Frequently Asked Questions

You know we love you, so we've come up with this FAQ page to save you the trouble of e-mailing us all those questions that frequently pop up. Neat idea, isn't it? We've even broken it down by category to make it easy for you to find your answer. Cool? Cool.

General
Animal Testing and Dissection
Message Boards and Street Team
Vegan/Vegetarian
Other

General

What can I do to help? 
You should definitely explore peta2.com if you haven't already. The "Take Charge" section is especially great if you're looking to get involved! There are a ton of fun ideas for how you can help animals and promote animal rights. Join the peta2 Street Team too. E-mail us at StreetTeam@peta2.com to let us know what you've done to help animals—or even better, fill out the appropriate form here, telling us what you've done to help animals—and we'll credit you with points that you can exchange for T-shirts, messenger bags, and other cool animal rights gear. We even have a message board where you can meet others interested in helping animals. Also, we will occasionally e-mail you with information about events and opportunities to help animals in your local area.

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What is the difference between peta2 and PETA?
peta2 is the youth program at PETA. We're on MySpace and Facebook, and we have an amazing Street Team.

• Send all questions and comments to peta2@peta2.com, or use this form.
• If you're a college student, e-mail College@peta2.com.
• To get your peta2 Street Team points as quickly as possible, send your Street Team actions through our "Submit a Report for Points" form. You can also e-mail StreetTeam@peta2.com if you have a large photo or other file to include with your report. Request stickers and other info for yourself here.
• If you're interested in receiving a package of materials to distribute, use our request form (or this one if you're a college student). E-mail peta2@peta2.com if you have a special request or need a tabling pack. Don't forget to include your address (P.O. boxes are not accepted). If you have a specific date that you need to receive materials by, be sure to include that information in your request, along with your phone number.
• Send old-fashioned mail, love letters, holiday cards, packages, your kid brother (kidding), and completed petition sheets to:
  
  peta2
  501 Front St.
  Norfolk, VA 23510
  
  

How can I send a donation, and how much should it be for?
Any amount that you can send would be much appreciated. Even if it's only a couple of dollars ($16 gets you a yearlong membership), it will help us continue to send out materials to help animals—and activists. You can donate online, or you can just send your donation to:

peta2
501 Front St.
Norfolk, VA 23510

We take checks and money orders (made out to PETA) or carefully concealed cash.

Are there any internship or job opportunities at PETA?
We have great opportunities for interns at our headquarters in Norfolk. Interns receive housing, lunch five days a week, and a weekly stipend of $75. We also have jobs posted here. You are welcome to apply online.

Can you help me with my homework?
Yes. Check this out.

Is it true that I can get free stickers, leaflets, and other stuff from you?
Yes. If you are interested in spreading the word about animal rights, we would love to send you whatever we can to help you out. Whether you're doing a presentation in class or handing out leaflets at a show, we're here for you. Drop us a line here with what you need and when you need it by, and please be sure to include your address (no P.O. boxes) and phone number in case we have any questions before sending your stuff out. Visit PETALiterature.com if you're looking for samples of what we have to offer (you can download pretty much everything there, too, if you need it immediately). Also, if you're interested in buying merchandise, check out PETACatalog.org.

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Animal Testing and Dissection

Please also visit http://www.PETA.org/about/faq-viv.asp for more information.

How do I know if a particular product is tested on animals? 
You should start off your search by browsing peta2's list of cruelty-free companies in our "Looking Good Cruelty-Free" section to see if the company that makes the product is listed there. If you cannot find your answer on our Web site, check out CaringConsumer.com or please call or e-mail the company for clarification. If you find out that the company tests on animals, please politely ask it to use non-animal experiments instead.

How do I end dissection at my school?
First, check out your local laws to see if your school has a dissection choice policy already. Many K-12 schools do. If there isn't a dissection choice policy, then you should get started by going to our "Cut Out Dissection" page. College students, check this out instead.

