CAA was formed in early 1998 in order to pursue "strategic nonviolence" as a path towards animal rights. This is a strategy based on the principles of non-violent action defined by
Gene Sharp. These principles of strategic non-violence are reflected in CAA's current core values. The name Compassionate Action for Animals was adopted in May 1998. In June 1999, CAA became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization after merging with the Animal Liberation League, another local animal rights organization with a very similar approach and philosophy. In 1999, CAA began working on its Ban Battery Cages campaign, which culminated in the
open rescue of over ten egg-laying hens from a
battery cage facility, the first such rescue in the US. CAA's investigation and rescue campaign was based on a similar campaign which was first done by
Animal Liberation Victoria in Australia. CAA is active as a student group at the
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus, as well as at the
Macalester College campus and in the larger
Minneapolis-Saint Paul area. Its focus is on outreach, education and community-building events. ==Activities and campaigns==