KIND CHOICES, you write, "Studies have shown what common sense tells us: Like us, chickens form strong family ties and mourn when they lose a loved one, if allowed to do so." You have also made position statements to the San Francisco Chronicle (Wednesday, June 8, 2005) and on PETA.org (January 27, 2000), supporting automatic euthanization of all "pit bull" type dogs, and a legal ban on them. More specifically and recently, PETA recommended that all the dogs confiscated in the Michael Vick dogfighting case be summarily destroyed, although the majority of them were ultimately relinquished by law enforcement to various reputable rescue groups for rehabilitation and, when possible, adoption. Please, for once, fully explain the *logic* behind PETA's (and your) position on animal rights with regard to "pit bull" type dogs. To consider the feelings and instincts of a bird while, at the same time, deny an existing animal -- in fact, an entire multi-breed *type* of dog -- the possibility of a comfortable life seems to me utterly hypocritical and inhumane.
I joined peta in 1987 at 14 yrs old when I was forced to dissect a frog in biology. Peta had a great message, to treat animals ethically & kindly. Over the years, I have encountered many people that make fun of me for being a member of PETA because they have done some crazy things, but I have always continued my support. In the last couple of years, PETA members have said/done some really negative "over-the-top" antics, making them extremely counterproductive to the animal rights movement, turning people OFF. I'll admit, in recent times, I have been embarassed to be a PETA member. PETA used to have a great message, what has changed over the years?
Why is it that although PETA is the largest champion for animal rights in the world, you are quick to advocate euthanizing stray animals? Do homeless pets have fewer rights than pigs and chickens?
Animals kill each other in the wild. It's how nature works. As the most evolved of all the animals, why shouldn't we exercise the same privilege?
Twice a day, you take insulin that was tested on animals. Isn't that hypocritical?
Would you prevent one of your children from having life-saving treatment because that treatment had been developed using animal testing?
You have stated in the past that you wish your body to be turned into nuggets and eaten after your death. Is there a particular reason for this? Will there be a signup list?
Do you ever feel any guilt and/or responsibility for terrorist acts that have been committed in PETA's name?
I wonder how you would respond to accusations that your organization and its affiliates like the ALF put animal rights above human rights. In other words, why are you willing to ignore the rights of your fellow man to further the cause of animal rights. Surely if animals deserve to be free of torment, cruelty and abuse, humans deserve that as well. We are, after all, animals as well.
How do you justify the actions of your employees, namely Andrew Cook and Adria Hinkle, who were convicted of littering after obtaining animals from local shelters, euthanizing them, and subsequently disposing of them in dumpsters? Why do you feel it's preferable that animals should be killed instead of adopted into loving homes?
Is it the hopes of PETA that the unusualness of their advertisements and publicity will get their issues in front of people instead of getting buried in the daily humdrum?
I understand that the #2 person in PETA is daibetic and takes animal based drugs to treat it. How do you justify that given PETA's stance on animal based drugs?
Should PETA ever succeed in ending our species' practice of killing and domesticating other animals, will it continue its efforts by preventing the killing and domestication of animals by animals other than humans? (For example, ants domesticating aphids and the practice of hunting by carnivores)? If not, what makes humans special that they should limit their options for sustaining themselves? If so, how would you go about ending all animal cruelty without inflicting starvation on animals dependent on the cruelty? If your answer is no because "humans don't need to be engaging in these activities to survive," then would PETA at least seek to end hunting by creatures such as bears, omnivores that don't need meat to survive?
do you agree with the sentence Michael Vick was given?
why do you think when people are cruel to animals they do not ever get a punishment that REALLY fits their crime?
how can we stop animal extinction?
do you think that pit bills can be rehabilitated and do think that their owners can as well?
How many times have you attacked the farming industry for munching up millions of animals during harvest with their fancy tractors?? HYPOCRITES!! I love cheeseburgers!
What makes PETA think it is less cruel to have women who are not designed for the purpose of produing vast amounts of breast milk than it is to milk cows?
first i'd like to thank you for the amazing work you do. what legacy would you like to leave behind when you die?
When is PETA going to publicly admit that it's real goal is to outlaw ALL pet ownership as well as end all livestock production, regardless if it's done in a responsible and humane way? Please explain how we could possibly feed the world using nothing but vegetarian "approved" foods - where will the land needed be found for that?
I heard the radio ads of Bill Maher supporting PETA, you have an eclectic group of spokes people from around the world, don't you?
As a proud vegetarian for twenty years I wonder if some of PETA's more extreme views and stunts have made animal activism seem less reasonable. Can you help me understand what your goals are?
Why should humans start treating animals better than they treat each other?
What do you think of John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin an avid hunter as Vice President.
How does one one use the word 'Ethical' in their name, when all morality and ethics are subjective and not arbitrary?
Is it not morally hypocritical that your organization itself kills more than half of the animals it receives, yet you simultaneously have PETA members picket and protest animal shelters which are sometimes left with no other option than to put animals to sleep?
How can you possibly justify calling Rodney Adam Coronado a "fine young man", while morally looking down upon those that eat meat? Isn't mass arson to R&D university labs far more of a travesty than eating a chicken?
(Note to Time; I understand my questions are long. Feel free to only select one for brevity if need be).
