PETA Member Profile: Laura Guttridge

In the early 1980s, I received a complimentary copy of Animal Liberation from PETA. Within a few years, I became a PETA member and started to live my life from a different perspective. After moving from Chicago to Ocala, Florida, I started my own animal rights group, called "Marion County Voices For Animals." We were successful in getting the local pound to stop using a decompression chamber and to switch to a more humane form of euthanasia.

We followed up on all cruelty-to-animal cases we heard about to make sure they weren't swept under the radar. Then of course, we held demonstrations against all forms of animal exploitation, and we wrote countless letters to the editor. In the early 90s, I was arrested for crossing a picket line at a protest during the annual youth deer hunt in Start, Florida.

During this time, I met the man of my dreams, Bobby. We got married and moved to San Diego, where I continued to be active for animals. It wasn't long until I was arrested again after a fur demonstration for walking into a mall still wearing a bloody fur coat and chanting animal rights messages.

After two years in San Diego, we moved back to Florida, where I kept up my fight for animals. In 2002, I was one of the top signature gatherers for the ballot initiative to outlaw gestation crates for pregnant pigs in Florida. I got more than 5,000 signatures to help get the initiative (that eventually passed) on the ballot! In 2007, I received the Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Vero Beach Humane Society. The group gave it to me for assisting them on daring animal rescues. On one mission, I got 14 staples in my head after falling out of an attic while rescuing a nest of baby raccoons. After the fall, I still went back into the attic to save them, and all six survived. I also worked with the organization on a project in which we relocated almost 50 gopher tortoises from an 80-acre construction site.

I am now 46 years old. My husband and I have been vegetarians for more than 20 years, about the same amount of time I have been a PETA member. I had my first and only baby at age 45! After having her, I made the decision to serve only vegan meals at home. I want our daughter to grow up as compassionate as possible. Her favorite meal is steamed tofu. My husband and I get a great deal of joy watching her stuff her sweet little face with tofu. It's really just so cute. My favorite meal to prepare is vegan tacos. I use TVP (textured vegetable protein), vegan sour cream, and vegan cheese. All my friends have tried them at least once, and they are a huge hit!

Animals are my passion and a huge part of my life. I live my life trying to educate others. So many people just never stop and think about the suffering of animals. The truth is, animals experience the worst and most vast suffering that exists in the world today. I will fight for them and speak up for them until my last breath. It is comforting to know that groups like PETA exist, exposing the truth about what really happens to animals on this planet.

What about you—how did you get your start in animal rights?