I got a lower grade because I didn't dissect. Is there anything I can do?
Thank you for not dissecting. Please speak with a parent or guardian for support, then approach your school's principal or guidance counselor for help addressing this issue. You should not be forced to harm animals when so many great alternatives exist! Check out this page to see if you live in a state that requires your school to give you an alterative. If you live in one of those states, you should print off the page for your state and let your teacher know that you need to be given an alternative. If you don't live in one of these states, you should contact your principal and explain that you are morally against dissecting animals and would like to have an alternative. After you do that, start working on getting a dissection choice policy at your school. You can find out more information on how to do that here.

What are some alternatives to animal experimentation?
Please check out this page for details of many of the alternatives to testing on animals, including computer modeling programs, epidemiological studies, tissue and cell cultures, and more!

How can I stop animal experiments?
Please write, call, and e-mail companies that use animals to test their products. For a list of companies that do and that don't test on animals, please check out CaringConsumer.com. Never buy products that are tested on animals; instead, support companies that use non-animal testing methods. Encourage all your friends to take our cruelty-free quiz.

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Message Boards and Street Team

What is the age range for peta2?
We try to keep the age range between 13 and 21. If you are under 13, please check out PETAKids.com. If you are older than 21, you should check out PETA's Activist Network.

How do I join the Street Team?
Join the peta2 Street Team for free at http://www.peta2.com/StreetTeam. We have a message board where you can meet others interested in helping animals, and we will e-mail you with information about events and opportunities to help animals in your local area.

Can you explain how the points work?
We offer points to reward you every time you complete one of our missions or do something else to help animals. Visit the "Take Charge" section of peta2 for some ideas, or check out the actions listed when you log in to your Street Team account. Once you're signed up, just e-mail StreetTeam@peta2.com—or fill out the form on the Street Team page—telling us what you've done to help animals. From there, give us a few weeks to credit your account with points that you can exchange for T-shirts, messenger bags, and other cool animal rights gear.

Where do I send petitions once I have them filled?
Once you've collected some names and e-mail addresses, mail the petitions to:

peta2 Petitions
501 Front St.
Norfolk, VA 23510

Please also include your name and e-mail address so that we can reward you with your Street Team points.

I'm having trouble submitting requests for points. What's the deal?
Sorry. Sometimes there are some computer problems on our end, so please try again. If you continue to have trouble, you can e-mail your request to StreetTeam@peta2.com. Make sure you add details and a picture or two if you can. Also let us know how many points you think you should receive for your actions.

Why have my points not been approved?
We often get swamped with requests for points because our huge and amazing Street Team is so active but our staff is still so small! Please give it a couple more weeks, and while you're waiting, check out our "Take Charge" section here for more ways you can help animals.

How do I get all those amazing stickers and leaflets and a DVD with tons of videos on it?
If you live in the United States or Canada, please fill out this form. It could take four to six weeks to get to you, so please be patient. If you live outside Canada or the United States, please e-mail us with your full name and complete mailing address and let us know exactly what type of leaflets you will need. For locations outside North America, we may need you to cover shipping costs, but you can always download materials here. In any case, if you have questions, please e-mail us at peta2@peta2.com.

How do I change my e-mail address for the Street Team?
To update your e-mail address, log in to your Street Team account, then click on "View Account." Once there, you should see a button that reads "Change E-Mail."

How do I change my home address for the Street Team?
To change your address, go to the Street Team section of peta2 and click on "Contact Us." Send us a message with the subject line "Address" and the text "Please change address." Then just change your address on the form and send your message. Any information you change in those fields will be automatically updated to your Street Team account.

What can I do if I have trouble logging in to my Street Team account?
Occasionally, the peta2 Web site goes down for maintenance reasons. If you get an error when trying to log in, this may be what is happening. If you get a password-incorrect message, please follow the steps below:

• Make sure that you are typing in the entire e-mail address for the account you signed up with and that the e-mail address is correct.
• Make sure that you are using the correct password—do not change capitalization or spacing.
• If you still cannot log on, click on "Forgot My Password" and another one will be e-mailed to you. Try this password to see if the new one works.

