ANNUAL 2024
IMPACT REPORT

12 months,
~42 million animals. 

This is your impact this year… 

Photo: Sammantha Fisher

ABOUT ANIMAL EQUALITY

We are a team of committed activists dedicated to creating a world where all animals are respected and protected.

Our mission

Animal Equality is an international organization working with society, governments, and companies to end cruelty to farmed animals. 

Our work 

Animal Equality uses four strategies: exposing cruelty via investigations, advocating for stronger laws, pushing companies to adopt animal protection policies, and encouraging people to reduce or eliminate animal product consumption.

18+ years helping animals globally

Founded in 2006, Animal Equality now has offices in eight countries: the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, Italy, Spain, India, and the United Kingdom.

HIGHLIGHTS

You included animals in the Mexican Constitution!

Thanks to your support, Mexico’s Congress approved three landmark reforms championed by Animal Equality, making animal protection part of the Constitution for the first time. These reforms:

• Incorporate animal protection into formal education.

• Require the State to guarantee animal protection.

• Empower the government to establish a national Animal Protection Law.

This is a never-before-seen paradigm shift—Mexico is now one of ten countries to include animals in its Constitution. This change protects farmed animals.

Dulce Ramirez with two goats at a sanctuary

New generations will grow up in a country that recognizes animals matter.

Dulce Ramírez
Vice President for Latin America

Relaunch and growth of Love Veg

You relaunched Love Veg—Animal Equality’s plant-based program—with a billboard in New York’s Times Square. Because of you, Love Veg subscribers, cookbook downloads, and website visits in the U.S. doubled.

Love Veg, Animal Equality’s plant‑based program 

Choosing plant-based meals is the best way to end animal suffering. Visit Love Veg for recipes, tips, and easy ways to make plant-based eating fun.

Through Love Veg’s global programs, you launched ten plant-based cookbooks. They include “More Legumes to Save Chickens” (Mexico) and “My First Vegan Cheeses” (Spain).

You empowered 650+ future nutritionists, soup kitchen cooks, and university chefs through 26 plant-based workshops in Mexico. In India, you inspired 5,000+ students through school presentations about animal protection and compassionate choices. 

“We used to underestimate the variety of nutrients obtained from plant sources. Now, we understand that a well-planned vegan diet can provide all the nutrients necessary for good health.”
—Dietetics student and Love Veg workshop attendee

At the same time, you engaged seven new celebrities as part of the 21-Day Plant-Powered Challenge in India, reaching 700,000+ views. Through 20+ global events and street actions, you inspired countless others to choose compassionate eating.

Your advocacy helped pass Mexico’s Law for Adequate and Sustainable Nutrition, prioritizing plant-based food nationwide. 

“I always thought of it only as ‘meat’ and not as an animal that died for the food on my plate. Since I realized that, I’ve never wanted it again. I feel much better without meat.”
—Valen, Animal Equality supporter

“Every time we choose a recipe without animal ingredients, we build a fairer world for all living beings.” 
—Katya, Education Coordinator at Animal Equality in Mexico

END FACTORY FARMING

Factory farming cages hens, mutilates piglets, and separates calves from mothers. These animals endure painful deaths in slaughterhouses. Together, we will end it.

The Mexican states of Colima and Oaxaca passed your animal protection bills to protect animals on farms, each impacting 9 million animals. Meanwhile, the European Commission announced the appointment of its first-ever Commissioner for Animal Health and Welfare. This was a significant milestone for the #EUforAnimals campaign, supported by Animal Equality.

After 50 years of campaigning by animal protection groups, the UK banned live animal exports for fattening and slaughter. In the U.S., you opposed the House version of the Farm Bill, which threatens key animal protection laws like California’s Prop 12.

“It took decades to pass laws that provide even the most basic protections to some farmed animals. Now, Congress is trying to erase that progress to prioritize meat and dairy profits. We will not let it happen.”
—Sharon Núñez, Animal Equality President & Co-founder

Animal Equality’s team is present for the passing of Colima’s animal protection bill.

Your support allowed our investigators to attend Nepal’s Gadhimai Festival, exposing the world’s largest animal sacrifice. Thanks to you, the number of large animals killed decreased by half between 2019 and 2024.

Your persistence holds animal abusers accountable: after our 2018 Spanish pig farm investigation, you filed charges for animal cruelty. Though the farm owners were acquitted earlier this year, we successfully appealed the decision. A new trial will be held soon. 

You supported a 120-day investigation of one of Germany’s largest pig farms. This investigation aired on the country’s leading news channel and resulted in criminal charges. You also revealed cruelty in pig farms and slaughterhouses across Italy, the UK, and Spain, with formal complaints filed in each.

In India, you’re using newly-released pig industry footage to push for new animal protections. This includes Animal Equality’s recommendation for mandatory stunning before slaughter. 

In Brazil, you opposed the Self-Control Law, which removes mandatory government inspections at slaughterhouses. You joined a lawsuit to declare the law unconstitutional and launched a new investigation showing the results of deregulation.

In the UK, you exposed workers removing tons of dead fish from a salmon farm hours before a Scottish Parliament visit. You also released footage of salmon suffocating on accredited farms supplying British supermarkets. This led to the suspension of three farms. 

You even secured permission from the High Court to challenge the construction of the UK’s first fully on-land salmon mega-farm. If successful, this will protect one million fish annually. 

