IDA's Milestones for Animals
This timeline charts the history of In Defense of Animals. It contains some of our many accomplishments and precedent-setting victories for animals. Since IDA was founded, we have journeyed on a long and rewarding road as we carry out our mission: to fight for the rights, welfare, and habitats of animals. For over three decades, we have done everything in our power to raise animals’ status beyond mere resources, commodities, property or things — to see all species treated with respect, dignity and compassion.
Our work has taken the effort of IDA staff from around the world. From the streets of Mumbai, India, to the forests of Cameroon, Africa to the dog and cat “meat” markets of Korea, to the rural parts of the Deep South. It’s taken us to our nation’s laboratories, fur and factory farms, puppy mills, circuses and zoos, and to the halls of Congress. What could be more rewarding than to follow in the beliefs and footsteps of caring people like Dr. Jane Goodall, Cesar Chavez, Dr. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi, St. Francis of Assisi, Rosa Parks and Albert Schweitzer?
All this and more has been made possible by the faith and generosity of IDA supporters. Together we are making the world a more just and compassionate place for all our fellow beings.
IDA Founder Dr. Elliot Katz and renowned primatologist, Dr. Jane Goodall
1983
Californians for Responsible Research forms and holds its first meeting following the August 1993 Mobilization for Animals event at UC Davis and other sites.
1985
The first organized, nonviolent civil disobedience for animals is held at the entrance of the UC Davis Primate Center. Sixteen activists and IDA president, Dr. Elliot Katz, are arrested and jailed.
Dr. Elliot Katz and other animal advocates arrested outside UC Davis Primate Center
1986
IDA sues the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its unwillingness to end the gross irresponsibilities and cruelties taking place on the UC Berkeley campus. The USDA responds by issuing a cease and desist order against the university and fines it $12,000.
IDA campaigns to prevent state funding of a proposed animal research facility at UC Berkeley. The precedent-setting campaign results in the legislature holding back millions of dollars until major changes in the system and animal care are put in place.
Activists march through the historic Sather Gate at UC Berkeley
1987
In the U.S., IDA plays a major role in popularizing World Week for Animals in Laboratories , an annual week of nonviolent civil disobedience, protests, marches and educational events to expose the terrible suffering occurring in laboratories around the world.
World Week for Animals in Laboratories is the world’s longest-running animal rights day of action
1988
IDA coordinates the largest demonstration to date at the main campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. Hundreds of activists assemble to protest the cruelties of maternal deprivation and psychological animal experimentation.
1989
IDA blocks a proposed multimillion-dollar animal research center from beingbuilt in San Francisco. It is a record-setting victory.
IDA secures the transfer of 30 primates and victims of UC Berkeley’s maternal deprivation experiments to a sanctuary.
IDA brings national attention to chimpanzee addiction experiments at Emory University’s Yerkes Primate Center. Three activists scale a building on the Emory campus and unfurl a giant banner that reads “Save the Yerkes Chimps.”
1990
Six activists scale a 175 ft. crane on the construction site of a UC Berkeley underground animal research facility and hold a week-long occupation of the crane, gaining international press coverage and public awareness of the issue.
IDA files a lawsuit that successfully prevents the U.S. Army from breaking the legs of 120 retired racing greyhounds, securing the release of all the greyhounds in their possession.
IDA and community activists end the University of Cincinnati’s head crash experiments on cats.
IDA partners in a lawsuit that blocks the U.S. Navy’s plans to use dolphins to guard a submarine base in Bangor, WA.
Activists scale and occupy a crane for seven days to protest proposals to build an underground animal laboratory at UC Berkeley
1991
IDA lawsuits against UC Davis and two Arizona research facilities win the freedom of 42 additional retired racing greyhounds.
IDA initiates and cosponsors the 1990 March for the Animals in Washington, D.C. 25,000 caring people attend.