Why are you no different than any other person ala Terrell Owens, or Kim Il Jong who make fantastic and ludicrous statements to garner the media's attention?
Could you help me understand PETA's position on euthanizing pit bulls? Has your position changed after seeing the success that Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, BAD RAP, and others are having with the rehabilitation of the Michael Vick pit bulls?
As an avid horse racing enthusiast, I tend to disagree with PETA's anti-horse racing stance. However, my question to you is: In the wake of the deaths of race horses like Barbaro and Eight Belles would PETA be willing to work with the industry and try to come up with a solution to making the sport safer for its athletes (the horses)?
Why are you against the testing of animals for medical reasons when they have saved so many lives? What good would it do us? While we are not the only important ceatures on Earth we developed these tests and abilities to create medicine as our own way of survival, so why should we stop on account of you? Also would you help an invasive bug that was killing dogs? They're animals too.
Do you eat your PETA's stuffed with lamb and goat cheese?
As someone who supports terrorists (indirectly, Rod Coronado example) why aren't you in jail?
Have you seen Pen and Teller's episode of their show BullSh*t that covers the topic of PETA, and can you make any logical arguments against any of the points they bring up?
How do you justify putting down large numbers of animals in PETA facilities, yet, attack people who work at animal shelters for doing the same?
Ingrid, my wife and I are vegetarians and concerned with animal rights. We have donated to PETA in the past, but it seems that PETA makes poor choices in how to highlight the cause of animal rights, seeking any publicity instead of good publicity and painting themselves as radicals that the mainstream cannot relate to. Wouldn't PETA's message be more effective and its concerns be better addressed if PETA first sought to work with animal industries, such as the farming industry, to ensure humane treatment of farm animals rather than calling on Ben and Jerry's to use human milk, a stunt that will have no effect other than further marginalizing PETA and allowing the mainstream public to ignore the very important message hidden behind PETA's bombast and self-righteousness?
Does it embarrass you that your organization was once actually helped animals and make true changes become marginalized by logical thinking people because of rampant hypocrisy and nonsensical antics?
My last question.
Why should human beings, designed by nature to be omnivores, ignore our natural diet? Following that, should we force bears and other omnivorous animals to stop eating meat?
Are you a vegitarian? and Breast Milk ? are you crazy?
Also I was wondering if you supported hunting? if not what are your feelings on predators, and also on starvation of certain animals in different areas due to over population?
Do you believe that medical advancements that have occurred as the result of testing and experimentation on animals should be employed to better the lives of humans?
In recent times, as well as in the past, PETA has demonstrated a very welfarist perspective of animal rights. What do you see as the pros and cons of both welfarism and abolitionism as they relate to the animal rights movement?
Your organization seems to be trying to give "Rights" to annimals. I believe "Rights" come with Responsibilities . Annimals are not held accountable for their actions. Please explain again why they should get benifits without contributions.
The extreme nature of many of PETA's tactics can attract more fringe-types than opinion leaders, who are going to avoid anything seen as radical like the plague. Can you see the value of "toning it down" a bit in order to bring more individuals to the table with direct influence over policy?
Human beings are omnivores; we are meant to eat meat. How do you justify PETA's apparent belief that people should not eat meat or use animals to our good, consistenly places humans second and is contrary to our own anantomy? How do you justify imposing your will on me?
why has PETA ignored the PROP 2 /farm animal rights bill,which will be on California's ballet in November. This is a great opportunity to financially support this bill. The conglomerates have unlimited finances and could outspend Prop 2 supporters,in distorted TV adds.
Are you aware that it's economically unfeasible for an international company like Ben & Jerry's to use breast milk for their ice cream due to how much they'd need?
When South Park laughed at your organisation in that 2004 "Douche and Turd" episode, was that at all funny to you?
What was the most heartbreaking moment of your life?
Do you believe that all pet ownership is "slavery" and should be abolished as you have hinted at in the past?
Have you ever eaten meat? If so, what was your favoite meat dish and do you miss it?
Is PETA against the consumption of meat? Do u want us all to be vegetarians?
Why does PeTA encourage pet owners to support them and donate money to them, while part of PeTA's "Total Animal Liberation" plan forbids the keeping of animals as pets?
Have you seen older people change the way they view animals later in life, and act upon that change, or is animal rights primarily a "youth" movement?
Is there an effective, simple way people can help animals in their every day lives?
Do you ever feel that some of the methods PETA uses go to far? Is there a point where activism crosses a line? Or even becomes less effective because it makes so many people uncomfortable?
Why does PETA focus on fur, food, circuses, and testing? There are so many other ways that animals suffer, like hunting.
Do you ever have fun fighting for animal rights, or are parts of what you do fun? Or is it all seriousness and horror?
Even though I truly believe in animal rights and am a strict vegan, I feel sometimes that the mistreatment of animals won't change because people aren't interested. What gives you hope every single day?
Where do you get all of your information on things like pet stores, dairy, and everything else? If you're posing your volunteers to go give their time and energy to capture things on tape, why don't you just order them to stop them, too? What is so wrong with pets, namely seeing-eye dogs? No one hurts them, so why do you want to pry them from their loving and disabled caretakers? Also, what's with posing with pets when most of your workers end up killing very adoptable animals? Besides, aren't you supposed to be against having dogs or cats in the home?
