Targeted : Anatomy of an Animal Rights Attack

In the last 10 years, animal rights activists have broken into more than 80 research and educational institutions across the United States, stealing research animals and destroying millions of dollars' worth of property.

These break-ins are part of a fierce misinformation campaign designed to discredit all scientific use of animals - despite the meticulous regulation of such research and the monumental benefits it has yielded.

Preying on society's unfamiliarity with scientific procedures, many animal rights groups advocate an end to all human use of animals: for food and clothing, in research, and even as pets (because pet status implies human dominion over animals). "Targeted" attempts to provide an in-depth look at the goals and tactics of the animal rights movement.

After surveying the movement's history and organisation, Lorenz Otto Lutherer and Margaret Sheffield Simon present detailed examples of various break-ins and the events that surrounded them.

By recognising this pattern of attack, an institution can anticipate and guard against an incident and, if a break-in does occur, respond effectively to the extensive media compaign that is likely to follow. Crisis management procedures, the role of institutional animal care and use committees, ways to build community support for an institution and its research, security measures, and legal aspects such as litigation strategies and open meeting requirements are thoroughly discussed.

Animal rights activism has been escalating steadily in recent years, and every institution involved in animal use is a potential target.

This book argues that the time has come for a proactive response that safeguards scientific inquiry and informs the public about the value and legitimacy of animal-based research.