Individuals work alone and fund their own activities

The original Animal Liberation Front (ALF) formed in England in 1976, splintering off from the Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) to form a more militant organization.  The FBI claims that the American branch of the ALF began its operations in the late 1970s, but the group became more high profile in 1982, and then made the FBI's domestic terrorism list in 1987 with a multi-million dollar arson at a veterinary lab in California.  ALF carries out direct action against animal abuse in the form of rescuing animals and causing financial loss to animal exploiters, usually through the damage and destruction of property.  Because ALF actions are against the law, activists work anonymously, either in small groups or individually, and they do not have any centralized organization or coordination. The Animal Liberation Front consists of small autonomous groups of people all over the world who carry out direct action according to the ALF guidelines.  Any group of people who are vegetarians or vegans and who carry out actions according to ALF guidelines have the right to regard themselves as part of the ALF, according to their website and other materials.  <p><p>Similar to activities in the United Kingdom and Canada, the American ALF has attacked medical and scientific research laboratories, butcher shops, and retail furriers.  The organization has claimed credit for the theft of research animals and the destruction of research equipment and records, as well as acts of vandalism and arson.  In August of 2003, ALF activists claimed responsibility for the release of 10,000 mink from a mink farm in Washington State. In North America and the United Kingdom, most militant members of the ALF are young and from middle-class backgrounds.

The ALF's short-term aim is to save as many animals as possible and directly disrupt the practice of animal abuse.  Their long-term aim is to end all animal suffering by forcing animal abuse companies out of business.  The organization claims to be nonviolent and activists are encouraged to take precautions not to harm any animal (human or otherwise).  <p><p>ALF goals according to their website are as follows:  1. To liberate animals from places of abuse, i.e. laboratories, factory farms, fur farms, etc., and place them in good homes where they may live out their natural lives, free from suffering.  2. To inflict economic damage to those who profit from the misery and exploitation of animals. 3. To reveal the horror and atrocities committed against animals behind locked doors, by performing non-violent direct actions and liberations. 4. To take all necessary precautions against harming any animal, human and non-human.