Are you aware that if we continue to breed and eat chickens and the like, they will NEVER go extinct? How do you respond to the suggestion that we start breeding and eating endangered species to prevent their extinction?
How do you keep from getting depressed working on these issues, Ingrid?
Every human being has to eat some kind of living thing to survive.
Why is it OK to eat Tofu "Burgers". Do you feel the need to dress up such food a meat?
What are your thoughts on ethical hunting and careful management of game herds? The local whitetail deer population here is on the verge of being out of control, with several daily incidents of collisions with automobiles, resulting in loss of life (both animal and human) and damage to property. Thanks
ingrid,
if i gave you some soy chicken and you ate it and then later i told you it was real chicken would you be all like "ew!"? what if the chicken was an orphan? wouldn't you feel even worse? well guess what ingrid i work at your favorite restaurant and i did that. you ate dead orphan chicken. you're an awful person.
ben
ps- in my imagination you're my girlfriend.
Where do your beliefs intersect with reality? That is, many people can agree with you on the black and white choices, but most choices are shades of gray and the challenge is to lead people in a direction that can make logical sense. Examples: Cats must each meat. Without predators, wild animals overpopulate and die from starvation or disease. Insects are animals, but apparently they don't count. If an internal skeleton is important, then fish would count but lobsters do not. There aren't enough lactating human breasts in the world to make ice cream, so you would apparently prefer that we did without. What type of work would you have people do whose job is to grow and process the meat that is in our grocery stores? If we can peer through the attention-grabbing stunts, what's the vision?
Are you aware that you will never in a million years accomplish "total animal liberation"?
I mean, think about it: there's no way you can get the 7 billion people on the planet to agree 100% with your views.
So why bother?
Insulin was created after being tested on by dogs, so my question to you is Do you feel guilty knowing that your life depends on a medical discovery found out of what you feel is 'intolerable'?
I believe horses are more of a companion animal like a dog or a cat. Horses are classified as livestock along with pigs, cows and chickens. Because of this horses have very few protection laws, they share these laws with other livestock.
It is impossible to think of dogs and cats stuffed in trucks going to the slaughterhouses.
Why are horses classed as simple usda meat animals? and do you think horses will ever have protections more similar to dogs and cats.
How far do you intend to go? And whats your penultimate objective?
Maybe until you can turn everyone into vegetarians? That was just an assumption.
What is your response to the people you directly and indirectly affect with your policy of corporate terrorism, and the millions of dollars you cause in damage to there businesses? What makes your fight so righteous in your eyes? Would you prefer the world starved then follow the natural selection process that has been law since the dawn of life on earth? Do the very animals you so much adore not kill one and other for the food they need to survive? Perhaps you in all your defiant wisdom/stupidity can turn all these animals into herbivores? Some things you have fought for do make sense, but perhaps you need to jump off the cloud of make believe your floating on and come back down to earth with the rest of us animals!
If a house were burning and you could either save 100 chickens OR one baby - which would you choose? And please don't avoid answering the question directly by saying "oh that's too hypothetical blah blah blah".
Why is it more ethical to kill and consume living plants than animals?
What will happen when PETA meets PETP?
(People for the Ethical Treatment of Plants)
Is it really true that you once protested about Palestinians using donkeys to blow up Israeli school children, but that you were only complaining about the donkeys that were being harmed and not the innocent school children?
How do you justify advocating animal-rights in a world that is filled with poverty and starvation? Do animals take a higher precedence over humans?
If we are to treat animals like humans and to believe that eating one is morally wrong then why do we not apply the same standards to animals? if it is natural for a Grizzly Bear to be an omnivore shouldn't it be the same for humans. If not then at what point down the slippery slope does a human not equal some other animal on our world?
How would you respond to the comment that there are two types of people in the world; good people and PETA members?
How would you propose that it is ETHICAL to use human breast milk in the mass production of ice cream? Maybe you would be willing to donate your breast milk for the cause? Maybe it would have been more ethical (and intelligent) if your parents, instead of large breed dogs, would not have been allowed to breed!
Ingrid, what has happened to all of the hunting hounds in Britain since your group and others convinced parliament to ban fox hunting? Many of them have been put down!!! Nice work... NOT!
Let's just say that Peta convinced the world to stop eating meat and we didn't need farm animals anymore. What would happen to all these farm animal species? Who would take care of them? Wouldn't they die off for lack of care? Wouldn't that be the largest die off of animals in the earths history?
I would like to know if you get overwhelmed with the injustice against animals? If so, how do you do to get through it? THANK YOU INGRID!
How in the world did you get so many amazing people to write essays in your new book, One Can Make a Difference? From the Dalia Lama, to Oliver Stone, to Brigitte Bardot--the celeb list is amazing!
I live in a rural community that lacks animal rescue resources that are typically found in larger cities. Because of this, animals here are easily abused, neglected, chained up, and forgotten. Is there anything I can do to make a difference for the creatures who are suffering in my community?
What are your goals for PETA for 2009?
What is the most important thing someone can do to help animals?
Your new book, One Can Make a Difference, contains essays written by ordinary people who found a way to make a difference in their communities. What sorts of things does PETA do for animals who live near PETA Headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, and surrounding communities? How can I implement similar programs in my city?