I registered for the Street Team a couple of days ago, but I never received my password. What's the deal?
There are a few reasons why your password may have gone missing in action. First, double-check that you entered your e-mail address correctly by requesting a new password. If you entered it incorrectly the first time, you will get a message saying, "Your e-mail address is not registered with us." If that's the case, go ahead and register again, otherwise a new password should be sent to you. Be sure that you don't have any junk-mail filters that may trash the e-mail messages containing your password. If you are still having trouble, send us an e-mail and we will change it for you.

How do I upload a photo to my profile?
Unfortunately, our system has an error in it and won't let anyone upload a photo. Once we get a new system, you will be able to upload photos. Sorry for the inconvenience. We've met many of you, and you're all pretty hot, so we wish we could get that photo thing to work too!

How do I start an animal rights group at school?
It's great that you are interested in setting up an animal rights group at your school! We've created a "Start a Group" guide at http://www.peta2.com/takecharge/t-startagroup.asp that has a bunch of tips. Check it out, and be sure to download the pack that contains more info and petitions for your group. Be in touch if you need free leaflets, stickers, or videos!

Do you have the code to a particular video so I can post it on my MySpace or Web site?
Please check out this page, where we have posted the codes for some videos, banners, and other great things you can add to your site. You can also check out videos from sites like YouTube and repost them to your page.

How do I set up a protest?
Check out our "Demo for Dummies" page here, and let us know if you have any specific questions.

I am having a protest. Can you send out an alert to all the activists and media in my area?
If you e-mail us detailed information on your demonstration, we will try to have someone on our staff contact you with the best ways to spread the word to other local activists and the media. In the meantime, post your event info on the peta2 message boards for other activists to check out.

How do I set up a KFC protest?
Thanks for offering to help with the Kentucky Fried Cruelty campaign! A demonstration is really easy to organize, whether it's just you holding a sign or dozens of people spreading the word. Our KFC demo form answers a lot of questions and makes planning your event very easy. Once you've filled it out, we'll work with you every step of the way to make it a success!

A typical leafleting involves holding a sign on the public sidewalk and passing out leaflets to people walking by (not too complicated, eh?). The best KFC to be at is one with lots of foot traffic (people walking in), but if there isn't one like that in your area, a KFC on a busy road or near a busy intersection will do. The trick is to pick the best location so lots of people see you.

Every time a story about a KFC protest appears on TV or a letter to the editor about KFC's cruelty is published in a newspaper, thousands of people hear about the way KFC abuses animals, so we can help you figure out the best way to reach the media in your area too.

Once you fill out the form linked to above, we can begin working with you. Thanks so much for offering your support. It's because of caring people like you that we can make a difference for animals.

Can I get a speaker at my school?
Please e-mail us with details on where you go to school, how many people you expect for your meeting or event, and any timeframe you are looking to follow, and we will be sure to get back to you. Alternatively, we can send some amazing video or audio speeches, such as this one from our president Ingrid Newkirk.

Are there any groups around my area?
We do not keep a list of every animal rights group around the world, but if you join the peta2 Street Team we can update you on local events as we hear about them. We also have a message board where you can meet others interested in helping animals, so feel free to ask around to see if there is a group in your area. Of course, if there isn't a group, you can always start one using our "Start a Group" guide, which has a bunch of tips.

Can you put me in contact with other activists around my area?
I'm sorry, but because we are a youth-based program, we cannot give out this information. You should use other sources to find activists in your area, such as MySpace, Facebook, or our message boards. If you're working with us to set up an event, we can also look into the possibility of sending the details to activists in your area.

