Q: How did Lady Freethinker get started?

A: Lady Freethinker started off as a humble blog, inspired by founder Nina Jackel’s work as both a journalist and campaign director for an animal advocacy nonprofit. Nina herself became an advocate for animal rights in part because of her childhood dog, Peggy.

The more she learned about the cruel conditions animals endure in exploitative industries like puppy mills, factory farms and circuses, as well as the lenient laws that allow abusers to get away with unconscionable acts of violence against animals, the more Nina knew she needed to do all she could to help. In 2015, she turned her blog into a registered nonprofit media organization with the mission of exposing animal cruelty to the public and empowering people to take action.

Today, Lady Freethinker reaches millions of readers with petitions, breaking news and impactful opportunities to make a difference for animals. LFT’s dedicated team of writers, editors, investigators and more work tirelessly to provide the most accurate, up-to-date and impactful articles and actions to change the world for animals.

As LFT grew, Nina felt compelled to use this platform to directly help animal rescue, as well. The organization now aids on-the-ground efforts to save dogs, cats and other animals from dire 


Q: What does Lady Freethinker mean?

A: The name “Lady Freethinker” represents thinking beyond the dogmas that normalize suffering of animals, humans and the planet we call home, and creating a new era of compassion for all. When we become complacent with the way things are, we cannot progress. That’s why we must face the hard realities of industrial and systemic abuse — such as by factory farms, puppy mills and trophy hunters — and consciously evolve toward a peaceful world where all life can thrive.


Q: How can I help?

A: Always treat animals with care and respect in your day-to-day life. If you’re looking to take your animal advocacy a step further, Lady Freethinker will keep you updated with our breaking  news stories and exclusive interviews with animal experts.

Consider donating to help LFT keep raising awareness, fighting for change, and providing food, shelter, medicine, and other forms of relief for animals in need. Lady Freethinker is committed to ending the brutal dog meat trade in Korea, shutting down for-profit elephant tourism in Indonesia, and saving all the wonderful animals that share our planet with us. 

If you’re unable to contribute financially, sign and share our petitions to urge policymakers and law enforcement to take animal cruelty more seriously. 


Q: How do online petitions work?

A: Online petitions are an effective way to speak up for animals and speak out against cruelty and abuse. Similar to protests, they raise massive awareness, influence policymakers and law enforcement, and create lasting, positive change.

Participating in digital campaigns and signing online petitions takes less time than organizing and protesting in person. With a simple click of a button, you can add your voice to the causes that matter the most to you.

At Lady Freethinker, we make it easy for you to stand up for animal rights by sending our petitions directly to your email’s inbox a few times each week. And we follow up on every petition we start, so you know exactly how your signature impacts animals around the world.


Q:  What have Lady Freethinker’s online petitions accomplished?

A: With more than 15 million signatures, Lady Freethinker’s petitions have influenced policymakers and law enforcement around the world, putting cruelty cases front and center in the eyes of those with the power to create change. undercover Lady Freethinker investigation revealed dogs’ rotting corpses lying on the ground at a dogfight breeding facility in Llay Llay, Chile. Other dogs were kept on short chains without food or water.

Through the investigation and online petition, Lady Freethinker and our dedicated supporters directly achieved the strongest-ever prison sentence for animal cruelty in Chile — the first time in the country’s history that a judge issued a maximum sentence for animal abuse. 

When leveraged effectively, online petitions can save lives. And we hope that you’ll join us on our journey to create a more compassionate world for all.


Q: How can I spread the word about your petitions?

A: Bringing attention to our petitions and spreading the word is easy. You can share any petition you sign on your personal Facebook or Twitter page. You can share our pages themselves on any platform you use simply by sharing the link. If a petition is especially important to you, then you can send out the link to your contact list to make sure that it’s seen by as many people as possible.


Q: How else does Lady Freethinker help animals?

A: On top of  online petitions, Lady Freethinker provides direct aid to dogs and cats in need, investigates hidden animal cruelty through undercover work, and changes peoples’ minds about animals through news, reports, interviews, and more. We also sponsor outdoor media — like billboards, bus and taxi ads 

We’ve provided food, water, shelter, and medicine to dogs and cats rescued from the streets, exposed the dark secrets of Indonesia’s sickening kopi luwak coffee trade, run bus ads in Korea to combat the country’s dog and cat meat trade, and so much more.

Lady Freethinker will never stop fighting for animals. They need us, and we will not let them suffer in silence. 


Q. How can I join?

A: Joining Lady Freethinker is simple and easy. First, sign up for our daily newsletter on the right-hand side of our homepage. 

If you’re looking to take your animal activism a step further, consider joining one of our three Animal Hero programs:

Faithful Hero

Lady Freethinker’s Faithful Hero program is for supporters who commit to a monthly donation. If you donate $50 per month, you’ll also achieve Ruby Activist status. If you donate $100 a month, you’ll also achieve Bronze Activist status. If you donate $250 a month, you’ll also achieve Silver Activist status. And if you donate $500 a month, you’ll also achieve Gold Activist status. 

Activists Circle

The Activists Circle has four membership levels. If you donate more than $500 within one year, you’ll earn Ruby Activist status. If you donate more than $1,000 within one year, you’ll earn Bronze Activist status. If you donate more than $2,500 within one year, you’ll earn Silver Activist

Legacy Society

The Lady Freethinker Legacy Society is reserved for supporters who include our organization in their will or trust, or as a beneficiary of their retirement account, life insurance, or charitable remainder trust.