Of all the cruelties PETA focuses on--factory farming, animal experimentation, fur and leather, circuses, and domestic animal abuse--what area has there been the most progress, and what issue do you think is the likeliest to continue to improve?
PETA has these big campaigns and works to help animals raised for food, for wool, in labs, etc., which is great. Is there anything that PETA does on a community or local level to help animals?
Of all the stories in your new book, One Can Make a Difference, which is your favorite and why?
I've been veg since I was 12, and 30 years later, I still can't understand why people get so defensive when they hear I don't eat meat, even more so if I try to engage them in a discussion about it. How do you deal with it?
What are some simple things I can do in my everyday life to ensure that my choices/actions don't cause animals to suffer?
My children, 8 and 11 years old, have expressed interest in helping animals. Are there some easy things that kids this age can do?
Out of the many accomplishments you have achieved over the past 30 years, from the landmark Silver Springs case to more recent ones like the KFC Canada campaign, of which one do you feel most proud?
Some of PETA's tactics are unusual. Have you ever tried to use more conventional methods to get people's attention?
Have you ever participated in one of PETA's "naked" protests?
What keeps you going, knowing that billions of animals are tortured by the meat industry every year?
Do you think it's really possible for humans to ever treat animals with equal respect when we can't even treat each other that way?
What has been your most memorable moment while being President of PETA?
Are you a cat or a dog person?
What would you say has been PETA's greatest victory for animals to date?
PETA has had countless successful campaigns over the years, like convicng GM to stop using animals in vehicle crash tests. Tell us about a current campaign and how PETA plans to push it into the "victories" column. Are there any issues that PETA hasn't taken on yet that you would like to tackle in the future?
Thank you, Ingrid! I grew up with people who wore fur. Their fur is now packed away in closets because no one will wear it now that alternative warm clothing is available, and they learned how the fur was made. Do you have any suggestions as to what they can do with this clothing? It seems a waste to throw it away.
More and more environmental organizations are blaming the meat industry for our climate problems. Do you think this is more likely to convince people to go vegetarian than cruelty to farmed animals or health issues will?
I believe that with knowledge, comes responsibility. In my life, I have witnessed injustices done to animals and I feel obliged to find some way to stop them. I am not rich and I don't hold the same prestige as the Honorable Dalai Lama or Sir Paul McCartney. What steps did you take in your life to get you to a position of being able to touch the lives of so many? Can you offer any advice for those of us who are just starting out?
If you could have dinner with any three people, who would they be and why?
What are some of your pastimes outside of work?
Tell me about how you changed when you "discovered" animal rights and started PETA. Did any of your personal choices, or did your lifestyle, change much? Thank you Ingrid.
Out of all the people that you speak to about animal rights and veganism, how many tell you that you are wrong? Like, what is the ratio of people who knock on you for what you do versus the people who praise you for it?
Of all the areas of animal abuse (animals used for food, skins, animal testing, entertainment etc..) which will be the next to be stopped/halted? But which would be your choice to get stopped first and foremost?
Did you grow up eating meat? If so, was there a specific event that made you decide to go vegetarian?
I've heard that you are a fan of Formula One racing. How did you become interested in racing and who's your favorite driver?
Who would win in a cage match: You or Anna Wintour?
You're work ethic is legendary. How many hours a day do you work? Do you ever sleep??
Also, have you ever participated in one of PETA's undercover investigations? If so, what was that experience like?
I was really shocked and touched by the HBO special "I Am an Animal." What was it like being followed around by a film crew every waking moment?
To what do you attribute PETA's success in recruiting celebrities to help publicize campaigns? Is there anyone in particular with whom you'd really like to work?
What's the most horrifying case of animal cruelty that you have ever encountered?
What would you say to someone who said, "it's better I don't know what happens to animals I can't see." These issues are uncomfortable, how do you make people pay attention?
How does one convince her husband and adult children to become vegan or at least vegetarian because of the atrocities committed on animals or for their own health? I have tried for years!
PETA is doing great work in protecting poultry and farm animals. This is important work. Yet we have another problem that goes mostly unaddressed.
It is estimated that their are millions companion birds in the U.S. Laws to protect parrots and cockatoos from abuse are sadly lacking. Animals that are meant to fly free that have the relative intelligence of chimpanzees are being kept in cages the size of a refrigerator. Psychosis results in feather destructive behavior (which often leads to death by self-mutilation), biting and constant screaming. For the most part their suffering goes unheeded. Many suffer from malnutrition because food other than seed is not offered. Most suffer from lack of enrichment including lack of detroyable toys, daily socialization and direct interaction with others. It is tantamount to caging children with no interaction, toys or food other than cheerios. When they go insane they are called "agressive, mean or bad."
Horribly, the babies are taken from their mothers and hatched in incubators never knowing the socialization that could bring them sanity in this world. Large parrots in the wild have a 5 year juvenile dependency period, much like humans and chimps, where their parents teach them to be well-rounded birds. Here, they are reared by humans, force fed, and allowed no contact with their parents. We need to stop breeding these wild animals and require only licensed caretakers to care for those who remain after the breeders are shut down.
Evidence of this abounds but few step forward to help.
What can PETA do to change this? Are the brightest and most needy of the animals required to suffer because they are locked away in prisons out of sight?
Some of these birds could live up to 80 years in captivity? Decades of suffering go unnoticed. I am told the laws do not protect them. Is that an excuse not to try and change the public's perception and those very laws that keep them in bondage?