IDA begins a high-profile campaign to end Procter & Gamble's hideous animal testing. Demonstrations are held across the country timed to coincide with P&G's annual shareholders meeting.
IDA prevents a proposed slaughter of seals off the coast of South Africa under a five-year-plan that would have killed 150,000 baby seals.
25,000 people attend IDA’s 1990 March for the Animals in Washington, D.C.
1992
IDA spearheads the rescue of hundreds of frightened and injured dogs and cats after a devastating fire sweeps through the Oakland/Berkeley hills, destroying more than 3,500 homes.
An IDA lawsuit stops the poisoning of thousands of ground squirrels on California's Concord Naval Weapons Base.
Dr. Elliot Katz urges the House Armed Services Committee to end military use of animals
1993
IDA President Dr. Elliot Katz, and IDA investigator Suzanne Roy travel to Washington, D.C., to give testimony before the House Armed Services Committee. The hearing leads to legislation calling for increased use of non-animal based technologies by the military.
IDA defeats UC Berkeley in a precedent-setting lawsuit that challenges the university's right to heavily censor its documents and necropsy reports.
Project Hope is created in rural Mississippi to conduct investigations and give sanctuary to severely abused, neglected, and abandoned animals.
Cesar Chavez, founder of the Farm Workers Union, accepts a Lifetime Achievement Award from IDA and makes a precedent-setting speech for animal rights.
1994
IDA gains the freedom of 180 beagles scheduled to be killed and dissected by UC Davis veterinary students.
IDA's Suzanne Roy meets with researchers who tip her off to a pending transfer of 150 Air Force chimpanzees to the notorious Coulston Foundation. The meeting sets the stage for IDA's decade-long campaign that saves the lives of the chimpanzees and closes down the Foundation.
IDA blocks a plan that would allow bowhunting of Tule elk at the Pt. Reyes National Seashore; replacing the killing with a contraceptive program.
IDA helps shut down an aerial wolf kill in Alaska, and begins a seven-year campaign against the “pet theft industry.”
In conjunction with Earth Island Institute, IDA stops the importation of four orca whales, who were captured during a brutal Japanese dolphin slaughter.
An IDA investigation leads to the USDA filing charges and revoking the license of Jerry Vance, a notorious Mississippi Class B dealer who sells former companion animals to laboratories.
IDA investigator Ben White flies to Japan and in the dead of night swims underwater to free 40 dolphins by cutting the nets that imprisoned them.
IDA convinces the State of Virginia to withdraw $2 million in funding for animal research that involves force feeding monkeys cocaine.
IDA begins working with Korean activists and organizations to end the Korean dog and cat meat trade.
1995
IDA ends NYLJ's crack cocaine experiments on monkeys and prevents construction of a massive animal research center scheduled to be built within a national park.
IDA stops the killing of peacocks at California's Pt. Reyes National Seashore.
Dozens of severely-abused dogs are rescued by IDA's Doll Stanley following IDA-orchestrated raids on two Mississippi puppy mills.
IDA files a formal complaint with the National Institutes of Health and the USDA about the Coulston Foundation's terrible history of animal cruelty and abuse. The USDA responds by filing formal charges against the Coulston Foundation.
IDA establishes a sanctuary for the Deep South’s most abused animals in 1993, led by Doll Stanley: Hope Animal Sanctuary
1996
IDA's Doll Stanley rescues 80 exotic animals, including lions, tigers, bears, and cougars held by a collector under severely abusive conditions.
IDA files a lawsuit against Oregon Health Sciences University, forcing it to release videos that document the psychological damage suffered by baby monkeys in maternal deprivation experiments.
Partnering with Sangre de Cristo Animal Protection, IDA stops a buffalo hunt scheduled to take place on New Mexico's Ft. Wingate Military Depot.
IDA takes on coordination of Fur Free Friday, an annual day of protest against the fur industry.
1997
IDA ends a research project that involved the maiming and killing of hundreds of cats by Rockefeller University researchers.
