Maine Friends of Animals - MFOA

Friday, 12 March 2010

MFOA Timeline

1997	Robert Fisk, Jr. founds Maine friends of Animals (MFOA) and opens office in Falmouth.
1997	As a legislator Fisk champions animal issues and sponsors Endangered Species bill for the Maine Audubon Society and MFOA.
1998	MFOA establishes Board of Directors, legislative lobbing and volunteer structure with 250 members in the first year.
1999	MFOA sponsors successful legislation to increase penalties for animal cruelty, including felony provisions with increased fines and imprisonment.
2000	MFOA leads a legislative effort to have the State's Animal Welfare Program reviewed and completely revamped and improved.
2000	Supporters of MFOA grow to 800 and a new District Coordinator structure is created — 15 districts (population centers) throughout the state with MFOA Coordinators for each.
2000	MFOA establishes legislative score card of legislator's voting record on animal protection legislation.
2000	MFOA launches web site http://www.mfoa.net/. Improves in 2003.
2001	MFOA begins a four year, two legislative session campaign to ban circus elephants into the state, which is well covered by the media. In first session the House passes the bill 85-53, but it loses in the Senate. In the second legislature MFOA wins resolution to strengthen enforcement.
2001	Robert Fisk, Jr. wins national HSUS award for an individual doing the most to promote animal protection legislation in their state.
2001	MFOA joins northern Maine wildlife activists in a strong two-year campaign to end coyote snaring.
2001	MFOA submits bills to ban bear baiting, hounding and trapping, to prohibit the sale of bear parts, to eliminate the state's coyote snaring program, to eliminate canned hunting, and to end the use of steel leg-hold traps.
2003	MFOA moves to new offices in Falmouth that also serves as the headquarters for the two-year bear referendum campaign.
2003	Three MFOA members form Spay Maine to reduce cat and dog euthanasias.
2003	MFOA initiates a referendum effort to end the hunting of black bears with the use of bait, hounds and traps and engages The Humane Society of the United States, The Fund For Animals, and political and animal activists statewide. MFOA puts together campaign teams and forms the political action committee, Maine Citizens for Fair Bear Hunting.
2004	With the help of 500 volunteers statewide, MFOA leads in the collection of over 103,000 signatures for the bear ballot initiative, setting a signature gathering record.
2005	MFOA submits legislation to address dogs chained outside on a continuous basis specifying specific conditions that must be met, which passes and becomes first legislation in the nation.
2006	MFOA follows up on successful legislation with a statewide campaign called “Dogs Chained for Life” (see PSA at bottom of website home page) and set up structure for reporting abuses and cruelty. Submits follow-up legislation that does not pass, but continues campaign with greater focus on enforcement and adjudication.
2006	MFOA hires paid staff for office management and increased fundraising and to handle member growth that numbers 1,500.
2007	MFOA gets legislation passed to add a bittering agent in anti-freeze to save pet and small animal deaths, that will not take effect until three other three northeastern states pass it.
2007	MFOA celebrates a 10 year anniversary as Maine’s leading voice for animals. Expands board and drafts more comprehensive By-Laws.
2008	MFOA initiates campaign and legislation to end the practice of canned hunting in Maine.
2008	MFOA endorses and actively supports a State Senator who won by 121 votes in a recount. MFOA's grassroots efforts and newspaper ads not only helped elect an animal-friendly State Senator, but in doing so, defeated an incumbent who had the worst animal protection record in the Senate.