Activism
ALV was established in 1978 by Patty Mark, an animal rights activist. After reading a book on animal liberation in 1978, Mark put a notice up in the local milk bar that said Help the Hens which attracted 17 people and proved to be the start of ALV. In the early years of their operation, ALV set up information tables in the Bourke Street Mall, presented information discussions at schools and co-ordinated the signing of petitions. In 1993, Mark received a call about the inhumane treatment of hens at a battery hen facility in Victoria, inspiring the birth of ALV's Open Rescue division.
Animal Liberation Victoria was the first group that made open rescues of hens. Later, they have continued making open rescues.
They have also protested against sheep exports, in Port of Devonport, whaling, the killing of animals on television by Jamie Oliver, animal deaths in Melbourne Zoo, and the 2007 Australian and New Zealand Council for the Care of Animals in Research and Teaching (ANZCCART) conference.
ALV supports and manages the Action Animal Rescue Team, a group formed in 1993 whose purpose is "save the lives of unattended and neglected animals who are left sick and dying in factory farms" and "document (with video footage and photographs) the conditions for animals in factory farms, feedlots, live export and abattoirs."
They also offered to provide legal assistance to the students that, in May 2005, opposed the idea of a rural school to slaughter a pig and a cow that they raised. Bernie Williams, executive producer of the last Charlotte's Web film, wrote an e-mail to the school in support of the students.
Read more about this topic: Animal Liberation Victoria