IDA partners with other organizations to successfully block the Walt Disney Company's planned capture and importation of elephants, hippos and rhinos from South Africa.
IDA's Project Hope files 167 counts of animal cruelty against a puppy mill in Paris, MS, rescues 153 starving hens from an abandoned egg farm, and prevents two goats from being skinned alive for a 4th of July barbeque.
IDA convinces the Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon to terminate the shelter's sale of animals to Oregon Health Sciences University, resulting in the cancellation of its dog labs.
1998
IDA cancels a proposed Arizona hunting competition that would have killed up to 1,000 bobcats, coyotes, cougars and foxes in a single weekend.
IDA's Director of Investigations, Marshall Smith, and a TV crew from the show “Extra,” are shot at by the owner of a Missouri puppy mill. Fortunately, only their van is hit. The local sheriff refuses to prosecute.
Activists barricade themselves inside the UC Berkeley clock tower, setting up a rock-climbing ledge 200 feet up on the outside of the tower. IDA's Michael Kennedy ascends to the ledge and hangs a banner that reads, “End Vivisection, Animal Liberation.” Michael remains on the ledge for eight days.
IDA helps pass a law that, for the first time, protects Taiwan's stray dogs from cruelty and abuse.
Based on information supplied by IDA, the USDA files a second series of precedent-setting charges against the Coulston Foundation.
IDA establishes a sanctuary for chimpanzee victims of the bushmeat trade, led by Dr. Sheri Speede: IDA Africa’s Sanaga-Yong Sanctuary in Cameroon
1999
IDA files an amicus brief to block the killing of two horses whose "owner" had specified in his will that they should be killed after his death. The judge rules to save the lives of the horses, including elements from IDA's brief in her findings.
IDA's Project Hope sanctuary expands with the acquisition of 64 adjacent acres of grassland with three natural ponds. The sanctuary becomes home to 140 dogs, cats, turkeys, horses, rabbits, goats, pot bellied pigs, hogs, geese, chickens and emus — all victims of starvation, abandonment, cruelty and abuse.
IDA Africa's Sanaga-Yong Sanctuary is developed deep in the forests of Cameroon, as a sanctuary for chimpanzee victims of the bushmeat trade.
IDA's Bill Dyer prevents the killing of over 100 Santa Catalina Island goats by arranging for their round up and transfer to northern California.
Bill Dyer spearheads a successful campaign to save goats on Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles
IDA wins another landmark victory when the Coulston Foundation is forced to sign an unprecedented legal agreement with the USDA that forces the lab to surrender 300 of its 650 chimpanzees.
2000
IDA's Director of Research, Eric Kleiman, testifies before Congress, asking for the immediate cessation of National Institutes of Health funding of the Coulston Foundation, a halt to breeding and experimentation on chimpanzees, and passage of legislation that would create sanctuaries for the retirement of chimpanzees used for research.
As a member of a coalition, IDA helps end canned hunts in the state of Oregon. Boulder, CO, becomes the first city to introduce the term "guardian" into all its animal-related ordinances.
IDA's Bill Dyer reaches an agreement with Boeing Corporation's Long Beach facilities to replace the trapping and killing of hundreds of feral cats with a trap, neuter and release program.
IDA sues the National Institutes of Health for its refusal to release documents covered under the Freedom of Information Act.
IDA joins a class-action suit against Kentucky counties that do not have animal shelters or whose existing shelters are nothing more than animal death-camps.
2001
An Oregon Health Sciences University exposé by IDA's Matt Rossell results in the transfer of 22 monkeys to sanctuaries and zoos. The monkeys had been driven insane in gruesome psychotropic drug experiments.
IDA ends hideous brain cancer experiments on beagle puppies by an Arizona researcher. Twenty-two survivors of the experiments are transferred to loving homes.
