ABSTRACT
Behind different understandings of 'crime' in the animal context lie differing philosophies concerning the human-animal relationship. Within the anthropocentric philosophy, animal viewpoints are not brought forward or seen as valuable. Behind the different takes on criminalisation in the animal context lie different 'animal philosophies'. On the most obvious level, these philosophies concern the normative status of non-human animals. This chapter concentrates on the campaign carried out by Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) against Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS). It brings forward a qualitative analysis of the internet websites of these two parties during perhaps the most heightened time of the campaign, together with relevant reports from the state and mainstream news media. SHAC can be depicted in these terms: it is seeking to attack the narrow economical interests of HLS both on the practical and moral level, and to offer an alternative to the type of egoistical utilitarianism endorsed by HLS. Governmental documents also emphasise negative stereotypes of animal rights activists.
