Friends of Animals

Friends of Animals (FoA) is an international nonprofit animal advocacy organization founded in New York City in 1957 by Alice Herrington. It began with a practical animal-welfare objective: reducing the number of unwanted cats and dogs through accessible spaying and neutering services. The organization eventually established its own clinic in Neptune, New Jersey, and says that its programs have supported more than 2.5 million spay and neuter procedures. This early emphasis on companion-animal population control formed the basis for a broader philosophy centered on preventing suffering rather than simply responding to it. Over time, Friends of Animals expanded beyond cats and dogs to address the treatment and protection of wildlife, marine mammals, captive animals, laboratory animals, and animals held in zoos or private facilities. Alice Herrington led the organization until her retirement in 1986. Priscilla Feral subsequently became a central figure in its leadership and is identified as the organization's president. Under this wider remit, FoA has combined advocacy, legal action, public education, sanctuary management, and campaigns opposing institutionalized exploitation. The organization has participated in efforts to reduce or replace the use of animals in scientific research. In 1981, it worked with United Action for Animals to lobby Congress for the Research Modernization Act. The proposed legislation sought greater investment in non-animal research methods and the creation of a National Center for Alternatives Research. Although the bill did not pass, the campaign reflected FoA's longstanding position that scientific progress should move away from animal experimentation. Legal advocacy became increasingly important to the organization. Friends of Animals has challenged government policies affecting endangered species, wild horses, migratory birds, and other wildlife. Its litigation contributed to the listing of several African antelope species as endangered in the United States in 2005. When a captive-breeding exemption weakened that protection, a later lawsuit in 2009 helped establish that the exemption was unlawful, restoring stronger restrictions on hunting the animals. In 2013, FoA formalized this work through its Wildlife Law Program, which focuses on defending wildlife and habitats and contesting legal frameworks that treat animals as property. Friends of Animals also became involved in the operation and defense of Primarily Primates, a Texas sanctuary for chimpanzees, monkeys, birds, and other animals formerly used in research, entertainment, or kept as pets. After a 2006 legal dispute temporarily placed the sanctuary under a court-appointed receiver, FoA supported the sanctuary's efforts to regain control. In 2007, the Texas Attorney General returned the facility to a board established with Priscilla Feral's involvement. FoA later managed Primarily Primates as an organizational project, supporting animal care and veterinary operations. The organization's present identity combines traditional animal-welfare services with animal-rights advocacy. Its work includes legal challenges, protection of wild and captive animals, sanctuary management, opposition to animal experimentation and hunting, and efforts to change the legal status of animals. Friends of Animals is headquartered in Darien, Connecticut, with an additional office in Colorado. It remains an active nonprofit rather than a commercial consumer brand, and its principal public-facing offering is advocacy and program participation rather than a conventional line of products.

Friends of Animals was established in New York City in 1957 by Alice Herrington to address the population of unwanted cats and dogs. Its initial work focused on making spaying and neutering more accessible, with the aim of reducing the number of stray animals and preventing avoidable euthanasia. The organization later operated a dedicated clinic in Neptune, New Jersey, and reports that its programs have contributed to more than 2.5 million sterilization procedures. The group gradually broadened its mission from companion animals to animal protection in a wider sense. Its concerns came to include wildlife, marine mammals, zoo animals, laboratory animals, and animals held in captivity or used for entertainment. Herrington remained the organization's leader until retiring in 1986. Priscilla Feral became its principal later leader and is identified as president. In the early 1980s, Friends of Animals entered the policy debate over animal experimentation. In 1981, it joined United Action for Animals in lobbying for the Research Modernization Act. The proposal sought to accelerate the development of alternatives to animal testing and create a National Center for Alternatives Research. Congress did not enact the measure, but the campaign demonstrated the organization's shift toward national policy advocacy. Friends of Animals also used litigation to pursue wildlife-protection goals. A lawsuit by the organization contributed to the 2005 listing of several endangered African antelope species living on United States ranches. A captive-breeding exemption limited the practical effect of that decision, leading to further litigation. In 2009, another lawsuit resulted in a finding that the exemption was unlawful, thereby restoring stronger endangered-species protections against hunting. The organization became involved in the Primarily Primates sanctuary dispute in Texas in 2006. The sanctuary housed hundreds of chimpanzees, monkeys, and other animals that had previously been used in research, films, or as pets. After allegations concerning the facility led to an emergency injunction and temporary receivership, Friends of Animals financed legal representation for the sanctuary's operators. In 2007, the Texas Attorney General asked Priscilla Feral to help establish a new board and returned the sanctuary to that board. Friends of Animals subsequently managed Primarily Primates as a project, supporting animal care, staffing, veterinary services, and sanctuary operations. In 2013, Friends of Animals created its Wildlife Law Program to consolidate and expand its legal work. The program has focused on wild horses, endangered species, migratory birds, and wildlife habitat, while also challenging the legal treatment of animals as property. The organization has attributed twelve successful legal challenges to protection from government wild-horse roundups and has pursued Endangered Species Act protections for birds and other animals. One example of this later litigation came in August 2014, when Friends of Animals challenged federal wildlife-control practices at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The case concerned the killing of Snowy Owls and other protected migratory birds and argued that agencies had failed to disclose the scope and environmental consequences of the program or adequately consider nonlethal alternatives. Today, Friends of Animals operates as an active nonprofit headquartered in Darien, Connecticut, with an additional Colorado office. Its activities combine direct animal-welfare services, wildlife and animal-rights litigation, sanctuary management, public education, and campaigns against hunting, animal experimentation, and other forms of institutionalized exploitation.