West Hollywood and Berkeley, CA, Sherwood, AR, and the state of Rhode Island incorporate the term “guardian” into its animal-related ordinances.
IDA sues UC San Francisco for illegally withholding documents in violation of the California Public Records Act. The university is forced to turn over the documents and to pay IDA thousands of dollars in legal fees.
2002
IDA's nine-year campaign to close the infamous Coulston Foundation, once the largest chimpanzee research center in the world, comes to a successful conclusion with the forced bankruptcy of the foundation. Hundreds of chimpanzees and monkeys are saved from the horrors of vivisection.
IDA files a lawsuit that essentially blocks the importation of elephants from India, preventing a precedent that could have opened the floodgates for the import of Asian elephants into U.S. zoos and circuses.
Menomonee Falls, WI, and Amherst, MA, include the term “guardian” in their animal-related ordinances.
IDA's Marshall Smith is presented the Mercy Award for his work to end the cruelties of the puppy mill industry.
IDA assists in the rescue and care of over 420 animals removed from the abusive conditions of Oregon's Ark Animal Sanctuary.
2003
IDA initiates its campaign to fight for the wellbeing of elephants in zoos. Over the next four years, IDA secures the transfer of five elephants to elephant sanctuaries, with eight more zoos announcing they will be closing down their elephant "exhibits."
IDA files a false claims suit against brain cancer experimenter Michael Berens.
Project Hope coordinates the closing down of two Mississippi puppy mills.
San Francisco and Sebastopol, CA, become the ninth and tenth "guardian" cities.
IDA's Bill Dyer prevents 100 Catalina Island buffalo from going to auction and likely death by arranging their transfer to a permanent home on a Native American reservation in South Dakota.
IDA President, Dr. Elliot Katz, is inducted into the Animal Rights Hall of Fame.
2004
IDA and Animal Protection & Rescue League file an animal cruelty lawsuit against Sonoma Foie Gras. The lawsuit leads to the passing of legislation in 2012 that will ban the production of foie gras in California.
Marin County, CA, becomes the first county to add the term “guardian” to its animal-related ordinances. Woodstock, NY; Wanaque, NJ; Windsor, Ontario, Canada; Albany, CA, and St. Louis, MO, also become "guardian" cities.
Using information supplied by IDA, criminal charges for animal crueltyare filed against an animal research facility for the first time in U.S. history.
An IDA protest of a New Jersey bear hunt results in the state's Supreme Court ordering its cancellation.
2005
A tip from IDA leads a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigator to a furrier in Portland, OR, who is arrested for an illegal fur sale and given a $40,000 fine.
IDA wins a lawsuit against Oregon Health Sciences University, forcing the release of thousands of their internal documents.
IDA joins with IDA India to form a long-lasting partnership which allows the expansion of ambulance services and veterinary care for the street animals of Mumbai, India.
IDA's Project Hope works on the frontlines of the animal rescue efforts in Mississippi, following the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Through a lawsuit, IDA prevents the U.S. Forest Service from rounding up and auctioning off 350 wild horses.
2006
After conducting an undercover investigation, IDA rescues 40 roosters following a raid on the cock-fighting ring.
IDA files a lawsuit that results in the prohibition of the capture and removal of free-roaming horses within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests.
IDA files a citizen's petition with the USDA charging U.S. zoos with violating the federal Animal Welfare Act by confining elephants in unnatural enclosures that cause severe foot and leg infections and premature deaths.
IDA teams up with “James Bond” actor, Sir Roger Moore, to fight cruelty to geese. Henarrates footage taken inside three U.S. foie gras farms and several in France. The Chicago Health Committee votes unanimously to ban foie gras after viewing the video.
Pierce Brosnin, Dr. Jane Goodall and Dr. Elliot Katz at IDA’s prestigious Guardian Awards
2007
IDA cancels the roundup of hundreds of wild horses by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge.
After a year of demonstrations, a major victory is achieved when the 112-year-old Schumacher Fur Salon is permanently closed.
