Ingrid Newkirk, the founder and president of PETA, the largest animal rights organization in the world, is turning 75 this year! She has devoted most of her adult life to speaking up and advocating for animals—and that’s how she’ll spend her milestone birthday. This year, you can find her driving a PETA “pig truck” around Chicago and handing out free vegan Chicago-style hot dogs. Follow her activism lead and help celebrate her birthday by doing these five things to speak up for animals. Even though they may be simple, these actions can make a huge difference for individuals who are suffering. ♥

1. Shop Animal Test–Free and Vegan

Did you know that some bath and beauty products are tested on animals? Rats, mice, cats, dogs, bunnies, and other animals are subjected to these painful and cruel tests. Make sure the products you use in your bathroom and kitchen are animal test–free and vegan. Use our quiz to find out whether your family is buying cruelly produced items—and then chat with your grown-up about replacing them with animal-friendly ones on the next grocery haul.

2. Pack a Vegan Lunch

Packing a vegan lunch (or having your grown-up pack one for you) for school or summer camp is a great way to help animals. Every time you eat vegan, you help reduce suffering. As you enjoy your healthy and delicious vegan meals, you can also talk to your friends about why you’re eating these foods. Read about quick and easy vegan lunches you can make every day of the week, and talk to your grown-up about ways you and your family can incorporate vegan meals into your day.

3. Practice the ‘Golden Rule’ With Animals

It’s important that we always practice the Golden Rule, which is to treat others the way we would want to be treated. We should show kindness and respect to all living, feeling beings—no matter their species or size. Never taunt, tease, or bully an animal. You wouldn’t want someone to chase you, make fun of you, or throw things at you, so you shouldn’t do these things to someone else. Always remind your friends and siblings of this kind rule and how they can treat animals with respect.

4. Wear Compassionate Clothing

Some clothes aren’t very nice to animals—they may include skin from cows, fur from rabbits or foxes, wool from sheep, or feathers from ducks or geese. These animals are mistreated and killed for clothes, so we shouldn’t buy these items. With so many kindly produced fabrics on the market—like cotton, hemp, and mushroom leather—we have no reason to wear an animal’s skin, fur, wool, or feathers!

5. Avoid Roadside Zoos and Shady Aquariums

Animals have their own lives and aren’t here to keep us entertained! Just like you and me, they have families, friends, hobbies, and interests. They shouldn’t be forced to do tricks for us or live in cages so we can stare at them. Unfortunately, some places use them for entertainment—and that’s not kind. If you have a family member or a friend who wants to go to a roadside zoo or an aquarium, suggest a more animal-friendly activity. Encourage them to watch a nature documentary, visit a sanctuary, or go to the park to see local animals in their natural habitat.

*****

There are lots of other ways to stick up for animals! To learn more about what you can do, read up on why you should care about animal rights—and then take 10 more actions for animals.

You can also sign up to become a PETA Kids member and get monthly e-mails on ways you can continue to speak up for animals: