Animals are not oursto experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment or abuse in any other way.
What should I do if I’ve seen a video online that depicts cruelty to animals?
For more information about cruelty on the internet and what you can do about it, please head to this PETA US page.
If you are in the UK and can identify the individual participating in cruelty to animals, please immediately contact the police or phone the RSPCA’s cruelty hotline on 0300 1234 999.
How can I tell whether a product is cruelty-free?
To make sure that you’re buying only cruelty-free cosmetics, please check PETA US’ online listing of companies that do and that don’t test on animals. Companies included on the “Do Not Test“ list have provided PETA US with written assurance that neither they nor their ingredient suppliers conduct, commission, or pay for any tests on animals for ingredients, formulations, or finished products.
If you can’t find a particular company on any of the PETA US lists, there could be several reasons for this. A company may not be found on the list of cruelty-free companies because it has a parent company that tests on animals, because PETA US has no information on its policies and it has refused to answer the group’s questions, or because it claims to be cruelty-free but hasn’t yet signed a PETA US statement of assurance, which it must do in order to be listed.
How do I donate my unwanted fur coats?
If you’d like to donate a fur item to PETA, please post it to: PETA Foundation, 8 All Saints Street, London, N1 9RL.
For more information about PETA’s fur donation scheme, click here.
What is PETA’s stance on halal, kosher, or other ritual slaughter?
For information on this issue, please visit this page.
How do I order leaflets and other activism materials?
To order free materials for your activism, please visit this page and fill in the order form.
What is PETA’s stance on palm oil?
The well-being of orangutans and other animals affected by the spread of palm oil plantations is of great concern. This issue requires an approach that we hope will save most of the animals and preserve their forest habitat. Purchasing locally sourced, vegan household products and foods that are free of tropical oil is a great way to ensure ethical sustainability. In fact, some organisations, such as Orangutan Foundation International (OFI), argue that a total boycott on palm oil is the only way to ensure the conservation of wildlife and the environment. OFI believes that there is no such thing as sustainable palm oil and that sustainability certification schemes for this product are merely a way to greenwash the industry while still permitting deforestation and habitat loss. The organisation cites research showing that orangutan populations decline at similar rates regardless of whether a plantation has been certified sustainable or not.
However, this position raises other issues, as switching to an oil derived from soya beans, for example, would require seven to 10 times the amount of land used for palm oil. That poses a dilemma, which is why PETA supports a move to truly sustainable palm oil, whereby producers use land that’s already been cleared, invest in increasing crop yield, and refrain from clearing land for new plantations, among other things. That’s why we’ll occasionally feature products that contain palm oil from companies that are genuinely taking action and demanding that their suppliers obtain only certified sources of it.
We encourage consumers to join us in carefully checking labels on food and household products and, if they contain palm oil, to purchase only products from companies that are doing the right thing. To find companies with commendable palm oil policies, check out the Rainforest Action Network’s scorecard, see the Palm Oil Innovation Group’s member list, or download the PalmSmart app, endorsed by the Orangutan Land Trust and OFI. In addition, we recommend contacting companies that have been dragging their feet on this important matter and urging them to do the right thing by letting them know that you won’t buy from them until they do. And as with all wide-reaching animal issues, please spread the word to others.
I’m a student – can PETA answer some questions for my research project?
We’re so glad to hear that you’re dedicating part of your studies to important animal rights issues. Please be aware that our team is extremely busy. For this reason, we can respond only to questions directly related to animal rights and PETA’s campaign work.
First, we invite you to take a look at our website as it has lots of information regarding the use of animals for experiments, food, fashion, entertainment, and more. You’re more than welcome to quote any of our resources in your work.
If you have specific questions that aren’t addressed on our website, you can send them to us, noting your deadline, and we’ll do our best to respond.
I’ve seen fur or other animal skins for sale. Can I report this to PETA?
Yes. Please send us an e-mail stating which company is selling items made of fur or other animal skins and a link to its website, if applicable. On receiving your report, our team will take the appropriate action.
Please also take the time to speak to the store’s manager or contact the company’s headquarters, if you can, to let them know how disappointed you are that the brand is profiting from the cruel fur trade.
Below are some other ideas for ways to highlight the suffering of animals in the fur industry:
What is PETA’s stance on synthetic materials and their impact on the environment?
Unfortunately, just about everything we do negatively affects the environment. These adverse effects are compounded when we use materials that are derived from animals, because we’re hurting not only the environment but also animals themselves. For more information about the environmental effects of animal-derived materials, please click here.
PETA endorses purchasing clothes made from natural, organic fibres, such as cotton and hemp, but not everyone can or will buy such items. As an animal rights organisation, we must therefore present the public with all the alternatives to leather, fur, and other animal-based materials in order to discourage consumers from purchasing cruelly produced items. In today’s world, there are kinder ways for most of us to feed, clothe, and entertain ourselves and for scientists to carry out research than by abusing and killing animals, and at PETA, we do everything we can to inform people about these humane options.
To learn more about ways to help animals and the environment, please see the following articles:
I haven’t received the vegan starter kit I ordered – what should I do?
To make our donations go as far as possible, we save money on postage by sending in bulk. As a result, delivery can take up to 28 days.
While you wait for your hard copy, you can read a digital version here.
I have a complaint about the conditions at a pet shop – what can I do?
If you think animals in a pet shop may have been denied veterinary or other basic care, please contact the local council, which issues licences to pet shops and is responsible for enforcing the law. To find out which local council to contact, enter the postcode of the facility in question here.
You can also report seeing animals in distress to the RSPCA on its website or by calling 0300 1234 999.
For information about the pet trade, please visit our Issues page.
I own (or work for) a business that sells vegan products. How can I enter the PETA Vegan Food Awards or other PETA awards?
PETA doesn’t take submissions for these awards, but if you send us an e-mail noting your company name, the product you think we should consider, and a link to your website, it will be passed on to the relevant team members.