IDA protests the horrors of the Chinese fur industry with demonstrations at Chinese consulates in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Houston.
Imperial Beach and San Jose, CA, the tenth-largest city in the U.S., become the 16th and 17th cities to add the term "guardian" to their animal-related ordinances.
2008
IDA coordinates the rescue efforts of 100 feral cats and kittens at New York's JFK airport.
As a founding member of a coalition, IDA files a groundbreaking petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that would mandate the use of non-animal based methods in the testing of drugs and devices.
On Japan Dolphin Day, IDA coordinates demonstrations in front of Japanese consulates in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Portland, OR, demanding an end to Japan's slaughter of thousands of dolphins each year.
IDA and wild horse activist Julianne French join forces to save 36 wild stallions at the 500,000-acre Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon and Nevada.
IDA's Project Hope rescues and gives sanctuary to 18 emus on the verge of starvation.
IDA India stops an epidemic of equine flu, saving the lives of hundreds of affected horses, and spays and neuters over 12,000 cats and dogs.
2009
IDA investigative work—plus tens of thousands of calls, emails and letters from IDA supporters—help seize two elephants from Will Devonport. The elephants, Tina and Jewel, are taken into custody through the combined actions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and are eventually transferred to the San Diego Zoo for much-needed veterinary care.
2010
The National Center for Research Resources (the National Institutes of Health center that funds research infrastructure projects) is denied $15 million in expansion grant applications from the Oregon and Washington primate centers.
Acting on a tip, IDA sets in motion a plan that frees 11 horses from the most horrific conditions imaginable. For over three years, several of the horses had been forced to live in small, concrete cinder-block cells, with no place to lie down except in their own waste.
Gaining the trust of the “owner,” IDA volunteers spent weeks caring for the starving horses and cleaning their manure-filled stalls. The stench was so intense that the eyes of the volunteers were continually filling with tears. Negotiations with the “owner” and the local animal control agency eventually lead to the horses being transferred to loving homes and caring sanctuaries.
In collaboration with several other groups, IDA rescues 118 beagles and 55 long-tailed macaque monkeys from AniClin, an insolvent toxicology laboratory in Oxford, NJ.
Over 2,000 dogs and cats are spayed and neutered and another 2,000 receive veterinary care for their wounds and injuries by IDA India. To educate young people, IDA India creates the “Compassionate Children’s Club.”
IDA discovers the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has rounded up 36 wild stallions likely to be sent to slaughter and plans on rounding up another 1,400 horses from the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon and Nevada, and quickly threatens a lawsuit against the agency for violating its own regulations. As a result the roundup is called off and the 36 stallions are returned to the refuge.
San Jose, CA, becomes the tenth largest city in the U.S. to add the term “guardian” to its animal-related ordinance.
IDA rescues monkeys who would have been subjected to decades behind bars in cramped, stainless-steel cages, forced to endure painful toxicology tests at a pharmaceutical testing laboratory. Instead, they were able to enjoy a second chance at life — filled with fresh air, friends, and freedom from harm.
2011
IDA rescues 12 dogs and one cat from the South Korean meat trade and brings them to the U.S., where they find loving homes.
The city of Parma, OH, becomes the 18th city to include the term “guardian” in its animal-related ordinances.
Based on records IDA acquires through its successful five-year-long lawsuit against the National Institutes of Health, the McClatchy Newspaper publishes a historic series documenting the devastating effects of captivity and experimentation on chimpanzees.
In Brazil, IDA partners with Kinship Circle to provide search-and-rescue and veterinary care to thousands of animal victims of flash flooding and giant landslides.
IDA wages a campaign that prevents dog-killing “artist” Tom Otterness from getting $750,000 from the city of San Francisco.In California, the Richmond City Council votes to end live bird sales at its farmers’ market after IDA organized weekly protests, petitionsand action alerts to convince the city to end the cruel practice of selling live chickens there.
