Animal Welfare Fund
Impact overview
Mar 2026 β Jun 2026From March through June 2026, the Animal Welfare Fund's portfolio delivered a remarkable concentration of legislative wins, corporate commitments, and direct rescue operations. Mercy For Animals secured a cage-free commitment from Ahold Delhaize across 2,000+ stores and published its fifth Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard ranking 46 companies. The Animal Legal Defense Fund helped Iowa become the 50th state to classify first-offense animal torture as a felony, supported Maryland's Animal Research Modernization Act, and advanced bans on foie gras in New York City and Portland. Humane World for Animals permanently closed slaughterhouses in Indonesia and Yulin, rescued 34 dogs from a dogfighting operation, and delivered veterinary care to 1,100+ animals after Super Typhoon Sinlaku. The Good Food Institute's Research Grant Program surpassed $24 million across 129 projects in 25 countries, while Wild Animal Initiative selected 13 new research grants from 400 proposals β signaling a maturing field with growing scientific infrastructure.
Nonprofits
Themes
Grantees conducted hands-on rescues from dogfighting operations, slaughterhouses, roadside zoos, and natural disasters β including 34 dogs from a South Carolina dogfighting bust, 9 dogs from a Yulin slaughterhouse, and veterinary care for 1,100+ animals after Super Typhoon Sinlaku. This theme reflects consistent frontline capacity across the portfolio.
A sustained wave of legislative victories unfolded across the period, including Iowa's 50th-state animal torture felony law, Maryland's Animal Research Modernization Act, Colorado's puppy mill sales ban, and New York's octopus farming ban. ALDF also advanced litigation supporting foie gras bans in NYC and Portland.
Mercy For Animals escalated accountability campaigns against major retailers and food service companies, securing a cage-free commitment from Ahold Delhaize (2,000+ stores) and publishing its fifth Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard ranking 46 companies on chicken welfare. Campaigns against Kroger, Compass Group, and Sobeys were also active.
The Good Food Institute drove field-wide progress through its Research Grant Program ($24M+ across 129 projects), 2026 State of the Industry reports, a new planning grants program, and a landmark MOU with the Climate Bonds Initiative. Wild Animal Initiative also selected 13 new research grants from 400 proposals, reflecting a deepening scientific infrastructure.
Humane World for Animals led global campaigns including a 700,000-signature petition to Indonesian embassies on the dog and cat meat trade, fur farm investigations in Iceland, and disaster relief in Saipan, Chile, and Punjab. These efforts reflect a persistent international footprint across the portfolio.
Wild Animal Initiative advanced the emerging field of wild animal welfare science, selecting 13 research projects from 400 expressions of interest and publishing peer-reviewed work on injury prevalence in wild fish. This theme is newly prominent in the covered period.
Milestones
Wild Animal Initiative selected 13 research projects for funding from 400 expressions of interest, marking a significant expansion of wild animal welfare science.
June 2026
Iowa became the 50th U.S. state to classify a first offense of animal torture as a felony after Governor Kim Reynolds signed a critical amendment.
May 2026
GFI's Research Grant Program surpassed $24 million awarded across 129 projects in 25 countries, with grantees generating $75 million in follow-on funding.
May 2026
Humane World for Animals delivered a joint petition with over 700,000 signatures to Indonesian embassies worldwide calling for an end to the dog and cat meat trade.
May 2026
Maryland's Animal Research Modernization and Best Practices Act (SB 423) was signed into law, banning devocalization and mandating non-animal testing alternatives.
April 2026
Colorado became the 9th U.S. state to ban pet store puppy sales, cutting off a key pipeline for puppy mill operations.
April 2026
Mercy For Animals secured a cage-free egg supply chain commitment from Ahold Delhaize, covering 2,000+ stores following a year-long campaign.
March 2026
The Good Food Institute celebrated its 10-year anniversary, noting over $2 billion in global public investment in alternative proteins catalyzed in part by its work.
March 2026
Monthly snapshots
Summary
In June 2026, five animal welfare and food system organizations achieved significant legislative and programmatic milestones: Humane World for Animals rescued 9 dogs from a Yulin slaughterhouse and permanently shut it down, while the Animal Legal Defense Fund helped pass a New York bill banning octopus farming and documented 16 states now allowing civilians to rescue animals from hot cars. Wild Animal Initiative announced 13 new research grants selected from 400 expressions of interest, and Mercy For Animals published its fifth Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard ranking 46 companies on chicken welfare, while also celebrating Portland's 7β5 city council vote to ban foie gras. The Good Food Institute advanced alternative protein education through its State of the Industry reports, a new planning grants program, and a cross-sector food biomanufacturing convening.
- Humane World for Animals rescued 9 dogs from a Yulin slaughterhouse and secured its permanent closure ahead of the dog meat festival.
- Wild Animal Initiative selected 13 research projects to fund from 400 expressions of interest in its call for proposals.
- The New York Senate and Assembly passed a bill to ban octopus farming, with Animal Legal Defense Fund as a coalition partner.
- 16 U.S. states now allow civilians to legally rescue animals from unattended vehicles, with Washington and Nevada the latest to enact these protections.
- Mercy For Animals published its fifth Canada Animal Welfare Scorecard, ranking 46 companies on chicken welfare commitments and transparency.
- Portland City Council voted 7β5 to ban the sale and service of foie gras, with fines of up to $5,000 for violators.
In May 2026, Humane World for Animals, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Mercy For Animals, and the Good Food Institute collectively delivered a sweeping range of animal protection and food system interventions.
April 2026 saw major legislative and legal victories for animals across multiple fronts: Maryland's Animal Research Modernization and Best Practices Act (SB 423) was signed into law, Colorado became the 9th state to ban pet store puppy sales, and a court cleared the way for New York City's foie gras ban to move forward after years of litigation supported by the Animal Legal Defense Fund.