How do I set up an animal rights table?
Try contacting show promoters or venues locally. The first thing you will need to do is get permission to have your table. Be very professional so that you will make a positive impression. (You should be clear that you are a local volunteer who works with peta2, but please do not give the impression that you are part of our fulltime staff, since that just gets confusing.) Once you get permission, e-mail us to request materials. Check out our tabling guide to find out the most effective way to table. If you don't have your own reliable means of transportation or you do not feel comfortable talking to large groups of people about animal rights, you may want to leaflet after a show instead.

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Vegan/Vegetarian

How do I get more vegetarian or vegan food at school?
If you're in middle school or high school, click here for some tips. If you're attending a university, visit our college section. Your school can get the food pretty easily; it just needs some convincing to add these options!

We also suggest that you get in touch with Veg Advantage, a national consulting group that helps food-service professionals add healthy dining options to their menus. Veg Advantage can provide your school with free professional advice on finding distributors, recipes, etc.

What is the difference between a vegetarian and a vegan?
Vegetarians do not eat any animals. This includes pigs, chickens, cows, sea animals, and every other animal. In addition to not consuming any animal flesh, a vegan (strict vegetarian) also doesn't eat dairy products, eggs, or any other product derived from an animal. Vegans also avoid using products that have been tested on animals or made from animal skins. Learn more at GoVeg.com.

How do I know if a particular food is vegetarian or vegan?
Vegetarian and vegan foods are often marked with labels, but look out for anything that says it contains dairy, eggs, or fish. See this essay to see why you shouldn't drive yourself crazy by spending hours at the grocery store reading labels though! When it comes down to it, slaughterhouses don't exist because you may or may not be eating a trace byproduct. Animals are slaughtered by the billions because people eat their flesh, eggs, and milk. You can also find a list of amazing vegan foods here. Also, if you are unsure about an ingredient, you can always call a company to ask.

What do vegans eat?
We eat twigs and leaves. No, not really. That would be pretty atrocious! There are thousands of vegan foods you can eat at home, at school, and at restaurants around the world. Anything from chicken nuggets to ice cream can often be found in vegan versions at your local health-food store, grocery store, or even Target and Wal-Mart! You should check out our "What to Eat" section. If that isn't enough, please check out VegCooking.com for more amazing foods.

How do I go vegan/vegetarian?
It's great to hear that you're interested in helping animals by keeping your money away from slaughterhouses! As you know, this decision is the easiest way to help animals, the Earth, and your health. Check out GoVeg.com for information about nutrition and introductory information about vegetarianism and veganism. Be sure to take a look at http://www.GoVeg.com/feat/nutshell.asp. We also have quick-and-easy veg recipes as well as info about restaurants with great veg options at http://www.peta2.com/stuff/s-recipe.asp. Fill out this form and we will send you peta2's free "Vegetarian Starter Kit."

I want to go veg, but my parents don't support me. What can I do?
Millions of people have gone through this before, and we all have different stories to tell. My best advice is to be firm and stay strong. Let your parents know that this is something you are very passionate about, and tell them you want some respect. Your parents will soon realize that you are serious about not eating animals and that there are tons of health benefits to your decision! Tell them to visit GoVeg.com if they have any questions and want to learn about how this choice can improve your health and the environment!

Remember, you don't have to eat only veggie burgers and other specialty products. Find ways to make your family's usual meals vegetarian. There are plenty of foods that your parents will love that don't support slaughterhouse cruelty. You should also check out peta2's "Accidentally Vegan" list for delicious foods that just happen to be vegan!

Are free-range eggs and dairy products OK to eat?
Most consumers believe "free-range" hens and cows live happily and peacefully until they are slaughtered. But no laws or standards regulate the use of terms like "free-range" and "free-roaming." In fact, common cruel industry practices used in factory farms, such as debeaking, forced molting, and literally throwing away male chicks at birth, also take place at many "free-range" farms. Of course, all the animals are slaughtered whenever it is deemed most profitable.

