Mercy for Animals
Encyclopedia
Mercy for Animals is an animal rights
group based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in October 1999, it is a nonprofit, tax exempt, 501(c)(3) organization with more than 25,000 members. Nathan Runkle is the group's executive director and founder. Focusing primarily on advocacy on behalf of farmed animals, MFA runs a number of campaigns that aim to educate the public on animal protection issues and to encourage them to adopt a vegan
diet. It has engaged in several undercover investigations, primarily of egg farms, and has produced television commercials showing the treatment of animals in slaughterhouse
s and factory farms.
Between 2000 and 2003, Mercy for Animals conducted several undercover investigations in egg-producing factory farms and rodeos. In addition to distributing 40,000 pieces of literature and participating in 130 educational outreach events in 2004, Mercy for Animals authored their Vegetarian Starter Kit, a 32-page booklet containing information about factory farms, vegan recipes and food tips. Their new website ChooseVeg.com was also launched, along with TV commercials on MTV claiming factory farm cruelty.
In 2005, the organization reported animal cruelty through an undercover investigation at Ohio's largest egg farm, Ohio Fresh Eggs. The Vegetarian-Friendly Ohio campaign was expanded with the release of the 3rd-edition of the Vegetarian Guide to Ohio and updated website VegOhio.com. A new office was opened in Chicago, Illinois, which subsequently became the organization's primary branch. In 2006 it was named Non-Profit of the Year by VegNews
magazine, expanded its outreach campaigns, and began airing its latest pro-vegetarian commercial on MTV.
Mercy for Animals distributed 200,000 pieces of vegetarian literature in 2007, and conducted over 220 public outreach events. An undercover investigation at one of the country's largest chicken and turkey slaughterhouses resulted in the Denny's
restaurant chain ending its supplier relationship with the slaughterhouse. MFA debuted its Compassionate Living (CL) magazine, and placed over 80 anti-fur advertisements on the Washington, D.C. metrorail.
In 2008, Mercy for Animals generated over 230 newspaper articles, radio interviews, and TV news stories about factory farming and veganism.
Pro-vegetarian ad campaigns were launched in Chicago and Boston, new websites ChooseVegBlog.com, VegNC.com, and VegNJ.com were created, and animal abuses were exposed at two of the largest egg farms in California, resulting in the eventual passing of Prop 2. Mercy for Animals distributed 400,000 pieces of literature during 2009, and held over 400 public outreach events. 15 pro-vegetarian billboards were launched in Denver, resulting in more than 12 million views. Ad campaigns were dispatched on public transit in Toronto, New York City, and Boston. Undercover videos alleged animal cruelty at New England's largest egg factory farm, the world's largest egg-laying breed hatchery
, and one of the nation's largest pig breeding facilities. A new office was opened in New York City, and MFA's documentary, Fowl Play, was released.
In August and September 2001, the group engaged in an open rescue
of 34 hens from Buckeye and DayLay, and during 2001–2003, along with two other animal rights groups, they infiltrated seven large-scale egg farms in Ohio, Maryland, and Minnesota.
in Ohio; according to MFA's website, their activists filmed animals being punched, kicked, shocked with electric prods, and beaten with iron rods.
Mercy for Animals sent letters to 50 largest grocery store chains in the U.S., including Walmart, Whole Foods, Safeway, Harris Teeter, and Trader Joe's, asking them to post a label on egg cartons, saying, "Warning: Male chicks are ground-up alive by the egg industry." A spokesman for United Egg Producers
, a trade group for U.S. egg farmers, called the proposal "almost a joke." Mercy for Animals estimates that 200 million male chicks are killed every year, a figure confirmed by United Egg Producers.
The ranch, established in 2006 to provide bottle-fed calves to dairies and for consumption, is owned by rancher Kirt Espenson. "Every part of that video is undefendable," Espenson told a local television station. He said his ranch had a policy of euthanizing sick or injured calves with a contact shot
from a rifle. Espenson also said animals had been denied medical care, but only out of a concern that drugs might enter the human food consumption chain. He also claimed his animal pens met or exceeded industry standards for size, cleanliness, and other factors. Matt Rice, Mercy For Animals' director of operations, alleged that the undercover MFA worker reported incidents of animal abuse to Espenson several times and nothing was done. Rice also said Espenson can be seen in the video admitting that certain animals should be denied medical care, and that they should be euthanized with hammers.
Eight dairy and cattle organizations in Texas condemned the actions depicted in the video, as did the American Veterinary Medical Association
(AVMA). The AVMA, while reserving judgment about whether the video was representative of what occurred at the ranch, said the actions in the MFA video were "barbaric, inhumane and unacceptable." The Castro County Sheriff's Office launched a criminal investigation into the incident, and Espenson said he was cooperating with them.
accused Mercy for Animals of posing a "biosecurity hazard" with its "covert investigations". The director of the department urged farmers to file charges against Mercy for Animals for trespassing, burglary, and other illegal means, but charges were not pursued by state prosecutors. A spokesperson for the United Egg Producers said that the egg industry would provide male chicks if there were a demand. The trade group also said that birds were endangered by camera lights used by the investigators.
