2005 marked another truly successful year in Mercy For Animals' work to end animal cruelty wherever it is found. In our effort to create a culture where all animals are treated with the respect and compassion they deserve, in the past year MFA has:

Exposed animal cruelty at Ohio’s largest egg farm - In March, Mercy For Animals went public with the findings of an undercover investigation at Ohio Fresh Eggs, the state's largest “Animal Care Certified” corporation. MFA investigators documented hens crammed into tiny wire cages so small they could not spread their wings, as well as hens trapped in the wire of the their cages. The investigation also uncovered dead chickens left to rot in cages with birds still producing eggs for human consumption, and a live hen thrown away in a trash bin. MFA investigators openly rescued 3 hens in dire need of veterinary care. News conferences held in Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Toledo garnered major media attention to the plight of factory-farmed egg-laying hens.

Opened an office in Chicago, Illinois. In November, MFA expanded outside Ohio by open an office in America’s third most populous city: Chicago, Illinois. The move was the result of a merger with the Chicago-based non-profit organization Protecting Animals, USA. This merger will prevent duplicate efforts in creating materials and other tasks, allowing more time to be dedicated to the important work of outreach and program development. By joining forces we can now combine our diverse talents and resources, becoming a stronger, more unified, and more effective voice for the animals.

Expanded the Vegetarian-Friendly Ohio campaign. Ohioans and visitors to the Buckeye state can now quickly find cruelty-free meals with MFA’s expanded, third-edition Vegetarian Guide to Ohio. MFA’s updated VegOhio.com website now includes a new interactive map feature that makes local vegetarian dining even more convenient.

Distributed over 60,000 pieces of vegetarian literature such MFA’s Vegetarian Starter Kit and Vegetarian Guide to Ohio, during outreach events and through information requests.

Expanded the library outreach campaign by working with over 200 Ohio libraries to distribute MFA’s powerful Vegetarian Starter Kit and helpful Vegetarian Guide to Ohio. MFA also created and erected eye-catching educational displays on a vegetarian diet at libraries across Ohio and Chicago.

Conducted over 110 public outreach events, including lectures by our humane educators at high schools and colleges, video showings, educational exhibits at festivals and conferences, vegan feed-ins, and leafleting outreach on busy street corners, outside concerts, and on campuses.

Exposed animal cruelty in the circus industry by staging demonstrations that garnered media attention in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Yellow Springs, and Bellefontaine, Ohio. Letters to the editor from MFA’s Writers Group appeared in many local papers preceding the arrival of circuses with cruel animal acts.

Spoke out against the violent fur industry by staging headline-grabbing demonstrations in Chicago, Illinois and Cleveland, Dayton, Cincinnati, Toledo, and Columbus, Ohio. Many of the events featured fur-wearers crammed into tiny wire cages to illustrate the cruel conditions animals endure on fur farms, others included fur-wearers hiding their faces under paper bags that spelled out “SHAME”.

These efforts are truly saving lives. Nearly every day MFA hears from individuals, couples, and families who have encountered one of our volunteers face-to-face, picked up a piece of our literature, heard one of our humane educators speak, or viewed one of our exhibits. They are forever changed.

Please help us make 2006 MFA’s most successful year yet. Click here to make a tax-deductible contribution to support our crucial work.