Last Chance for Animals
Encyclopedia
Last Chance for Animals (LCA) is a US non-profit organization
that advocates for animal rights
. It is mostly known for its documentary
, Dealing Dogs, and for its investigations against the use of animals for testing purposes
.
Last Chance for Animals seeks to eliminate animal exploitation through direct action
, education, investigations, legislation, and media attention. LCA believes animals are highly sentient creatures who exist for their own reasons independent of their service to humans; they should not be made to suffer for the latter. LCA therefore opposes the use of animals in food and clothing production, scientific experimentation, and entertainment. LCA promotes a cruelty-free lifestyle and the ascription of rights to non-human beings. They support veganism
and oppose animal testing
.
Founded in 1984 by Hollywood actor Chris DeRose
, Last Chance For Animals has its roots in opposing what it calls the inherent cruelty of vivisection
. In the organization's early years, DeRose led teams of activists employing non-violent strategies modeled after social movements led by such leaders as Mahatma Gandhi
and Martin Luther King, Jr. Their special investigations unit performs stings, investigations, and under-cover camera work.
With an increased budget and staff, LCA expanded its focus beyond vivisection in the 2000's. LCA's primary focuses are vivisection, pet theft, fur, and circuses, and it has also worked on animal use in other forms of entertainment, and on farming issues. The organization also provides money and support for the animal rescue mission occurring in areas heavily affected by the 2011 tsunami in Japan
.
In 2004, due to increased pressure from LCA supporters, the Supreme Court of New Jersey canceled the bear-hunting season before it started in December. In 2007, their investigation into cockfighting in Arkansas led to the nation's biggest cockfighting ring bust. In 2008 they helped the Rwandan Wildlife Authorities place GPS tags on 120 endangered mountain gorilla
s.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
that advocates for animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
. It is mostly known for its documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
, Dealing Dogs, and for its investigations against the use of animals for testing purposes
Animal testing
Animal testing, also known as animal experimentation, animal research, and in vivo testing, is the use of non-human animals in experiments. Worldwide it is estimated that the number of vertebrate animals—from zebrafish to non-human primates—ranges from the tens of millions to more than 100 million...
.
Last Chance for Animals seeks to eliminate animal exploitation through direct action
Direct action
Direct action is activity undertaken by individuals, groups, or governments to achieve political, economic, or social goals outside of normal social/political channels. This can include nonviolent and violent activities which target persons, groups, or property deemed offensive to the direct action...
, education, investigations, legislation, and media attention. LCA believes animals are highly sentient creatures who exist for their own reasons independent of their service to humans; they should not be made to suffer for the latter. LCA therefore opposes the use of animals in food and clothing production, scientific experimentation, and entertainment. LCA promotes a cruelty-free lifestyle and the ascription of rights to non-human beings. They support veganism
Veganism
Veganism is the practice of eliminating the use of animal products. Ethical vegans reject the commodity status of animals and the use of animal products for any purpose, while dietary vegans or strict vegetarians eliminate them from their diet only...
and oppose animal testing
Animal testing
Animal testing, also known as animal experimentation, animal research, and in vivo testing, is the use of non-human animals in experiments. Worldwide it is estimated that the number of vertebrate animals—from zebrafish to non-human primates—ranges from the tens of millions to more than 100 million...
.
Founded in 1984 by Hollywood actor Chris DeRose
Chris DeRose
Chris DeRose is an animal rights activist, recipient of the 1977 ‘Courage of Conscience’ International Peace Award and a former actor. He appeared on General Hospital, Cagney and Lacey, CHiPs, The Rockford Files and Baretta. He was an on-camera reporter for the television shows Hard Copy and...
, Last Chance For Animals has its roots in opposing what it calls the inherent cruelty of vivisection
Vivisection
Vivisection is defined as surgery conducted for experimental purposes on a living organism, typically animals with a central nervous system, to view living internal structure...
. In the organization's early years, DeRose led teams of activists employing non-violent strategies modeled after social movements led by such leaders as Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
and Martin Luther King, Jr. Their special investigations unit performs stings, investigations, and under-cover camera work.
With an increased budget and staff, LCA expanded its focus beyond vivisection in the 2000's. LCA's primary focuses are vivisection, pet theft, fur, and circuses, and it has also worked on animal use in other forms of entertainment, and on farming issues. The organization also provides money and support for the animal rescue mission occurring in areas heavily affected by the 2011 tsunami in Japan
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The 2011 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku, also known as the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, or the Great East Japan Earthquake, was a magnitude 9.0 undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 JST on Friday, 11 March 2011, with the epicenter approximately east...
.
In 2004, due to increased pressure from LCA supporters, the Supreme Court of New Jersey canceled the bear-hunting season before it started in December. In 2007, their investigation into cockfighting in Arkansas led to the nation's biggest cockfighting ring bust. In 2008 they helped the Rwandan Wildlife Authorities place GPS tags on 120 endangered mountain gorilla
Mountain Gorilla
The Mountain Gorilla is one of the two subspecies of the Eastern Gorilla. There are two populations. One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central Africa, within three National Parks: Mgahinga, in south-west Uganda; Volcanoes, in north-west Rwanda; and Virunga in the eastern Democratic...
s.