Please tell me the PETA can do something for these intelligent and fragile creatures.
Father Don Scott
http://www.chloesanctuary.org
You are a formidible speaker and have given more speeches and interviews than I care to count. Do you have a "most embarrassing moment" that happend during an interview/speech that you would care to share?
Can you tell us the hardest part about writing One Can Make A Difference? Was there ever a moment where you thought, "Wow. I don't think this book is ever going to be published!"
Which of PETA's achievements has made the biggest difference for animals, in your opinion?
I'm in marketing. What is the single most effective marketing tool or method PETA uses, and why? Thanks, Ingrid.
What are the most critical international campaigns? I'm aware of Australian wool and China fur farms. Are there others?
Until recently, all I'd heard about PETA was your attention-getting stunts (which I love, BTW). But a friend forwarded me an e-mail about some of the other things PETA does, like running a mobile spay/neuter clinic and winter doghouse giveaways, stepping in to properly euthanize animals in pounds who would have been shot or gassed otherwise, offering rewards in cruelty cases, persuading restaurant and grocery chains to raise their animal welfare standards, etc.
I had no idea that PETA did all this great stuff, so why don't we ever hear about those things in the media?
Who comes up with PETA's campaigns and publicity ideas? Are they generated internally? Some of them seem like fun.
You have built a small grassroots organization into an international movement, one that has tranformed how people think and act -- is there one critical piece of advice you can offer to a founder of a fledgling not-for-profit organization?
Do you think that Michael Vick's punishment was fair?
It seems like Pamela Anderson has become synymous with PETA. Is she your most dedicated celebrity supporter?
Of all the famous people you have met, who made the biggest impression on you?
When will we see (and eat) in-vitro meat? Why did PETA sponsor a contest to get it developed?
I'm 79 and am not sure I can do much to change my ways. Is there a resource for me? I'm curious about your mission but it seems best suited to a younger generation. I admire your work.
Are you certified insane?
What qualities or characteristics do people who've dedicated their lives to helping animals share?
What is it that puts some people on the defensive when confronted with PETA's messages? While many embrace them, others appear to be fearful and angry.
Do you think the average PeTA supporter knows the difference between animal welfare and animal rights?
My daughter is a vegetarian and trying to live "cruelty-free". I'm proud of her for acting on her beliefs. Where does one find non-leather shoes for a trendy 12 year old?
I can't wait to read this book! Are there any people who you didn't get a chance to interview and hear their story, but you would have liked to? Thank you, Ingrid.
What's Chrissie Hynde like? She's worked on the horse drawn carriage campaign in NY and is one of my favorite singers. What other work for PETA has she done?
Why don't you listen to the suggestions of other rational people and change PeTA for the better? How can you live with yourself knowing you're dedicating your life to a group that does more harm than good?
If you weren't the president of PETA, what other job would you like to do? This book looks fascinating, I look forward to reading it.
Don't you find it hypocritical that you (and Pam Anderson) use medications on a daily basis that were derived from animal testing? How does this fit in with your "message?"
What happened to all the money that PETA and HSUS collected for the "rehabilitation" of the pit bulls that you are on record saying should be destroyed? Also, where did the money go that you collected for rescuing animals in New Orleans?
What was it like growing up in India?
Do agree with Sarah Palin that polar bears are not endangered?
PETA was heavily involved in racehorse issues a few months ago after the tragedy of Eight Belles. Big Brown is being retired due to injuries he sustained racing. Has anything changed in this industry as a result of these sad events?
Since you are against keeping pets of any kind, and are on record saying that dogs and cats should just be allowed to go away, how can you presume to give Michael Vick lessons on keeping dogs?
If the right to life isn't the most basic right of all, I don't know what is. Yet you routinely deny that right to certain groups of animals, such as feral cats--an obscenely perverse position for an animal RIGHTS organization. You portray all ferals as living short, miserable, diseased lives filled with pain and suffering when literally thousands of colony caregivers around the country know otherwise. Regardless, every living creature has the survivial instinct and desire to live, regardless of its circumstances. Do you also advocate killing people who live in gang-infested neighborhoods or those who live on the streets to ensure they never suffer or face danger? Instead of encouraging people to take these cats to shelters to be killed "for their own good," why don't you encourage people to simply help these cats live better and stop breeding? Will you reverse your postion on Trap-Neuter-Return?
There was a question about finances above. I'd like to know what percent of PETA's revenues go to investigations, education, campaigns, public outreach, rescue, etc.? Is it true you provide free doghouses and low-cost veterinary care to needy animals?
What has been your favorite PETA campaign of all time?
If you were stranded on a deserted island what 3 things would you want with you?
What's the proudest moment of your life?
I've worked as a volunteer at our local shelter for years. I see firsthand the numbers of abandoned dogs and cats, and the lack of good homes. Has the pet overpopulation problem improved any since organizations like PETA have promoted spay/neuter programs? We havent seen a lot of change in my area.
What three historical figures would you like to meet and why?
You use celebrities to help your cause, how many of these celebrities own domesticated pets and know that you and PETA do not believe in domesticated animals/pets of any kind? What do you say of the large misconception by the masses that do not know that PETA is really for the non-domestication of ALL animals? Are you not using and misleading them?
