People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is one of the largest animal rights organizations in the world. It promotes the belief that animals deserve moral consideration and should not have to suffer to fulfill human desires. PETA objects to all mistreatment of animals. However, the organization concentrates its efforts on ending the use of animals in research laboratories, in the fur industry, in sports and entertainment, and on factory farms. On factory farms, large numbers of food animals are usually raised indoors in pens.
PETA works to achieve its goals through consumer boycotts, educational efforts, lawsuits, protests, and undercover investigations. PETA is well known—and sometimes criticized—for its ambitious media campaigns and sometimes confrontational public demonstrations.
Animal rights activists Alex Pacheco and Ingrid Newkirk founded PETA in 1980. The organization’s headquarters are in Norfolk, Virginia. PETA also has offices in several other countries.
See also Animal rights movement .
