Ingrid Newkirk

Ingrid with a dog. (http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/wp-content/uploads/newkirk1.jpg)

To begin with, my hero is Ingrid Newkirk. Ingrid is an animal rights activist. She is also president and co-founder of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). In addition, Ingrid is also an author of several books about animal liberation, which include books such as: “Free the Animals” and “Making Kind Choices”. She is best known for the campaigns she organizes to promote animal rights and veganism. One of Ingrid’s major approaches is to improve animal welfare. With her passion and dedication to make the world a better place for animals, she has inspired many people to help animals. Ingrid remains committed to the idea that “Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment.”

Ingrid founded PETA because she believes that animals deserve the most basic rights despite whether animals are useful to humans or not. She speaks internationally on issues such as animal rights. Ingrid has also volunteered as a deputy sheriff and a chief of animal disease control for Commission on Public Health in Washington, D.C. Furthermore, Ingrid was the director of several cruelty investigations for the second-oldest humane society in the United States. With Ingrid’s leadership, she accommodated the first arrest in U.S history, which included cruelty charges of a laboratory animal experimenter. Additionally, Ingrid helped accomplish the first anti-cruelty law in Taiwan. For over 25 years, Ingrid conclusively has successfully led the world’s largest animal organization in the world.

My hero, Ingrid Newkirk, resides in Norfolk, Virginia. Where she lives is also the headquarters of PETA. Her basic daily life revolves around organizing campaigns about animal rights. Also, Ingrid writes a numerous amount of books. For example, some books she writes about helping animals are: “ Save the Animals”, “101 Easy Things You Can Do,” and “ Awesome Ways Kids Can Help Animals.” In her spare time, Ingrid writes a myriad amount of articles about the treatment of animals in laboratories, slaughterhouses, circuses, and homes.

Ingrid was born on June 11, 1949. She is sixty years old and is currently living in Virginia. She was born in Surrey, England and lived there for seven years. Throughout her life, until she was about 21 years old, Ingrid had given no thought to vegetarianism or animal rights. She was originally studying to become a stockbroker. Her volunteer experiences helped her realize that anyone who is in need, including animals, is worthy to care for. In 1980, Ingrid Newkirk met Alex Pacheco, in a shelter where he was volunteering. He introduced Ingrid to the concept of animal rights. Together they decided to form a group to educate people about their ideas. It was then, when they called their foundation PETA.

In conclusion, I chose Ingrid Newkirk because she is an animal lover like me. Also, because she realized how horrible animals were being mistreated and decided to make a difference. Ingrid founded PETA to help animals and inspire people to help animals as well. I am a huge animal lover and to see an animal lover like Ingrid try so hard to support animals, makes me realize that anyone can make a difference. In addition, I also chose Ingrid because she influenced a multitudinous amount of people in the United States. Furthermore, she is willing to do anything to help animals have a better life. Ingrid started out as a nonentity and over time with her passion and dedication to helping animals, she became a worldwide hero to both animals and the American Public. I love animals and I want to make a difference, like Ingrid did.