Were you to do it all over again, would you do anything differently? The book looks like an inspiring read.
Do you believe the time will come in the foreseeable future when the barbaric act of enslaving animals for human entertainment will be viewed as an unjustifiable atrocity of the past?
Why should domesticated animals be set free or put to death? Most of them live a perfectly good life beeing taken good care of with healthy food, excersice, helth checks etc. by a veterinarian. Practically none of the domesticated races og dogs would be able to live in the wild. And what would happen if all dogs, cats, rabbits, hens, pigs, goats, and cattle ran loose in towns and cities.... Would you then kill them all, because they couldn't survive ? ? ? Let the wild and domesticated animals live the way they are suited for, and let the people who really care for them take care of them - or leave them be.....! ! !
When is PETA going to change it's position on feral cat management? Thousands of us practicing TNR for millions of Americans are finding TNR to be an effective, humane solution to the unnecessary killing of millions of feral cats in pounds and shelters every year. We all agree that cats should be indoors, but the reality is that there are far too many unsocialized, free-roaming cats to reasonably find homes for. TNR has been shown to be the most effective way to manage this "new wildlife" we call the feral cat.
It's my understanding that PETA manages it's own feral cat colony not too far from it's headquarters... when will PETA publicly acknowledge that TNR works?
Is it difficult for you to find acceptance and/or the approval of others of your species?
When I first learned about PETA, I believed it truly had the welfare of pets in mind. But then I read the PETA annual report to the State of Virgina for 2006 and discovered that PETA euthanizes 90% of the animals it rescues. I believe the number was 14,000 between 1998 and 2006. That fact coupled with the fact that PETA spends none of its millions on shelters or animal welfare leads to the question, what is the true mission of the organization if it isn't animal welfare (as opposed to "rights")? Is it true that veganism is the true mission?
How can you say that you protect animals when you kill most of the animals in your care, instead of adopting them out like a Shelter would?
Why spend all of your organization's money on ads billboards and celebrities instead of actually helping animals?
Also why demonize organizations that actually help animals like the world wildlife fund which you call the wicked wildlife fund when they are helping animals in more ways than you would even care too?
Why demonize hunter's and hunting organizations when hunters spend more money on wildlife conservation than your organization does?
And lastly how can you sleep at night knowing that your organization funds and condones domestic terrorist actions by the ALF and others against scientists homes and places of work when they are trying to find cures for some of the deadliest diseases mankind has ever known?
What has been the hardest animal-exploiting industy to change? Which has made the most changes in the way animals are treated?
I attended your book signing last night and was pleased to see the standing-room only crowd. Your mission in to inspire everyone to do something good with your book "One Can Make a Difference" is timely -- we need to hear this message now more than ever. Will you write a follow up book telling the stories of all you've inspired with this book?
Dear Ingrid,
So much animal cruelty exists in our world such as factory farming. Why is this not being publicized so the public can witness where their food comes from and how it is manufactured? I rarely see any documentaries on where our food actually comes from and the living conditions these animals are raised in. I would assume that the majority of people are clueless about this issue.
Is there any way to stop the sadistic abuse that PETA recently uncovered on a pig farm here in Iowa? These people are obviously disturbed. How do you keep farms from employing sickos like these?
Is it true that PETA would like to eliminate the ownership of companion animals, such as dogs and cats. And, if true, what do we do with the millions of companion animals that have been suddenly liberated??
The same people who adore their dogs and cats -- who claim to "love animals" -- continue to consume meat, eggs and dairy products, as well as wear leather, fur and wool. Why do you think there's such a contradiction in how people view and treat animals?
My second set of questions is less important than my earlier submission regarding "pit bull" type dogs and PETA's hypocrisy, but seems valid nevertheless:
It is clear, given your age and appearance, that you have had cosmetic procedures and/or surgery performed on your face. What is PETA's (and your) stance on bee-related products, and how does that mesh with your apparent use of Botox?
If, as you say, our pets deserve equal rights, don't they have the right to REFUSE to have their reproductive organs removed?
Do you ever feel that some of PETA's more extremist actions have hurt your cause rather than aiding it by alienating a potentially receptive public?
How do you prepare your undercover investigators for what must be an unspeakably difficult task, especially emotionally?
Ingrid,
How does PETA remain Tax Exempt with their known ties with the likes of Extremists/Terrorists??
When "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals" provides aid and comfort for the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) and the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). The two groups are responsible for more than 600 crimes since 1996, causing (by a very conservative FBI estimate) more than $43 million in damage. ALF's “press office” brags that in 2002, the two groups committed “100 illegal direct actions” -- like blowing up SUVs, destroying the brakes on seafood delivery trucks, and planting firebombs in restaurants.
I fully support peta is there anyway to control the ridiculous requests like using human breast milk in ice cream instead of cows milk?
Having been a dog breeder for 45 years, I wonder why PETA and HSUS have decided they know better than I do who and when to breed? None of my dogs have ever been in a pound, every dog I have ever brought into this life has had a healthy and happy home, and none have ever bitten anyone. Yet you continue to try to take away my constitutional right to own property. Dogs and other domestic animals are property, no matter how much you try to change the relationship. I have money invested in these animals and I take care of each and every one better than many take care of their children. Why not go after child abusers? Animal welfare is NOT animal rights. You have hijacked animal welfare to the detriment of all animals.
