KPBS Midday Edition

PETA Co-Founder Explores Latest Discoveries About Animals In New Book

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, John Carroll / General Assignment Reporter & Anchor

Published March 3, 2020 at 10:19 AM PST

This story was published more than 4 years ago.

"Animalkind" book jacket cover. Undated.

Ingrid Newkirk is the co-author of the new book, "Animalkind: Remarkable Discoveries About Animals And Revolutionary New Ways To Show Them Compassion."

Ingrid Newkirk first studied to be a stockbroker. But after taking some abandoned kittens to an animal shelter in 1969, she said she was appalled by what she saw and was moved to pursue a career in animal welfare and protection.

In 1980, she and a friend formed the People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals or PETA. The group is now the largest animal welfare organization in the world.

Over the years, PETA has been involved in many fights over animal rights, some of the most prominent here in San Diego. For years, the group lobbied SeaWorld to stop orca shows and the breeding of the giant mammals. SeaWorld eventually agreed.

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In her new book, "Animalkind: Remarkable Discoveries About Animals and Revolutionary New Ways to Show Them Compassion," Newkirk not only explores the richness of animals’ lives but also has suggestions on how humans can treat them more kindly.

She joined Midday Edition to talk about the past, present and future of the animal welfare movement.

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Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

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John Carroll

John Carroll is a general assignment reporter and anchor at KPBS. He loves coming up with story ideas that are not being covered elsewhere, but he’s also ready to cover the breaking news of the day.

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