Meanwhile, you’ve enabled us to expose Mexico’s rabbit meat industry and pushed for animal evacuation protocols during natural disasters in Spain. The latter was a response to widespread deaths on Spanish farms during the DANA storm. Your support also revealed how India’s dairy industry is linked to meat production. 

You revealed how slaughterhouses use a guide sheep (a.k.a. “Judas sheep”) to lead lambs to slaughter. With investigative footage, you urged Spain’s government to end live animal export to non-EU countries.

“Thanks to you opening my eyes, I have not eaten meat for a couple years. I will always spread your investigations to everyone I know.” 
—Mariagrazia, Animal Equality supporter

Every action you take counts! Following years of campaigning by animal protection groups—including Animal Equality—Lidl supermarket announced it would phase out fast-growing chicken farming in its German supply chain. 

Your support enabled us to publish the “Uncounted” report, revealing that 500 million chickens die before slaughter yearly in the U.S. This is more than the combined number of turkeys, pigs, and cows slaughtered for meat annually.

You keep our investigators in the field, our lawyers in the courtroom, and fuel our campaigns for animals!

END CAGES FOR PIGS AND HENS

Farmers confine millions of mother pigs and hens in tiny cages where they can’t move freely. Despite bans in some states and countries, many animals still suffer this cruelty.

After Denny’s broke its promise to end cages for mother pigs in its U.S. supply chain, you campaigned tirelessly for 600 days. This included 76,000 online actions and 20 nationwide protests. You are also exposing Aldi supermarket’s hypocrisy: while it has ended confinement for pigs and hens in its German supply chain, it has failed to do so in the U.S. Through powerful protests in both countries, you’ve demanded an end to its double standard.

“It is unacceptable that the company [Aldi] presents itself as particularly animal-friendly to its customers in Germany. Meanwhile, it shows no compassion elsewhere because it sees no economic necessity.”
—Vanessa Raith, Director of Animal Equality in Germany

In countries like Brazil, Spain, the U.S., India, and Italy, you secured or reinstated 32 corporate commitments to eliminate cages for hens and pregnant pigs. This would protect 3.5 million animals.

Protestors demonstrate outside of the grand opening of an Aldi store.

STOP MALE CHICK KILLING

Male chicks in the egg industry are killed because they cannot lay eggs and cannot be raised for meat. In-ovo sexing technology offers an alternative by identifying the sex of embryos before hatching, allowing male eggs to be removed.

• In Brazil, you introduced a bill to ban this cruel practice, potentially saving 84 million chicks annually. You convinced AB Mauri, a major baked goods producer, to phase out male chick killing in its supply chain.

• In Spain, you advocated for the 35 million chicks killed each year, urging the Ministry of Agriculture to ban the practice by 2026 and adopt in-ovo sexing.

• In Italy, you continue to push for full implementation of the 2022 law you helped pass, which will end male chick killing by 2026.

END FORCE-FEEDING FOR FOIE GRAS

The foie gras industry force-feeds ducks and geese until their livers swell up to ten times their normal size. Their diseased livers are served as foie gras.

Your campaign to remove foie gras from the 2024 Paris Olympics made waves. We brought your message directly to the organizers in Paris, where we delivered 60,000 petition signatures. While foie gras remained on the Olympic menu, you secured global media coverage that put force-feeding in the spotlight. You even influenced the UK Labour Party—now in power—to pledge a ban on foie gras imports. Several Members of Parliament attended our Parliamentary event and signed our pledge.

“I became vegan six months ago thanks to a campaign by Animal Equality.Your work makes a difference in the world.”
—Rodrigo, Animal Equality supporter

Animal Equality advocates deliver over 60,000 petition signatures to the Paris Olympics headquarters.

END HORSE SLAUGHTER

Horses are often seen as companions, similar to dogs or cats. But thousands of U.S. horses are transported to Canada and Mexico to be killed for meat.

Animal Equality conducted our first investigation of Spanish horse slaughter in over a decade, exposing the European country that produces the most horse meat. You’ve used this evidence to push Spanish and European Union authorities to end this practice. In the U.S., your persistent advocacy for the SAFE Act—which would ban the export of American horses for slaughter—is gaining traction. Thousands of advocates like you have contacted legislators, pushing for its inclusion in next year’s Farm Bill.

“The U.S. is sending horses outside our borders, so their slaughter is out of sight. The majority of Americans oppose this. Now it’s time for the U.S. Government to ban it once and for all.” 
—Sharon Núñez, Animal Equality President & Co-founder

An American horse awaits slaughter at a facility in Zacatecas, Mexico.

Animal Equality’s work has been highlighted by the following news organizations:

Logo Vox
Logo BBC
Logo The Independent
Logo La Stampa
Logo The Guardian
Logo La Repubblica
Logo Huffington Post
Logo Milenio
Logo Aristegui Noticias
Logo The Times
Logo The Times of India
Logo El Diario

END ANIMAL CRUELTY

Look at everything you’ve accomplished for animals in 2024. Are you ready to take this progress even further in 2025? 

Animal Equality is prepared to fight harder and end cruelty faster—but we need your help. Can animals count on you to take action?

Animal Equality represents uncompromising education and a commitment to protecting all feeling beings. I am pleased to contribute to ending the unspeakable and entirely avoidable suffering of animals.

Kirsten
Animal Equality’s donor