Ingrid E. Newkirk is a British animal welfarist and the president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the world's largest animal rights organization. She is the author of several books, including Making Kind Choices and The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights: Simple Acts of Kindness to Help Animals in Trouble. Newkirk has worked for the animal-protection movement since 1972. Under her leadership in the 1970s as the District of Columbia's first female poundmaster, legislation was passed to create the first spay/neuter clinic in Washington, D.C., as well as an adoption program and the public funding of veterinary services, leading her to be among those chosen in 1980 as Washingtonians of the Year. She is an atheist. Newkirk founded PETA in March 1980 with fellow animal rights activist Alex Pacheco.
| Born: | June 11, 1949, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
| Residence: | Virginia, United States |
| Citizenship: | British and American |
| Occupation: | President of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals |
| Spouse(s): | Steve Newkirk (divorced 1980) |
| Website: | Ingrid Newkirk's Official site |
About Ingrid Newkirk
Famous as the co-founder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Newkirk was instrumental in securing a 1985 amendment to the United States' Animal Welfare Act.
Before Fame
She joined the animal rights movement in the early 1970s and helped bring about legislation that set up a public fund for veterinary care and established Washington D.C.'s first clinic for the spaying and neutering of pets. A decade later, she and fellow activist Alex Pacheco founded PETA.
Achievement
Her animal rights-themed publications include The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights (published in 2009) and Making Kind Choices (2005).
Family Life
She was raised in England as the daughter of a charity worker mother and an engineer father. After moving to the United States in her late teens, she began a decade-long marriage to Steve Newkirk.
Associations
She and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founder Paul Watson both had high-profile careers as animal rights activists.
Information related to Ingrid Newkirk
- Women and animal advocacy - Women have played a central role in animal advocacy since the 19th century. The animal advocacy movement – embracing animal rights, animal welfare, and anti-vivisectionism – has been disproportionately initiated and led by women, particularly in the United Kingdom.
- Anti-vivisection movement
- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
- Veganism activists
- English activists
- English atheists
