Friends of Animals
Non-profit OrganizationsConnecticut, United States11-50 Employees
Friends of Animals is a nonprofit, international animal advocacy organization incorporated in New York in 1957. It operates from Darien, Connecticut, and works to cultivate a respectful view of nonhuman animals, both wild and domestic, with an aim to reduce cruelty and institutionalized exploitation worldwide. The organization pursues its mission through sustained advocacy and public-interest actions intended to influence policy and practice affecting animals. In recent years, Friends of Animals has engaged in legal action to challenge regulatory decisions and practices it views as harmful to animals, including a 2026 suit against the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for failing to decide on protections for Atlantic horseshoe crabs under the Endangered Species Act. The group forms partnerships and expands collaborations to support animal welfare initiatives, such as veterinary access programs and sanctuary work, illustrating its international scope within the nonprofit sector.