2012
Hound hunting is banned in California with the help of thousands of IDA supporters. IDA partners with other organizations in another Fur Free Friday march on the streets of Beverly Hills, CA, and helps to coordinate 22 protests across the U.S. and Canada.
On both June 19 and July 10, 2012, Richmond, CA, makes history by becoming the first city ever to not only change its own animal-related ordinances to completely replace “owner” with “guardian,” but it additionally recommends that the county of which it is a part of, Contra Costa County, adopts the change as well.
IDA holds a press conference after a mountain lion is fatally shot in Santa Monica, CA, urging collaboration between wildlife agencies and local experts to prevent killing. In 2013, a law is passed in California mandating just that.
IDA creates a Guardian Credo, putting into words a heartfelt set of ideals, beliefs, and principles which define the term “guardian.” Itpledges to widen our circle of justice and compassion beyond the human species,oppose cruelty and injustice towards animals, and refer to animals as we refer to ourselves or to our fellow humans, among other things.
IDA conducts undercover investigations in South Korea, exposing the horrific mistreatment of millions of dogs and cats who are slaughtered each year for profit and sold as food.
IDA works with the city of Richmond, CA, to become the 22nd jurisdiction in the U.S. to add the term “Guardian” to its animal-related ordinance. Our Founder, Elliot Katz, DVM has worked successfully with legislators across the country to legally acknowledge animals are more than mere property.
2013
IDA coordinates a dozen international World Week for Animals in Laboratories events, including the kick-off of monthly demonstrations at UC San Francisco.
IDA helps secure the passage of a San Diego ordinance to ban the sale of dogs, cats and rabbits in city “pet” stores, as well as a West Hollywood ordinance prohibiting the exploitation of exotic animals in circuses, carnivals, trade shows,parades and in any event forcing wild animals to do tricks, fight or perform “for the entertainment, amusement or benefit of an audience.”
2014
Hundreds of cats and dogs as well as 17 horses are saved by Hope Animal Sanctuary.
IDA launches the Council for Sustainable Activism to assist animal activists in the prevention of burnout and stress.
IDA obtains a seizure order for a herd of 17 starving horses. After moving the entire herd to safe pasture in order to help speed their recovery, IDA is able to find them permanent, loving homes.
2015
IDA India opens its night ambulance, a blind ward for sightless strays and spay/neuter field hospitals in Mumbai.
IDA’s End Dog Meat campaign builds alliances with local groups in Asia, amplifying their voices.
IDA’s Elephant campaign advocates for an ivory ban in California, which became the third state to ban ivory.
IDA’s Sustainable Activism campaign launches its animal activist helpline and offers webinars to support activists who fight on the front lines.
IDA India’s night ambulance is funded, as well as a new blind ward for sightless strays, and spay/neuter field hospitals in Mumbai. IDA’s Ditch Dog Meat campaign built alliances with local groups in Asia, giving voices to these activists. Our Elephant Campaign advocated for an ivory ban, making California the third state to ban ivory and our Sustainable Activism campaign launched our animal activist helpline which offers support to activists who fight on the front lines to this day.
Dr Ghanawat, Dr Parab and super-volunteer Sudhendu Pandey with one of their many rescues in an ambulance at our Deonar Centre
2016
Following in the footsteps of our respected annual list of 10 Worst Zoos for Elephants, IDA launches a brand new 10 Worst Tanks initiative to expose the cruelty inherent in keeping whales and dolphins captive and highlight the worst facilities in North America. The list helps play a key role in securing the Orca Protection Act in California.
Working with South Korean activists, IDA saves five dogs on the brink of death from the dog meat trade. Thanks to IDA supporters, IDA is also able to save an additional two dogs after the initial rescue, who then journeyed to our Hope Animal Sanctuary in Mississippi.