Ingrid,
Will you please open PETA'S Books to show how everyone's donations are really spent?
They need to know!
A Must See Video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9ijLulwUTY
You Used Nude Celebrity Ads To Help A Cause For Animals , What About Ethical Treatment of Humans , Does it Also Seem a Cause To you ?
Ingrid,
Are you as up front with the general public as you are with your fellow ARists? Do you tell people they. like you, should not have children because they are just products of human vanity?
Are you also in full agreement with Gary Yourofsky, PETA Humane Education Lecturer, quoted in the University of Southern Indiana Student Newspaper, The Shield, January 24, 2008?
"Sometimes I think the only effective method of destroying speciesism would be for each uncaring human to be forced to live the life of a cow on a feedlot, or a monkey in a laboratory, or an elephant in the circus, or a bull in a rodeo, or a mink on a fur farm. Then people would be awakened from their soporific states and finally understand the horror that is inflicted on the animal kingdom by the vilest species to ever roam this planet: the human animal! Deep down, I truly hope that oppression, torture and murder return to each uncaring human tenfold! I hope that fathers accidentally shoot their sons on hunting excursions, while carnivores suffer heart attacks that kill them slowly.
"Every woman ensconced in fur should endure a rape so vicious that it scars them forever. While every man entrenched in fur should suffer an anal raping so horrific that they become disemboweled. Every rodeo cowboy and matador should be gored to death, while circus abusers are trampled by elephants and mauled by tigers. And, lastly, may irony shine its esoteric head in the form of animal researchers catching debilitating diseases and painfully withering away because research dollars that could have been used to treat them was wasted on the barbaric, unscientific practice vivisection."
Those are some very mentally ill thoughts to be spreading to our young people!
Prove to us that the earth can support a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle..
Tell us something about your childhood life in India? & How India should change their views on animals?
When are you going to shut up and retire?
I am a committed vegetarian and animal rights activist, yet I choose not to join or otherwise financially support Peta. I recognize and appreciate that Peta does many wonderful and progressive initiatives to reduce animal suffering. l remain troubled, however, by how Peta gladly exploits the bodies of women in its zeal to promote anti-exploitation of animals. How can Peta, in all good faith, call itself an organization promoting the ethical treatment of anything when it so unethically exploits and demeans women?
I would like to know why the PETA feels the need to exploit women and ridicule fat people in their efforts to reduce animal suffering. Apparently this organization seems to be under the impression that the only way now to educate the public when it comes to animal abuse are to get women naked in ads or in public displays and make fat jokes. Don't get me wrong, this issue is extremely important and affects all of us, regardless what gender, color, or creed we are. But frankly, naked women and weight have nothing to do with this issue. Are you that desperate for your voice to be heard you have to resort to shock tactics and the lowest common denominator?
I doubt you will answer this question, because I know PETA likes to ignore the hard questions in favor of making the organization look better. But this question is being posed on a very popular blog, and tens of thousands of visitors are waiting to see if you'll actually answer this time.
Why does PETA feel it necessary to exploit women for the sake of saving animals? Surely, there is a better way to promote animal rights than having women strip down to nothing and pose behind cleverly-placed signs or props. From what we gather, you believe that women should be treated as mere sex objects who are plastered on billboards and magazine ads, to spread the word about animal rights. How about a method of marketing that doesn't exploit women for the purpose of stopping the exploitation of animals?
Furthermore, why does PETA threaten high-profile individuals into posing or campaigning for them? You expect the world to live peacefully, side-by-side with animals by respecting their rights, but you refuse to respect the rights of humans, who certainly deserve to have their right to a different point of view respected. Why is a lifestyle that involves eating meat or wearing fur okay for your to tear apart to the point of harassment of the individual, but we can't choose to live differently than PETA thinks we should without being bothered?
Ingrid,
Why has PETA put to death over 90 percent of the animals it took in during the last five years?
To find out more about where your money donations go, please click on the link.
http://www.activistcash.com/organization_overview.cfm/oid/21
What propels you to promote animal rights?
What gave you the idea of founding PETA?
PETA is often controversial about its ads and animal rights activism. What do you think about this, and how does it affect your goal of spreading animal rights to the whole world?
Where can one person start to make a difference, whether it's for animal rights, human rights, environmental awareness, etc?
Will you be writing a follow up to "Free The Animals?" I'd like to know some more current information on ALF's activities and members, especially since some of the same 'research' is still going on, i.e. the military's use of pigs in combat injury training, and the use of pig skin in burn research (see "People" magazine, Vol 70, No.17 article on DJ AM ).
I need to clarify my previous question- I do not think animal life should be considered more valuable than human life. I also understand that that if DJ AM were my child I wouldn't think twice about sacrifing myself, or a pig, to save him. I just finished reading "Free The Animals" and am curious as to what ALF has done since it's publication. I am also wondering what effect ALF's activities have had on the research industry, not necessarily in the way of halting all medical animal research as I don't believe that to be a viable option, but concerning the conditions at research labs for the animals (caging requirements, sterile procedures, humane caretakers,etc.and the enforcement of these requirements) and halting unnecessary and redundant studies (hence the military pig shooting reference.) I'm also wondering about the pigs used in burn treatment- how are they treated prior to being used as medical treatment? (I hate to think an infected, unhealthy animal skin being placed on a seriously wounded person with an intensely
compromised immune sysytem.)
