Last Chance For Animals

Investigations:LCA, often called the FBI of Animal Rights, is widely known for its Sam Simon Special Investigation Unit (SIU), which conducts in-depth investigations to expose horrible cruelty and misuse of animals. The SIU team focuses on validating information, detecting suspect activity, exposing illegal or unethical activities, and reporting them to local, state, and federal authorities for prosecution. The information obtained in LCAs investigations is used to develop campaigns, provide grassroots education and outreach to the public, and help draft legislation that brings lasting changes for animals. The scope of LCAs investigations includes but is not limited to pet theft, puppy mills, the Asian dog meat trade, animals used in entertainment, vivisection, and pharmaceuticals manufactured from the demise of animals. LCA Europe Again Exposes Cruelty on Italian Prosciutto di Parma Supplier Farms In December 2024, LCA released a second investigation into three Prosciutto di Parma supplier farms in Italy. Filmed between April and November of 2024, the footage again depicts a pattern of suffering, neglect, and unsanitary conditions with potential violations of animal welfare and sanitation laws. The three farms house a total of 7,500 pigs, including 500 sows, all managed by the President of the Italian Pig Farmers Association (Assousuini), and have been added to the list of farms supplying Prosciutto di Parma already exposed by LCA in 2023. Premiering on Rai TVs Report, a popular investigative journalism program, LCAs second investigation received coverage throughout Italy and rattled the pig farming industry. The Parma Ham Consortium claimed the farms in question are not producers of Parma Ham, yet LCAs footage documented Prosciutto di Parma tattoos on the pigs, confirming their designation. Assousuini then claimed the footage was edited and outdated, even though the location of the farms was proven accurate via GPS, and dates on farm paperwork inside the barns proved accurate footage dates. The Report segments viewership across Italy totaled over 4.5 million people.The U.S. is the largest importer of Prosciutto di Parma, importing 750,000 hams in 2023. This is an international scandal that harms animals and deceives the public. Prosciutto di Parmas high-quality claims mislead consumers who assume the overall production of Italy's famous brand does not involve animal cruelty. LCA will be campaigning against major U.S. retailers to stop carrying Parma Ham products. Investigating California Retailers Selling New Fur in Violation of Fur Ban California's fur ban went into effect on January 1, 2023, making the production and sale of new fur products illegal in California. Since 2023, LCAs investigators have been documenting retailers ignoring the law and continuing to sell new fur. LCA was responsible for the first successful lawsuit upholding the California fur ban. In 2024, LCA successfully stopped luxury brand Stefano Ricci from selling new fur in its Beverly Hills store and online to California residents. LCA discovered that Neiman Marcus was violating not only the fur ban but also its own fur-free policy, and after filing a legal complaint, Neiman Marcus stopped selling all fur products online. LCA continues to conduct undercover investigations at fur retailers throughout California to stop illegal fur sales.Exposing Cruelty on S. Korean Chicken Farms On 7/15/2024, LCA/ALW released the first-ever major investigation into S. Korean chicken farms. The footage, taken from March to June 2024, is from three farms that supply chickens for Samgyetang chicken soup products. Samgyetang is the chicken equivalent of bosintang, dog meat soup, and is also consumed during Boknal, the hottest days of the summer. The investigation exposed sick and injured chickens suffering in filthy and cruel conditions. The investigation received widespread media coverage throughout S. Korea, including Hankyoreh, a media outlet with over 4,000,000 online subscribers, where the story was the second-most viewed. LCA/ALW held a major protest educating the public about the cruelty of Samgyetang and calling for a cruelty-free Boknal culture. Using LCAs online action form, over 900 supporters contacted Weee!, America's largest online Asian supermarket, demanding that they stop carrying Samgyetang products. Other Investigations To determine targets that may be abusing animals, LCAs investigation team researched and applied to over 50 different facilities during 2024. Ongoing investigations at 12/31/24 included a research laboratory conducting tests on primates and a facility using animals for entertainment.