Heydi Acuna shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Heydi, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
I’m chasing the overall wellbeing and better treatment of animals. My goal is to make a real difference — to reduce the number of animals living on the streets, sitting in shelters, or suffering from neglect and abuse. I want to help put an end to accidental litters and to create a world where animals are valued, cared for, and protected.
If I stopped… who would do it? That question stays with me every day. So many animal rescues are forced to close or slow down because this work is incredibly hard. It’s emotionally exhausting, and it can be heartbreaking to witness the cruelty and suffering that exists. But we can’t give up.
If I stop, there’s no guarantee someone else will step in. The animals can’t speak for themselves or fight for their own survival — that’s why we have to be there for them. They depend on us, and that responsibility keeps me going, no matter how hard it gets.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Heydi Acuna, and I am the founder and director of Mercy Full Project. My husband Nash and I started Mercy Full Project six years ago with a simple dream — to help animals.
I’ve been working with animals for as long as I can remember, even back when I was growing up in Colombia. After moving here, I began volunteering and working with different organizations, but I realized that some of the things they were doing didn’t align with my values. One day, I thought, “What if I just open my own rescue?” and Nash said, “Do it. Why not?” So I did.
It all started in the back of my car and quickly took over our entire garage — and from there, it grew into the amazing organization we have today. We’ve come so far, and I’m so proud of what we’ve built. Mercy Full Project has become a true family — a community of people dedicated to saving lives, spreading compassion, and making a difference for animals and people alike.
We’re so thankful for everyone who has supported us along the way. Everything we do comes from the heart, with one simple mission: to help the animals who need us most.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
When I was a young girl in Colombia, I was the kid running up and down the streets doing my best to help every animal I saw. I would feed them, take them to clinics for vaccines, and do whatever I could to make sure they were cared for. Helping animals was always just part of who I was — it came naturally.
When I came to the United States, I wanted to keep doing that same work. I tried volunteering and helping in shelters, but it was hard. I didn’t speak much English, and being from another country came with its challenges. I kept running into obstacles — people telling me I couldn’t help, or not giving me the chance to share my message because of the language barrier.
For a while, it made me feel like I couldn’t do what I was meant to do. But instead of giving up, I decided to break free. That’s why I started my own rescue — so I could help animals without anyone telling me to stop. Mercy Full Project was born from that determination, and it became the space where I could finally turn my passion into action.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Every day. Every single day, I’m met with different obstacles — things that stand in the way and make rescue work so incredibly hard. Animals pass away. Some animals bite out of fear. People leave the rescue. There are disagreements, friendships lost, even family relationships strained. There are so many moments that make me stop and think, *“I just want to give up.”*
But I can’t. And I won’t.
No matter what happens, I know I have to keep going — if not for myself, then for the animals. They are the heart of it all. If I give up, who will do it instead? The truth is, probably nobody. And that’s why I can’t stop. The animals deserve it. They need someone to keep fighting for them, because they can’t do it themselves.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
From the very beginning, we have believed that every single animal should be spayed and neutered. Every animal. This has been a non-negotiable principle for Mercy Full Project. We never allow adoptions to go through if the animals aren’t fixed, and people cannot foster with us if their animals aren’t spayed or neutered.
We do this to promote the importance of spay and neuter — to prevent unwanted litters and to motivate people to take action, even when they might think, “There’s no point because my animal won’t get pregnant.” The truth is, they can, and even one accidental litter contributes to the overpopulation problem that puts countless animals at risk.
Our goal is to reach a point where every animal is spayed or neutered. Our next step in achieving that vision is opening a low-cost spay and neuter clinic, which we hope to make a reality soon. This project is central to everything we do, and we are committed to it no matter how long it takes.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think people might misunderstand that I built Mercy Full Project just to get animals out of shelters and be done with it. It was so much more than that. Our mission has always been to rehabilitate, love, and find animals the homes they truly deserve — homes that are genuinely the best fit for them.
I built this organization for the animals, to help them find not just houses, but real families. Families that will give them the care, attention, and love they need for the rest of their lives. That’s what Mercy Full Project has always been about — creating lasting change for the animals who depend on us.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mercyfullprojects.org
- Instagram: @mercyfullproject
- Facebook: Mercy Full Project