In 2011, state legislators in Iowa
introduced several bills that, if enacted, would place the nation's toughest restrictions on undercover recordings at animal food production facilities. The bills would also bar an individual from taking a job at an animal food production facility for the sole purpose of exposing animal cruelty or taking undercover videos. The Florida
legislature is considering similar legislation, and would make such a crime a first-degree felony akin to rape or murder.
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
group based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in October 1999, it is a nonprofit, tax exempt, 501(c)(3) organization with more than 25,000 members. Nathan Runkle is the group's executive director and founder. Focusing primarily on advocacy on behalf of farmed animals, MFA runs a number of campaigns that aim to educate the public on animal protection issues and to encourage them to adopt a vegan
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
diet. It has engaged in several undercover investigations, primarily of egg farms, and has produced television commercials showing the treatment of animals in slaughterhouse
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse or abattoir is a facility where animals are killed for consumption as food products.Approximately 45-50% of the animal can be turned into edible products...
s and factory farms.
Advocacy work
Nathan Runkle founded Mercy for Animals in October 1999 after an incident in his home town in which he said that a live baby piglet was slammed by its head onto a concrete floor by a high school student during class. The incident caused an uproar in the small town, and Runkle took the initiative to start an organization that would fight against animal abuse.Between 2000 and 2003, Mercy for Animals conducted several undercover investigations in egg-producing factory farms and rodeos. In addition to distributing 40,000 pieces of literature and participating in 130 educational outreach events in 2004, Mercy for Animals authored their Vegetarian Starter Kit, a 32-page booklet containing information about factory farms, vegan recipes and food tips. Their new website ChooseVeg.com was also launched, along with TV commercials on MTV claiming factory farm cruelty.
In 2005, the organization reported animal cruelty through an undercover investigation at Ohio's largest egg farm, Ohio Fresh Eggs. The Vegetarian-Friendly Ohio campaign was expanded with the release of the 3rd-edition of the Vegetarian Guide to Ohio and updated website VegOhio.com. A new office was opened in Chicago, Illinois, which subsequently became the organization's primary branch. In 2006 it was named Non-Profit of the Year by VegNews
VegNews
VegNews is a magazine that publishes content about and relating to vegetarianism, including news, health information, recipes, global events, veg products, media, and more. It was founded in 2000 as a newspaper, and transitioned to full-color glossy in 2004. The bi-monthly publication now has more...
magazine, expanded its outreach campaigns, and began airing its latest pro-vegetarian commercial on MTV.
Mercy for Animals distributed 200,000 pieces of vegetarian literature in 2007, and conducted over 220 public outreach events. An undercover investigation at one of the country's largest chicken and turkey slaughterhouses resulted in the Denny's
Denny's
Denny's is a full-service coffee shop/family restaurant chain. It operates over 1,500 restaurants in the United States , Canada, Curaçao, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan , Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Denny's is known for always being...
restaurant chain ending its supplier relationship with the slaughterhouse. MFA debuted its Compassionate Living (CL) magazine, and placed over 80 anti-fur advertisements on the Washington, D.C. metrorail.
In 2008, Mercy for Animals generated over 230 newspaper articles, radio interviews, and TV news stories about factory farming and veganism.
Pro-vegetarian ad campaigns were launched in Chicago and Boston, new websites ChooseVegBlog.com, VegNC.com, and VegNJ.com were created, and animal abuses were exposed at two of the largest egg farms in California, resulting in the eventual passing of Prop 2. Mercy for Animals distributed 400,000 pieces of literature during 2009, and held over 400 public outreach events. 15 pro-vegetarian billboards were launched in Denver, resulting in more than 12 million views. Ad campaigns were dispatched on public transit in Toronto, New York City, and Boston. Undercover videos alleged animal cruelty at New England's largest egg factory farm, the world's largest egg-laying breed hatchery
Hatchery
A hatchery is a facility where eggs are hatched under artificial conditions, especially those of fish or poultry. It may be used for ex-situ conservation purposes, i.e. to breed rare or endangered species under controlled conditions; alternatively, it may be for economic reasons A hatchery is a...
, and one of the nation's largest pig breeding facilities. A new office was opened in New York City, and MFA's documentary, Fowl Play, was released.
Egg-laying hens
In 2001, Mercy for Animals videotaped conditions at Buckeye Egg Farm and Daylay Egg Farm, calling the footage Silent Suffering. The group has since used the footage in their film, Fowl Play, which was selected as "best short documentary" at the Fallbrook Film Festival in 2009, and was an official selection at the Las Vegas International and Chicago United Film Festivals.In August and September 2001, the group engaged in an open rescue
Open rescue
Open rescue is a term for a form of direct action practiced by certain animal rights and animal welfare activists. The aim of open rescue is to rescue animals in pain and suffering, generally and to give these animals veterinary treatment and humane living conditions while also documenting the...
of 34 hens from Buckeye and DayLay, and during 2001–2003, along with two other animal rights groups, they infiltrated seven large-scale egg farms in Ohio, Maryland, and Minnesota.