• 2014

  JFK bird-control lawsuit

  [1]Friends of Animalsen.wikipedia.org

  Friends of Animals challenges federal agencies over lethal control of Snowy Owls and other migratory birds at JFK Airport.

• 2013

  Wildlife Law Program is established

  [1]Friends of Animalsen.wikipedia.org

  The organization formalizes its wildlife litigation and policy work through a program focused on animals and habitat protection.

• 2009

  Captive-breeding exemption is challenged

  [1]Friends of Animalsen.wikipedia.org

  A further Friends of Animals lawsuit leads to a finding that an exemption weakening protections for certain antelopes was unlawful.

• 2007

  Primarily Primates returns to a new board

  [1]Friends of Animalsen.wikipedia.org

  The sanctuary is returned to a board established with Priscilla Feral's involvement, after which Friends of Animals manages it as a project.

• 2006

  Primarily Primates legal defense

  [1]Friends of Animalsen.wikipedia.org

  Friends of Animals supports the Texas sanctuary's legal effort during a dispute that temporarily places the facility under a receiver.

• 2005

  African antelope protections are expanded

  [1]Friends of Animalsen.wikipedia.org

  Friends of Animals litigation contributes to endangered-species listings for several African antelope species kept on United States ranches.

• 1986

  Alice Herrington retires

  [1]Friends of Animalsen.wikipedia.org

  The organization's founder steps down after leading Friends of Animals for nearly three decades.

• 1981

  Research Modernization Act campaign

  [1]Friends of Animalsen.wikipedia.org

  Friends of Animals joins United Action for Animals in lobbying for federal support for alternatives to animal testing. The legislation is ultimately defeated.

• 1957

  Friends of Animals is founded

  [1]Friends of Animalsen.wikipedia.org

  Alice Herrington establishes Friends of Animals in New York City to protect cats and dogs and expand access to spaying and neutering.

Friends of Animals positions itself as an animal-rights and animal-protection nonprofit focused on preventing cruelty, challenging institutionalized exploitation, defending wildlife and habitats, and promoting legal and social change. Its work spans companion-animal sterilization, wildlife litigation, opposition to animal testing and hunting, and sanctuary care.

• Companion-animal welfare service · 1957

  Spay and neuter assistance

  Friends of Animals began by providing lower-cost spaying and neutering services for cats and dogs. The program was designed to reduce unwanted litters and the number of stray companion animals. The organization later operated a clinic in Neptune, New Jersey, and says its work has assisted with more than 2.5 million procedures.

• Legal advocacy · 2013

  Wildlife Law Program

  Established in 2013, the Wildlife Law Program uses litigation and policy advocacy to protect wild animals and their habitats. Its subject areas include endangered species, wild horses, migratory birds, and challenges to legal systems that classify animals as property.

• Animal sanctuary project · 2007

  Primarily Primates

  Primarily Primates is a Texas sanctuary project associated with Friends of Animals. It provides care for chimpanzees, monkeys, birds, and other animals, including animals formerly used in research, entertainment, or kept as pets. The project has included dedicated staff and veterinary support.

• 2013Wildlife Law Program

  United States · International

  Friends of Animals created a dedicated program for wildlife and habitat litigation, including legal challenges involving wild horses, endangered species, and migratory birds.

  Outcome. The program became a continuing pillar of the organization's advocacy work.

  Source
• 2005African antelope protection litigation

  United States

  Friends of Animals used litigation to seek Endangered Species Act protection for African antelope species held on United States ranches.

  Outcome. The species were listed in 2005, although a captive-breeding exemption initially limited the practical effect of the protection.

  Source
• 1981Research Modernization Act campaign

  United States

  Friends of Animals worked with United Action for Animals to promote legislation supporting alternatives to animal testing and a national alternatives-research center.

  Outcome. The bill was defeated in Congress.

  Source

• 2013

  Formalize wildlife litigation through the Wildlife Law ProgramStrategy

  Background

  Friends of Animals had already used legal action to pursue protections for endangered species and other wildlife.

  Action taken

  The organization established a dedicated Wildlife Law Program focused on wildlife, habitats, and the legal status of animals.

  Aftermath

  Legal advocacy became a formal and continuing component of the organization's overall mission.

  Source

• 2007

  Manage Primarily Primates as an organizational projectStrategy

  Background

  Friends of Animals became involved in defending Primarily Primates during a dispute over control of the Texas sanctuary.

  Action taken

  After the sanctuary was returned to a newly established board, Friends of Animals took responsibility for managing it as a project and supporting its care operations.

  Aftermath

  The sanctuary continued to house rescued primates, birds, and other animals with staff and veterinary support.

  Source

1. 1Friends of Animalsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Friends of Animals official websitefriendsofanimals.org