Four Firms Hit with PETA Shareholder Resolutions

Group Wants to Hold Corporations Accountable for Animal Use, Seeks Reforms

For Immediate Release:
December 18, 2012

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382

Norfolk, Va. -- How does PETA get the attention of General Electric, Pfizer, Charles River Laboratories, and Merck—four huge corporations that have refused to stop archaic animal testing or even discuss alternatives? By buying stock in them and submitting shareholder resolutions.

PETA bought just enough stock in these companies to introduce resolutions, which it has just filed, calling on these corporations to detail new procedures that will reduce and replace animal use—particularly the number of animals forced to endure painful experiments—and improve the horrendous treatment of the millions of nonhuman primates, horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, rats, and mice who are used by these companies each year. 

The four companies have a history of violating the most minimal laws protecting animals. Recent documented abuses include the following:

• Charles River Laboratories has killed animals by incorrectly ramming tubes into their stomachs. 
• Hundreds of dogs and cats used in painful experiments at Pfizer were not given pain relief, including some who stopped eating and were eventually killed.
• Merck denied veterinary treatment to a dog with cysts and other dogs who bled after careless nail trimming.
• General Electric failed to give proper pain relief to rabbits who were cut open in experiments.

"Shareholders have a right to know what goes on behind the closed doors of their companies' laboratories," says PETA Senior Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Kathy Guillermo. "PETA's resolutions offer shareholders the opportunity to demand that their companies stop using cruel, unreliable, and expensive animal tests."

Resolutions frequently open the door to regular, constructive discussions between PETA scientists and companies' upper management and scientists.

PETA's shareholder resolutions are available upon request.