I just heard that Peta kills more animals than what you claim you rescue? I know you cant rescue all animals that are being abused but with all the money you receive from this nation and abroad you can help save more and give them more rights to live than to die.( I am one supporter that gives to Peta). And another thing I heard that you get to keep more money of the donations than what should be going towards saving the animals...the source of this information is someone who works for a newspaper company somewhere in the USA...can you clear these thoughts from my heart and tell me the truth on these issues...thank you.
Dear Ingrid,
you have spent your life trying to convince people that animals should be seen as sentient beings with emotions and feelings and I could not agree more. How then can you advocates the mandatory euthanasia of pit bulls as you do in your article "Some dogs are weapons-ban them." Do you mean to say that even if the pit is deemed to be healthy and of stable temperment that they should be killed? How can you condem the killing of animals for meat and advocate the killing of a dog, just because?
When I watched the HBO special " I Am an Animal" you took a pit from its owner and brought it back to your headquarters.
PETA then killed the dog because it had heartworms and he "looked sad".
My question is are you aware that heartworms is nearly always curable and most dogs come through the treatment with only minor problems? and if you are why were you not willing to spend some of the million dollars in donations you recieve each year on treatment for the dog or at least send it to someplace that would?
how many dogs has PETA killed ?
what kind of drugs are you on?
Howmuch of the 30 million donated goes in your pocket?
PETA's principals were credible, but in reality , you are just a terrorist, pushing your beliefs on others, killing animals and ripping people off by false claims of your agenda.
there is nothing Ethical about PETA
Who does she think she is?
Why does she think that killing tens of thousands of dogs makes her special?
Why does she encourage illegal acts then beg for laws to suit her agenda?
Why does she try to place humans beneath the animals and erase human progress?
Who does she think she is?
How do you justify Pam Anderson's use of animal tested drugs to treat her Hepatitis C? And, do you think she contracted her disease by eating Tommy Lee's meat?
http://www.humornsex.com/search/Pam-Anderson/
--
Max Norton
Vancouver, Canada
I have a few questions for Ms. Newkirk :
How do you expect people to have respect for animals when PETA shows no respect towards people?
For example the Holocaust on your Plate ad campaign was very distasteful and disrespectful as well as the recent ad where you compared chickens to the awful beheading of Tim McLean. Reasonable, Respectful people would have had the DECENCY not to run an add like that knowing what his family would have been going through, PETA didn't even have the decency to wait until his body was in the ground. How disgusting!
If your message is right and you know in your heart what you are preaching is true, why then do you think you have to resort to such petty, disgusting, childish, immature, repulsive acts in order to get your message across?
People like Martin luther King and Gandhi were able to get their message across peacefully and respectfully. Why can't you do the same? in my opinion I think it is because you and the people at peta lack the mental fortitude to put together a respectful, thoughtful argument and therefore have to rely on degrading women or doing other outrageous stunts in order to get attention. However, much like a small child throwing a tantrum at the mall, you may get my attention for a little while but I'm not going to take you very seriously.
Grow up, and if you want to start really reaching people. learn a little respect first, you do the animals no favors when you act like moron.
Natalie
In the HBO special "I Am an Animal" you said you saw a man beating a bull in the streets of India and you rushed over and started screaming at him and you said HE knew that he was lucky you did not kill him. My only problem with your story us that you were 8!!!
My question to you then is do you suffer from delusions and if so are the medications you are on tested on animals?
if you had to choose between a hunter going into the forest and killing one deer for him and his family to eat OR a vegetarian clearing the forest to make way for a wheat field killing all the birds, animals, deer, rabbits and insects that live in the forest
Which one would you choose?
I was looking through the PETA FILES on your website and I found the one on October 30th 2007 entitles " How Ingrid broke her Wrist." to be very interesting especially the part that says "Just as I was setting out to launch my new book, Let's Have a Dog Party!, I met a wet floor and went splat, neatly snapping the bones in my wrist. Ooh, the pain! Thank goodness for IV DRIPS." (emphasis mine)
So my questions is are you aware that IV drips and the medication used in IV drips were all tested on animals? Some commenters said it was not your fault because it is the law to test on animals which may be true however you had a right to refuse the pain killers so why didn't you?i I find it unlikely that you didn't know but hey its ok, everyone messes up from time to time but it is in our failures and how we handle those failures that our true character shines through and I'm sure you acme out and apologized to all your supporters for compromising your beliefs when the going got tough. Wait, what's that? you did not apologize, just pretended it never happened. Oh in that case you're a douche. shine."http://blog.peta.org/archives/2007/10/how_ingrid_brok.php
Why do you have the same last name as me?...because I most certainly love to eat animals...I like to eat 'em a lot...
I am vegetarian and very much against animal testing. I suffer from epilepsy, bi-polar disorder and social anxiety. I have to take several medications that are made by Glaxo-Smith-Kline. I don't have to tell you their background. None of these disorders are life-threatening (if I don't get treated for bi-polar, I become suicidal). What should I do? I don't want to help fund their cruel practices. I've asked Dr.s and they tell me that I have no choice. Do you take anything?
Are Botox and JuveDerm tested on animals?
Thank You