animal successes
Over the years, animal health studies funded by MAF have produced many breakthroughs and have protected and enhanced the life of literally millions of animals — companion animals, horses and wildlife.
- Founded in 1948, today MAF is the world's largest charitable, nonprofit organization funding research to protect, treat, and cure animals worldwide — both companion animals and wildlife. Charity Navigator ranks MAF as a four-star charity, the highest rating.
- MAF has been at the forefront of funding breakthroughs on all seven continents on earth. MAF has its headquarters in Denver, Colorado.
- MAF's founder, Mark L. Morris Sr., was a veterinarian whose unique, pioneering research on diet and animal health saved millions of dogs from kidney failure and revolutionized the pet-food industry. Read more about Our History.
- It was Dr. Morris who led the effort for passage of federal legislation requiring all pet food sold in the United States to be safe and have nutritional value.
- MAF has sponsored more than 1,500 animal research studies.
- Thousands of veterinary scientists and research team members have been involved in MAF studies.
- For nearly three generations, virtually every practicing veterinarian in the United States and many throughout the world have directly or indirectly benefited from MAF research. Likewise, MAF research has had profound effects at zoos, universities, and health institutions worldwide.
- Thousands of veterinary and graduate students have received training and support from MAF. Join MAF's Future Vets Facebook group.
- MAF research is helping to save the last 700 mountain gorillas on earth.
- MAF-funded research helped develop artificial insemination protocols, which resulted in captive baby panda births. Today, pandas are successfully breeding in zoos, as well as in their native preserves in China. MAF is grateful to have played a role in the preservation of this species.
- MAF has launched a global Canine Cancer Campaign, involving the canine genome and designed to cure canine cancer in the next 10 to 20 years — with major potential impacts for human cancer treatments.
- Over the years, MAF has funded research to save dogs from blindness and other terrible health problems. A vaccine developed via MAF research protects puppies from the deadly parvovirus infection.
- MAF funds many research studies for the benefit of cats, which included development of a vaccine to eliminate the severe threat from feline leukemia and research on treatments for feline diabetes and a host of other related health concerns for both domestic and big cats.
- MAF launched the Happy Healthy Cat Campaign in November 2008 to increase funding for cat health research and to train new feline scientists.
- MAF has launched the Equine Consortium for Genetic Research, involving research to accelerate comprehensive investigations of horse health issues, treatments, and cures. MAF research is supporting all forms of horse health studies from colic to laminitis and foal diseases.
- MAF research uncovered causes and solutions related to disease transmission in sea otters, funded health investigations on fish and amphibians, and produced the first toad through in-vitro fertilization. Read more about veterinary research for wildlife.
- MAF can be said to be literally "for the birds," funding urgent global studies investigating prevention of avian flu, plus health and habitat research for wild and pet birds.
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