Richard ‘Kudo’ Couto is the Founder of Animal Recovery Mission (ARM) and ARM Sanctuary.
Before dedicating his life to animal advocacy, Kudo had a successful career in real estate and marketing for Fortune 500 companies. However, his true calling emerged when he became a major donor and board member of the South Florida SPCA. During an investigation, he encountered an emaciated horse, Freedom’s Flight, a descendant of Secretariat, who he helped rescue from an illegal slaughter farm. This experience ignited his mission to expose and dismantle the Black Market Horse Meat Trade.
Balancing real estate by day, Kudo infiltrated illegal slaughter and animal fighting rings by night. After receiving death threats, he left the SPCA, and in 2010, founded Animal Recovery Mission (ARM), an organization solely dedicated to investigating extreme animal cruelty cases. His efforts led to Operation Restore, one of the largest animal cruelty raids in U.S. history, that resulted in shutting down 75 illegal slaughterhouses, 17 animal fighting operations, and 20 horse slaughter rings.
Over a decade later, Kudo’s personal and career accomplishments have mounted to some of the most impressive and historical efforts in the industry. Once a small non-profit, Kudo has led ARM into a multifaceted company that has become one of the most esteemed and impactful animal defense organizations with an expansive global reach.
Under Kudo’s leadership, ARM has mastered the art of collaborating forces with agencies like the FBI, DEA, ICE, and local law enforcement—and challenging them when necessary. His work has been featured in thousands of media reports, documentaries, and investigative programs. In 2009, he received an Emmy Award for his work on The Last Ride, an NBC News documentary on animal abuse.
Kudo regularly speaks at universities and law schools, inspiring future advocates. His ongoing mission is to expand ARM’s impact, including anti-poaching, disaster response, and factory farming—particularly exposing the abuses of Big Dairy.
Today, Kudo continues to push boundaries, merging tactical strategies, law enforcement, and civilian efforts to end animal cruelty on a global scale.
On the rare occasions that Kudo isn’t deep undercover, saving animals from animal abusers and seeking justice, you will find him immersed in nature, hiking, and discovering off-the-beaten-track destinations. Coming from an athletic background in professional extreme sports such as motocross and waterspouts, Kudo continues to live an active, plant-based lifestyle.