31 dogs living at IDA’s Hope Animal Sanctuary in Mississippi started the year heartworm positive. Thanks to the generosity of IDA supporters, all 31 were successfully treated for the condition and given a new lease of life.
IDA fought and won against ag-gag laws in Australia. Thousands of IDA supporters flooded Australia’s lawmakers to speak out on behalf of animals. In May, international voice won out and this dastardly attempt to cover up animal cruelty failed.
Governor Jerry Brown signs a historic law to protect captive elephants from brutal bullhook abuse in California. Thanks to the voices of IDA supporters, we are able to make ourselves heard to help pass this crucial legislation.
In 2016, we were able to save victims of the dog meat trade from the brink of death through our work with South Korean activists. Rescued dogs journeyed to IDA’s Hope Animal Sanctuary in Mississippi where they are living happily ever after!
2017
Undercover IDA investigations into the chicken industry exposed the free range myth and resulted in hundreds of thousands of people learning the truth. IDA revealed the horrific suffering of thousands of animals crammed into steel sheds, many with severe ammonia burns, while others resorted to cannibalism. The findings of our investigation is shared far and wide by the Daily Mail, ABC, and Australia’s #1 TV News show, Channel 7 News.
Following the first ever Ten Worst Tanks list release, the Vancouver Parks Board votes to immediately end the importation of Beluga Whales and stop all performances of whales and dolphins at Vancouver Aquarium.
Mexico City bans dolphinariums — ending cruel marine mammal exploitation – specifically citing IDA’s work.
IDA’s Justice for Animals campaign launches a reward offer to catch a Mississippi man who poisoned six family dogs. Within minutes of the offer airing on TV, we had two tips that eventually lead to the capture of the man who is now facing trial.
The Justice for Animals campaign rescues four neglected horses who were reported by concerned locals. The horses were in dire need of medical attention with one having exposed bones along his face. After a sensational rescue, all the horses begin the road to recovery.
2018
IDA catches a Mississippi man who poisoned three dogs within minutes of a local TV news station airing our reward offer. Essential renovations take place in Mississippi at the Hope Animal Sanctuary thanks to IDA supporters. These upgrades will continue to allow the Hope Animal Sanctuary to provide protection and rehabilitation to thousands of abused, neglected and cast-off animals in the Deep South.
With the support of Dr. Marc Bekoff, IDA establishes World Zoothanasia Day to honor the death of Packy the elephant at Oregon Zoo, and later places the zoo in the 10 Worst Zoos Hall of Shame for repeatedly failures.
2019
IDA leads the way to passing California’s historic fur sales ban byrevealing the absurdity of the fur industry’s bogus ‘humane’ certification program, emphasizing in the San Francisco Chronicle that “keeping wild animals in captivity for the sake of killing them and ripping away their fur is inherently cruel, and no voluntary certification program can change that.”
In a gut-wrenching effort, IDA joins Korean activists to seize a dog meat truck in South Korea, saving 28 dogs from slaughter during Boknal. After receiving thousands of emails from our supporters, Baskin Robbins begins serving two new delicious vegan ice cream flavors.
2020
A pandemic threatens IDA’s work but the sanctuaries and staff adapt and rise to the challenge. Despite flight delays, IDA continues to rescue dogs from slaughterhouses in South Korea, and empties an entire kill shelter to prevent dogs from falling into the hands of dog meat buyers.
Again, IDA comes to the aid of native Tule elk, this time from ranchers in Point Reyes National Seashore. We partner with SynDaver to bring cruelty-free dissection to schools. In California and Mississippi, we win important new protections for animals including a new animal cruelty law to protect dog and cat victims of abuse, and a ban on super-toxic rodenticides which threaten the whole ecosystem. We launch our first-ever Respect For Fish Day with over 120 partners. Our fur coalition goes from strength to strength, teaming up with Ricky Gervais, making strides with legislators, and winning fur-free pledges from major retailers including Nordstrom and Sephora.