ABSTRACT
Huntingdon Life Sciences (HLS) was a U.K. contract research organisation for the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, crop protection, chemical, veterinary, and food industries. Prior to 2014, this company was Europe’s largest and leading contract animal research organisation involving nonhuman animal testing of commercial products, such as paint, household cleaners, pesticides, food additives, energy drinks, chemicals for use in industry, and drugs. In 1997, after video footage shot covertly inside its facilities showed HLS staff shaking, punching, and shouting at beagles in their care, a group of animal advocates launched the Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) advocacy campaign. Instead of using activists’ campaigning to promote democratic transparency and stop hurting nonhuman animals, powerful communication and public relations strategies were used by the industry to promote disinformation, perpetuate injustice, and stop social compassion toward nonhuman animals.
