In January 2013, Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) filed a lawsuit, using the California state anti-cruelty code against an animal testing facility known as Santa Cruz Biotechnology that “harvests” blood from tens of thousands of animals. The lawsuit was on behalf of Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN) to protect the animals housed at the facility, who have been neglected and mistreated, as evidenced by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspections. In late January 2014, the Court denied a motion filed by Santa Cruz Biotech to keep secret the names of those who have a financial interest in the outcome of the animal cruelty lawsuit. The lawsuit received further legal support as a group of public interest legal organizations submitted a “friend of the court” brief to the California Court of Appeal.

According to The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), USDA-cited incidents at Santa Cruz Biotechnology include goats suffering from lameness, broken limbs, acute injuries, and respiratory, urinary or neurologic illnesses — all not given proper treatment or veterinary care. Other violations involved performing excessive blood draws causing the animals to suffer from severe anemia, and a goat who died in distress before she could be euthanized. According to inspection reports, Santa Cruz Biotechnology houses approximately 10,000 goats and 6,000 rabbits as well as horses and cattle not regulated by the USDA.

Read More | Animal Legal Defense Fund | Stop Animal Exploitation Now | The HSUS Applauds USDA Citations Against Animal Testing Facility Santa Cruz Biotechnology