People for Animals was founded in 1994. By Pritish Nandy and Maneka Gandhi, two people were convinced that India needed a people's movement to stop cruelty towards animals and spread the message of ahimsa. Nandy, poet and journalist, now a member of the Indian parliament became the first managing trustee. Gandhi, writer and politician, minister of environment and forests in the Indian Government, a crusading activist for the cause of animals, was the chairperson. Together they produced a television show called Heads & Tails which brought the cause of animals centrestage. Heads & Tails later became a cult book and its author, Maneka Gandhi went on to receive some of the highest awards in the world for her pioneering work among animals.

People for Animals is today one of the world's most active animal rights organisation.