Rodeos
In 2002 and 2003, they conducted a seven-month infiltration into rodeoRodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
in Ohio; according to MFA's website, their activists filmed animals being punched, kicked, shocked with electric prods, and beaten with iron rods.
House of Raeford
In 2007, an activist went undercover into House of Raeford Farms, Inc. in Raeford, North Carolina, working on the so-called "live-hang" area, where live chickens and turkeys are shackled and hanged before being slaughtered. The group's website says the activist filmed workers punching, kicking, sexually assaulting, and throwing birds, as well as pulling their heads off while they were still alive.Hy-Line hatchery
On August 31, 2009, Mercy for Animals released an undercover video showing footage they had shot in a hatchery owned by Hy-Line North America, a company based in West Des Moines. The video shows workers throwing male chickens alive into a grinding machine. Hy-Line said that what the company called "instantaneous euthanasia" is a standard practice, supported by the veterinary and scientific community.Mercy for Animals sent letters to 50 largest grocery store chains in the U.S., including Walmart, Whole Foods, Safeway, Harris Teeter, and Trader Joe's, asking them to post a label on egg cartons, saying, "Warning: Male chicks are ground-up alive by the egg industry." A spokesman for United Egg Producers
United Egg Producers
United Egg Producers is an agricultural cooperative in the Midwestern United States which represents the interests of regional egg producers.-History:The group was formed in 1968 as an umbrella organization encompassing five regional egg cooperatives...
, a trade group for U.S. egg farmers, called the proposal "almost a joke." Mercy for Animals estimates that 200 million male chicks are killed every year, a figure confirmed by United Egg Producers.
Conklin Dairy Farm
In May 2010, Mercy for Animals released videos of workers at Conklin Dairy Farm, in Ohio, abusing cows and calves. The videos resulted in the arrest of one worker.E6 Ranch
On April 20, 2011, they released an undercover video taken at the E6 Cattle Co. ranch in Castro County, Texas, which depicted four farmworkers "repeatedly bludgeoning sick and injured calves with pickaxes and hammers." The video showed the same four employees dragging the calves, throwing them, kicking them, and standing on the animals' necks. It also depicted calves beaten but still conscious, left to die in a pile; calves dehorned without anesthesia; sick and injured calves being actively denied medical care; and calves with severed hooves. Mercy for Animals said they randomly selected the E6 Cattle ranch, and spent two weeks filming there.The ranch, established in 2006 to provide bottle-fed calves to dairies and for consumption, is owned by rancher Kirt Espenson. "Every part of that video is undefendable," Espenson told a local television station. He said his ranch had a policy of euthanizing sick or injured calves with a contact shot
Contact shot
A contact shot is defined as a gunshot wound incurred while the muzzle of the firearm is in direct contact with the body at the moment of discharge. Contact shots are often the result of close range gunfight, suicide or execution...
from a rifle. Espenson also said animals had been denied medical care, but only out of a concern that drugs might enter the human food consumption chain. He also claimed his animal pens met or exceeded industry standards for size, cleanliness, and other factors. Matt Rice, Mercy For Animals' director of operations, alleged that the undercover MFA worker reported incidents of animal abuse to Espenson several times and nothing was done. Rice also said Espenson can be seen in the video admitting that certain animals should be denied medical care, and that they should be euthanized with hammers.
Eight dairy and cattle organizations in Texas condemned the actions depicted in the video, as did the American Veterinary Medical Association
American Veterinary Medical Association
The American Veterinary Medical Association , founded in 1863, is a not-for-profit association representing more than 81,500 U.S. veterinarians working in private and corporate practice, government, industry, academia, and uniformed services....
(AVMA). The AVMA, while reserving judgment about whether the video was representative of what occurred at the ranch, said the actions in the MFA video were "barbaric, inhumane and unacceptable." The Castro County Sheriff's Office launched a criminal investigation into the incident, and Espenson said he was cooperating with them.
Response
The Ohio Department of AgricultureGovernment of Ohio
The government of the state of Ohio comprises three branches executive, legislative, and judicial. Its basic structure is set forth in the Ohio Constitution.-Executive Branch:...
accused Mercy for Animals of posing a "biosecurity hazard" with its "covert investigations". The director of the department urged farmers to file charges against Mercy for Animals for trespassing, burglary, and other illegal means, but charges were not pursued by state prosecutors. A spokesperson for the United Egg Producers said that the egg industry would provide male chicks if there were a demand. The trade group also said that birds were endangered by camera lights used by the investigators.
In 2011, state legislators in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
introduced several bills that, if enacted, would place the nation's toughest restrictions on undercover recordings at animal food production facilities. The bills would also bar an individual from taking a job at an animal food production facility for the sole purpose of exposing animal cruelty or taking undercover videos. The Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
legislature is considering similar legislation, and would make such a crime a first-degree felony akin to rape or murder.
External links
- Mercy for Animals
- Fowl Play, a 2009 documentary about the egg industry produced by Mercy for Animals