Check Out Erica Davidson’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Davidson

Hi Erica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always loved animals and had been vegetarian for many years, but did not get into activism until 2022. At that time, I was volunteering at a local farm animal sanctuary and fell in love with a rescued dairy cow named Lily. She was rescued from an Iowa University Dairy Farm. Since she was born with a number of health issues, she could not be used for breeding and would have been slaughtered until kind people stepped in and rescued her. Meeting her in sanctuary, you will find that she is the most affectionate, sweet, gentle soul. Hearing her story and getting to know her personality pushed me to learn more about the dairy industry. After watching the documentary Cowspiracy, I went vegan overnight. I started looking into what else I could do to help animals, and found The Humane League (THL). As a volunteer Captain through THL, I have learned so much about activism, specifically how to work to influence legislation and corporate policies to demand improved welfare for animals. I started building a team of activists in Columbus and met Matt and Rohith – two other passionate activists. Their background was in different types of activism through other organizations (Animal Activism Mentorship and Anonymous for the Voiceless), and together we combined forces and created Columbus Animal Advocates. Our mission is to promote animal welfare in the greater Columbus community through various forms of activism and advocacy. We currently consist of just a handful of passionate animal advocates, but hope to grow in order to make an even bigger difference for the animals.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The biggest challenge in growing our grassroots volunteer organization is time. For most of our members, this is a passion project that we do on the side of our jobs and other personal responsibilities. Getting regular volunteers to help build the organization has therefore been difficult, but we are taking it one day at a time! The other big struggle is that current institutions that exploit animals are ingrained in our society, as is consuming animal products on both a personal and societal level. Making change is a very slow process, and it can be discouraging at times. Self care for any activist or changemaker, for any issue, is important in order to be able to continue fighting and pushing for change.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
CAA is still a new and growing grassroots animal advocacy organization. We are currently working on obtaining 501c3 status. How we differ from other organizations is that we incorporate all different kinds of activism based on our volunteers’ experiences and preferences. We also focus on our local community in Columbus, Ohio and how we can make a difference for animals here and now. We have engaged in a variety of activities such as street protests, corporate engagement, vegan advocacy, and legislative action (both local and federal). We welcome all animal lovers to volunteer their time with us to make a difference for the animals! A few of our recent campaigns are outlined below.

Recently, we have been working with The Humane League to protest the use of cruel battery cages at various restaurants, such as Hardee’s. Battery cages are the most common method for confining egg laying hens in the U.S.. They are just a few feet wide and only 15 inches tall, and each cage houses multiple birds. As you can imagine, this causes immense physical and psychological suffering; the birds can’t even spread their wings without hitting the cage or another chicken. Back in 2016, Hardee’s, along with other restaurants, made a promise to phase out these horrifically cruel battery cages from its supply chain by 2025. But unfortunately, as of September 2024, they are refusing to report any progress on this cage-free egg commitment. Holding corporations responsible for their animal welfare policies is one way that we can promote a more humane community and reduce the suffering of multitudes of animals.

We have also been working on getting local Columbus restaurants to stop selling foie gras. Foie gras (translated to “fatty liver” in French) is a luxury food product created when ducks and geese are force-fed high fat substances through a foot long feeding tube to induce fatty liver disease. The liver is then minced or ground and sold for human consumption. This process causes immense suffering to these sensitive animals. Unfortunately, a handful of local restaurants still sell this item either outright on their menus or by special request, including our current campaign target, The Refectory. We have been engaging in conversations with management at The Refectory asking them to create a foie gras free policy and are protesting to spread awareness of this cruelty.

In addition to these and other campaigns, we work to spread awareness on animal suffering and promote veganism through various events, some pictured here!

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was your standard animal lover and environmentalist. I went vegetarian after attending a summer program at Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. This program focused on environmentalism, and it was here that I was first introduced to the horrors of factory farming both in regards to animal welfare and its negative impacts on the environment. My parents were your standard meat + potato + veggie Ohioans and definitely struggled with my decision, but were ultimately supportive and accommodated by making me separate vegetarian meals every day; I appreciate them immensely! I grew up doing volunteer work with my dad through a program called Meals on Wheels, and I credit him with fostering my philanthropic spirit. In college at The Ohio State University, I founded a student volunteer group with some friends where we volunteered all over Columbus, including at Columbus Humane, the Ronald McDonald House, and Habitat for Humanity ReStore. I have always loved sharing my passion for volunteer work with others, and this definitely is what led me to co-found Columbus Animal Advocates!

Outside of animal advocacy and philanthropy in general, I have always enjoyed exercise and reading. I love being able to get absorbed in these activities and forget about the world for a brief moment! I also enjoy volunteering my time at animal sanctuaries; pictured is me with a rescue cow named Tate living his best life at The Good Shepherd Animal Sanctuary in Neapolis, Ohio. I am passionate about wellness and self-care and try to foster this in others, including at my job as a clinical pharmacist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Healthcare, like activism, can be very emotionally taxing, and self-care is immensely important!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://columbusanimaladvocates.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbusanimaladvocates/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558827014817
• Other: info@columbusanimaladvocates.org

Image Credits
Liz Maselli (picture with parade, bird flu bailout, and Tate the cow), Hannah Shoemaker (Hardees protest photos)