Eddie Garza serves as Mercy For Animals' Texas Campaign Coordinator, organizing events, overseeing campaigns, and coordinating volunteers throughout the lone star state.

A first generation Hispanic-American born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, and a proud Dallas resident since 1995, Eddie is "committed to driving a new breed of animal advocacy in the land of beef, beef and more beef."

Eddie is guided by the peaceful teachings of Jivamukti Yoga, finding inspiration in their motto, "May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all."

It was a trip to Europe in 2003 that opened Eddie's eyes to the ethically and ecologically irresponsible manner in which animals are raised and killed during food production in the Western world. His passion for protecting farmed animals from needless cruelty soon prompted Eddie to adopt a vegan diet, and quickly propelled him into grassroots activism.

A graduate of the University of North Texas, Denton, Eddie believes that "By simply educating the public about the mass cruelties in animal agriculture, we can open people's hearts and spare millions, if not billions, of lives."

A die-hard vegan foodie, who holds a special appreciation for well-crafted southern comfort foods such as country fried "steak," "meatloaf," and brownie sundaes, Eddie is the much-loved founder of DallasVegan.com, a blog dedicated to exploring the many joys of vegan dining in Dallas. Eddie's passion for compassionate cuisine has landed him advice columns and profile stories in major Texas media outlets, including the Dallas Morning News, Pegasus News, Dallas Voice, Dallas Observer, and NBC.