From the "free-range" hen who smells fresh air for the first time on the way to the slaughterhouse to the "humanely raised" dairy cow whose male baby is taken away from her at birth and sold to veal farmers, all animals raised for food suffer and are exploited. Even small, family-run dairy farms often have no choice but to send their older cows to slaughter and their newborn males to veal farms. For these reasons, we believe the only humane option is to refrain from eating eggs, milk, and meat. It's better for your health, the environment, and animals, and it's far easier to do than you may think! Click here for more info.

What is wrong with eggs?
While both male and female chickens can be raised for meat, only females can produce eggs, so about 280 million male chicks per year are disposed of by being shoved into plastic bags and left to suffocate at hatcheries. Conditions at egg factory farms are atrocious. Cage floors are made of wire mesh, so waste falls from the upper tiers onto the chickens below. A single cage, roughly 16 by 18 inches, holds five to six hens, each with a wingspan of 32 inches. Hens bred to be "super layers" experience so much stress that their accelerated laying span lasts only a year and a half—two years at most—compared with the 15 to 20 years that hens produce eggs under natural conditions. Hens today lay about twice as many eggs per year as hens laid several decades ago, before factory farming, and their tired bodies pay the price. To learn more about how chickens are raised, please click here.

What is wrong with dairy?
Cows—like all mammals—need to become pregnant in order to produce milk. "Dairy" cows are impregnated every year so that they will produce a steady supply of milk. Whereas in nature, the baby drinks the milk that the mother produces, humans take the calf away from the mother cow, send him to a veal farm, and drink the milk intended for him. Cows wouldn't need to be milked if we didn't take their calves away from them or impregnate them in the first place. Learn more about dairy cows here.

Is being vegetarian/vegan healthy?
Sure, you can be an unhealthy vegetarian or vegan, but doctors agree that vegetarians/vegans stand a much better chance of living longer, healthier lives than their meat-eating counterparts. Healthy vegetarian diets support a lifetime of good health and provide protection against numerous diseases, including our country's three biggest killers: heart disease, cancer, and strokes! As long as you're eating a balanced diet, you should not expect any health problems. We get e-mails every day from people thanking us for helping them make the switch! Learn more here.

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Other

I don't have any money. Can I still help animals?
It is completely fine if you can't donate money. If you would like to help animals, you should definitely explore peta2.com if you haven't already. You'll find a ton of great ideas about how you can help animals and promote animal rights. Join the peta2 Street Team for free at http://www.peta2.com/streetteam/ too. Once you sign up, just send e-mails to StreetTeam@peta2.com—or even better, fill out the appropriate form here—telling us what you've done to help animals, and we'll credit you with points that you can exchange for cool stuff like shirts, music, and more! If you need any free leaflets, stickers, or other info, we would be happy to send that out to you; just drop us a line.

How do I get people to stop harassing me because I support animal rights?
What kind of loser makes fun of people who care about making the world a kinder place?! Our best advice is to be firm, stay strong, and be clear that you care a lot about these issues. Ask them why they think that making animals suffer is acceptable when there are so many cruelty-free options, from food to clothing to any other part of life! Any initial resistance you meet will certainly fade away as others realize you are serious about such a positive issue. Encourage others to visit Meat.org or peta2.com if they have any questions and want to see for themselves how horribly animals are abused.

Can you get me in touch with Fall Out Boy, Pamela Anderson, or any other famous people?
Sorry, but we can't give out that information. Do you want our digits to ask us out on a date instead?

Can you mail me one of your public service announcements (PSAs) so I can give it to my radio station? 
You can download all our PSAs here and then burn them to a CD, or you can have the radio station contact us and we will be happy to send it what it needs for free.

Will I get arrested or fined for doing protests or other animal rights activism?
We can't give specific legal advice, but you should not get in trouble for something like holding a sign or handing out leaflets on public property. You have the right to peacefully educate others about animal rights issues. Having said that, please make sure you do follow the law. Check out our "Demos for Dummies" page for great protest tips!

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