This month, PETA is celebrating its 38th anniversary, and a lot has happened since 1980, when we first helped propel animal rights into the mainstream.
But what if PETA had never existed?
The thousands of calls and e-mails that we receive each year reporting the abuse and neglect of dogs, cats, and other animals might never have been made.
Workers in slaughterhouses and secretive laboratories would go on tormenting living beings without worrying that a PETA eyewitness investigator might be documenting their cruelty.
Circuses like Ringling Bros. might still be hauling their sad menageries of exploited animals around the U.S.
Cosmetics companies might not be lining up to have their products certified as cruelty-free, and hideous tests on animals conducted by global food and beverage giants may never have been stopped.
You wouldn’t have been able to watch the powerful footage from PETA’s mohair investigation, read about our touching bear rescue, or find those perfect vegan recipes on PETA.org.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when you consider all the many victories and accomplishments for animals that might not have occurred if PETA never existed.
But thankfully, PETA is here for all animals—24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The compassion of our members and supporters fuels the cruelty caseworkers who investigate the urgent calls and e-mails that we receive every day. It helps PETA fieldworkers to come to the aid of neglected “outside dogs,” our campaigners to shut down cruel and exploitative businesses, and our scientists to keep working to stop deadly experiments. Leading the global animal rights movement isn’t easy—or inexpensive—but being able to end suffering makes it worth it.
PETA supporters are driving animal abusers out of business and opening the eyes of corporate leaders and government officials to the suffering that they have too long ignored. Whether we’re responding to a rescue call or operating behind the scenes to end corporate cruelty, our work is only possible because of compassionate people like you.
So give yourself a pat on the back for helping to save so many animals!
PETA exists to do one thing: help animals. We’re so glad to have you by our side, and we’re always happy to welcome anyone else who wants to join PETA now.
