Ingrid Newkirk is a British-born animal rights activist and the president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Newkirk spent much of her childhood in India – both her parents worked there as expatriates and moved to the United States in the early 1970's. While working as a humane officer in Maryland, Newkirk was radicalized by the large-scale animal abuse she found in laboratories and on factory farms. Further inspired by Peter Singer's book, Animal Liberation, in 1980 Newkirk founded PETA with her colleague Alex Pacheco. Over the years, Newkirk and PETA have had some notable successes, but have also been criticized for some of their actions and beliefs, such as their celebrity-fueled anti-fur campaign and opposition to animal testing. Newkirk is the author of several books, including Free the Animals, You Can Save the Animals, and 250 Things You can Do To Make Your Cat Adore You.