NC 14 BEAGLES LIBERATED FROM HLS!

02 Apr 2001

No Compromise

For Immediate Release:

14 BEAGLES LIBERATED FROM CONTROVERSIAL LAB DAYS BEFORE MAJOR PROTEST

contact: Darius G. Fullmer (732) 296-1202, on-site (908) 693-2358

East Millstone, NJ -An anonymous message was delivered to the Animal Defense League - New Jersey today claiming a raid at controversial animal testing laboratory Huntingdon Life Sciences, 100 Mettlers Ln., East Millstone, NJ, in which 14 beagles were liberated. Word was received the day before a major protest at the lab scheduled for April 2, 2001, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

An estimated two-hundred animal rights activists from across the United States, as well as overseas are expected to attend the protest.

The raid occurred during a series of events targeting the animal testing lab, which began with protests at the residences of three key Huntingdon executives on Saturday, March 31. A conference on Sunday, April 1, featured speakers including animal rights activists, a surgeon, and AIDS activists--who discussed the issue of animal testing from ethical and scientific viewpoints.

Huntingdon Life Sciences, a UK-based animal research laboratory specializing in toxicology testing, has become the target of an extensive and hard-hitting campaign in England, and now in New Jersey. The company routinely pumps lethal doses of toxic substances into the stomachs of beagles, monkeys, rats, mice, rabbits, and other animals.

Huntingdon Life Sciences has been besieged since 1997, in which undercover video of company laboratories in both the United Kingdom and East Millstone, NJ facilities shows workers cutting apart a live monkey, and punching and violently shaking beagle puppies. The videos led to a $50,000 fine for violations of the Animal Welfare Act at the US facility, and Cruelty to Animals charges at the UK lab.

The company began a downward financial spiral as investors such as Citibank, HSBC, Merill Lynch, and TD Waterhouse pulled their support, many after being targeted by intense protests. Over the past week, Huntingdon's only two brokers to the London Stock Exchange, Winterflood Securities and Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein, severed ties with the company, leaving them on shaky financial ground. The campaign in the United States began in September 2000 when 60 activists protested the lab, leading to five arrests. The ADL-NJ would later criticize Huntingdon Life Sciences for refusing to debate the merit of their work with a concerned doctor and medical school instructor.

ADL-NJ activist Darius Fullmer points out that the group is not involved in underground actions such as the raid, but fully supports them. "Fourteen innocent creatures have been rescued from a short life of pain and a brutal death. For those 14 we rejoice, for all those who remain encaged we will continue to fight until all are free."

Nik Hensey, who traveled from Los Angeles for the protest, said "I came to do my part to show that Huntingdon can no longer torture and mutilate animals behind closed doors in the name of profit." Activist Miyun Park from Washington D.C. stated, "We've seen what goes on inside Huntingdon, and there's simply no excuse for that kind of cruelty."