Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is PETA’s Action Team?

    PETA’s Action Team advocates for animals by taking action on animal rights issues and championing PETA’s national campaigns, which oppose speciesism in laboratories, the food industry, fashion, and entertainment.

    At the very heart of our activism is the understanding that all sentient beings have the right to enjoy their lives free of abuse and exploitation.

    All social justice movements focus on speaking out for the rights of those whose voices need to be heard. History shows that real change only takes place when people stand up against injustice. Animals can’t stand up for themselves, so PETA’s Action Team will never stop speaking out for them until we’ve achieved their liberation.

  • Who’s on the Action Team?

    The Action Team is made up of thousands of activists from the U.S., Canada, and around the world who are taking nonviolent action to create a kinder world for all animals.

    The Action Team is for anyone 25 or older, who wants to help animals. Whether you’re a seasoned activist or just getting started, whether you have animal rights friends or are the only person you know who cares about helping animals, PETA’s Action Team staff are here to support your work. Are you under the age of 25? Join SOS!

  • What should I expect as an Action Team member?

    You’ll be welcomed with a free activist starter kit. You’ll also receive a monthly e-newsletter and e-mail with the latest updates on PETA’s campaigns and victories and information on taking strategic action in your community for animals. We’ll e-mail you invitations to join PETA protests and events if they’re taking place in your area, and you’ll be able to connect with PETA staff who can guide you on making a huge impact for animals and send you free activism supplies.

  • What do you mean by “speciesism”?

    Speciesism” is the belief that all other animal species are inferior to humans. It views other animals—who have their own desires and needs—as means to our own ends. This supremacist reasoning is used to defend treating other living, feeling beings as property, inanimate objects, or even ingredients.

  • Do I need to be vegan to join the Action Team?

    No, but since the best thing anyone can do to help animals is not to eat them, we encourage everyone to go vegan. Most people—not just animal rights activists—no longer have an appetite for animal flesh, milk, and eggs after learning about the suffering of animals in the agricultural industry. You can learn more here. Order PETA’s free vegan starter kit here.

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 Ingrid E. Newkirk

“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?” READ MORE

— Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind