Compassion Over Killing
Encyclopedia
Compassion Over Killing (COK) is a nonprofit animal protection organization based in Washington, D.C.
, founded by Paul Shapiro and currently led by Erica Meier. Formed in 1995, COK's primary campaigns are to advocate against factory farms
and promote vegetarian eating. While it welcomes those who are interested in animal welfare who eat meat, the group encourages a transition to a plant-based diet, even if gradual or part-time.
A small organization, Compassion Over Killing has been likened to David
in his battle against Goliath in its successful campaigns against much larger organizations.
In 2005, egg producers dropped an "Animal Care Certified" label from their products after Compassion Over Killing filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
for false advertising
on the part of the egg companies. Compassion Over Killing said that the egg label implied that the care of the animals had met a certain standard of animal conditions, which the egg producers had not; the National Advertising Review Board agreed that the label was deceptive. The FTC complaint was dropped when the egg industry agreed to exchange the label in favor of one stating, "United Egg Producers Certified".
The organization has since launched successful campaigns urging Morningstar Farms
, Boca, and LightLife
to use fewer eggs in their products.
At the 2009 Taking Action for Animals conference hosted by the Humane Society of the United States
, Erica Meier introduced Compassion Over Killing's new campaign to urge Dunkin' Donuts
to remove animal products from its donuts. Compassion Over Killing had already started a campaign for Dunkin' Donuts to stock soy milk
in its shops, which the company did in certain regions.
The group conducted an investigation into the living conditions at Maryland henhouses, documenting corpses found in group cages and rescuing some of the hens found in the worst conditions. One of the farms documented, owned by ISE America, housed more than 800,000 hens. Following a tipoff about substandard conditions at the farm, COK requested permission to visit the farm before proceeding with an undercover investigation.
The egg industry said that conditions found in photos and videos produced by COK did not give an accurate view and it was illegal for Compassion Over Killing to remove the hens. The spokesperson for the owner of the farm in question said that the conditions found at the farm were "normal industry practices." While one of the farms asserted that the video footage was not taken at its farm, Compassion Over Killing had filmed its GPS location as well as mail addressed to the farm in question.
On November 21, 2006, COK released the results of its investigation inside a turkey hatchery in North Carolina that supplies Butterball
. Details on the investigation can be found in the Charlotte Observer.
In early 2006, a Compassion Over Killing investigation inside a Pennsylvania egg farm led to criminal charges of 35 counts of animal cruelty against the owner and manager of the farm, the first case of its kind. Charges were pressed by a local animal control officer after viewing a video provided by COK which allegedly showed hens impaled by cage wires, among other decomposing hens. The owner and manager of the farm were acquitted in 2007, in a case which COK maintained rewrote animal cruelty laws to say that farm animals were not covered.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, founded by Paul Shapiro and currently led by Erica Meier. Formed in 1995, COK's primary campaigns are to advocate against factory farms
Factory farming
Factory farming is a term referring to the process of raising livestock in confinement at high stocking density, where a farm operates as a factory — a practice typical in industrial farming by agribusinesses. The main products of this industry are meat, milk and eggs for human consumption...
and promote vegetarian eating. While it welcomes those who are interested in animal welfare who eat meat, the group encourages a transition to a plant-based diet, even if gradual or part-time.
A small organization, Compassion Over Killing has been likened to David
David
David was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible and, according to the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, an ancestor of Jesus Christ through both Saint Joseph and Mary...
in his battle against Goliath in its successful campaigns against much larger organizations.
Activities and campaigns
COK's activities and campaigns include:- Distribution of vegetarian dietary starter guides.
- Manufacturing and distributing pro-vegetarian commercials on televisionTelevisionTelevision is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
. - Direct street canvassing and distribution of organization position materials.
- Protesting in front of restaurants.
- Distribution of vegetarian restaurant guides.
- Writing letters and op-ed to local newspaperNewspaperA newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s. - Restaurant outreach program advocating for restaurants to serve vegan food.
In 2005, egg producers dropped an "Animal Care Certified" label from their products after Compassion Over Killing filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1914 by the Federal Trade Commission Act...
for false advertising
False advertising
False advertising or deceptive advertising is the use of false or misleading statements in advertising. As advertising has the potential to persuade people into commercial transactions that they might otherwise avoid, many governments around the world use regulations to control false, deceptive or...
on the part of the egg companies. Compassion Over Killing said that the egg label implied that the care of the animals had met a certain standard of animal conditions, which the egg producers had not; the National Advertising Review Board agreed that the label was deceptive. The FTC complaint was dropped when the egg industry agreed to exchange the label in favor of one stating, "United Egg Producers Certified".
The organization has since launched successful campaigns urging Morningstar Farms
Morningstar Farms
Morningstar Farms is a division of the Kellogg Company that produces vegetarian food. Many of their offerings are meatless variations of traditionally meat-based products, including some that are vegan...
, Boca, and LightLife
Lightlife
LightLife Foods, a ConAgra Foods brand, is a company that produces vegetarian and vegan meat substitutes. Lightlife is based in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, and was established in 1979....
to use fewer eggs in their products.
At the 2009 Taking Action for Animals conference hosted by the Humane Society of the United States
Humane Society of the United States
The Humane Society of the United States , based in Washington, D.C., is the largest animal advocacy organization in the world. In 2009, HSUS reported assets of over US$160 million....
, Erica Meier introduced Compassion Over Killing's new campaign to urge Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts
Dunkin' Donuts is an international doughnut and coffee retailer founded in 1950 by William Rosenberg in Quincy, Massachusetts; it is now headquartered in Canton...
to remove animal products from its donuts. Compassion Over Killing had already started a campaign for Dunkin' Donuts to stock soy milk
Soy milk
Soy milk and sometimes referred to as soy drink/beverage is a beverage made from soybeans. A stable emulsion of oil, water, and protein, it is produced by soaking dry soybeans and grinding them with water...
in its shops, which the company did in certain regions.
Investigations
Compassion Over Killing has also conducted multiple undercover investigations on the conditions of animals raised for food in the U.S.The group conducted an investigation into the living conditions at Maryland henhouses, documenting corpses found in group cages and rescuing some of the hens found in the worst conditions. One of the farms documented, owned by ISE America, housed more than 800,000 hens. Following a tipoff about substandard conditions at the farm, COK requested permission to visit the farm before proceeding with an undercover investigation.
The egg industry said that conditions found in photos and videos produced by COK did not give an accurate view and it was illegal for Compassion Over Killing to remove the hens. The spokesperson for the owner of the farm in question said that the conditions found at the farm were "normal industry practices." While one of the farms asserted that the video footage was not taken at its farm, Compassion Over Killing had filmed its GPS location as well as mail addressed to the farm in question.
On November 21, 2006, COK released the results of its investigation inside a turkey hatchery in North Carolina that supplies Butterball
Butterball
Butterball is a brand of turkey and other poultry products produced by Butterball LLC. The company manufactures food products in the United States and internationally — specializing in turkey, cured deli meats, raw roasts and specialty products such as soups and salads, sandwiches, and...
. Details on the investigation can be found in the Charlotte Observer.
In early 2006, a Compassion Over Killing investigation inside a Pennsylvania egg farm led to criminal charges of 35 counts of animal cruelty against the owner and manager of the farm, the first case of its kind. Charges were pressed by a local animal control officer after viewing a video provided by COK which allegedly showed hens impaled by cage wires, among other decomposing hens. The owner and manager of the farm were acquitted in 2007, in a case which COK maintained rewrote animal cruelty laws to say that farm animals were not covered.