October 2019

Monthly Impact Report

October Progress

From Monterrey, Mexico, to São Paulo, Brazil, Mercy For Animals supporters were out in full force in October. Hundreds joined us for a community-building 5K run. Several public demonstrations illustrated how much hens suffer at factory farms.

Intensifying Our Call for Reform

Brazil

Grupo Pão de Açúcar refuses to change how the company and its suppliers treat hens. To keep the pressure on, dozens of Mercy For Animals supporters participated in a massive two-day action at a busy square in São Paulo to draw attention to the suffering of hens in the egg industry.

Passersby were able to go into a video screening area to see investigation footage.

Celebrating 20 Years

Global

Together, we are changing the world for animals.

Running for Animals

Brazil

Ready, set, run. More than 700 people participated in Mercy For Animals’ first annual Run for the Animals. The inaugural event took place in São Paulo. All finishers received a piglet-shaped medal. The run helped build community and engagement with our supporters.

Participants posing for a photo after Running for Animals race

Particpants crossing the finish line at Running for Animals race

Banning Foie Gras

United States

Bye-bye, foie gras. The New York City Council passed into law a citywide ban on the sale of products from birds who have been force-fed, essentially banning foie gras in the city. With Voters for Animal Rights leading the charge, several organizations, including Mercy For Animals, worked together to make this happen.

Two of the three U.S. foie gras facilities are in New York, and about 1,000 restaurants in the Big Apple have foie gras on their menus.

Exposing Cruelty

Mexico

In Mexico, our team set up a human-sized cage on World Egg Day in a busy square in Monterrey. Many passersby entered the cage and watched a video about the suffering egg-laying hens endure in such cramped conditions.

Activists standing in a human-sized cage on World Egg Day in Monterrey

Eliminating Cages and Reducing Suffering

United States, Canada

Healthcare Services Group, the sixth-largest foodservice provider in the United States, adopted a chicken welfare policy after extensive dialogue with Mercy For Animals and a partner organization.

Firkin Group of Pubs and Hero Certified Burgers, chains with locations in Canada and the United States, also pledged to implement guidelines to reduce suffering for chickens.

0 ANIMALS

Potentially Impacted Each Year by Policies to Eliminate Cruel Cages for Hens

3.3 MILLION Animals

Potentially Impacted Each Year by Policies to Reduce Suffering of Chickens Raised for Meat

0

Brands Committed to Going Cage-Free

Mexico: none this month
Brazil: none this month

6

Brands Committed to Reducing Suffering of Chickens Raised for Meat

United States: 3
Canada: 3

Making Connections at VegFest Brasil

Brazil

The city of Brasilia hosted the largest veg fest in the country, and Mercy For Animals staff and volunteers inspired attendees with our mission and engaged new supporters. Mercy For Animals’ managing director in Brazil, Sandra Lopes, spoke at the event along with drone investigations manager Mark Devries and development manager Carol Destro.

Mercy For Animals staff posing for a picture at the Brasilia Veg Fest

Advocating Legislative Reform

Mexico

Mercy For Animals staff attorney Fabiola Balmori presented at Mexico’s first Forum for Animal Rights. Her talk focused on the importance of legislation to drive change for farmed animals.

Changing Institutions

Mexico, Brazil

The lower the demand for meat, dairy, and eggs, the fewer animals will be born into misery at factory farms. Mercy For Animals works to decrease demand by partnering with major institutions in Mexico and Brazil, such as schools and local governments, to reduce meat, dairy, and eggs served by at least 20 percent.

8,100

Animals Potentially Spared Through Institutional Policies

Brazil: 6,900
Mexico: 1,200

406,500

Vegan Meals Served

Brazil: 329,400
Mexico: 77,100

Keeping the Pressure on McDonald’s

United States

Actress and Singer Sarah Jeffery is Calling on You to Help Chickens

Behind the McChicken Wrapper

Building a Movement

Mexico, Brazil, United States

We believe that the world’s mightiest institutions will heed the call to reform when it comes from powerful and interconnected communities. That’s why our supporters are so important. And in October, Mercy For Animals activists hosted 64 actions!

228

Volunteer Hours Logged

Brazil: 205
Mexico: none this month
United States: 23

64

Volunteer Actions Completed

Brazil: 62
Mexico: none this month
United States: 2

35

Active Volunteer Communities

Brazil: 22
Mexico: 2
United States: 11

Volunteers holding up a sign at an outreach event

MFA employees and volunteers at an outreach event

Volunteers holding up signs at an outreach event

MFA volunteers posing with their companion animals

MFA volunteers posing with a person dressed up like a dog at an outreach event

Growing Our Global Capacity

Through investigations and public engagement, Mercy For Animals opens eyes and hearts to the suffering farmed animals endure. Our videos, websites, and print resources empower people to join our mighty movement.