Camp Beagle are holding a peaceful demonstration outside Parliament on Monday 19 February ahead of their Westminster debate about animal testing. Organisers say the rally “aims to educate and raise public awareness about the scientific, financial, and moral failures of animal testing with a focus on toxicity”.
The rally has been coordinated by Camp Beagle, the longest running, permanent grassroots animal rights protest camp in the UK, if not the world.
Demonstrators have lived in tents and camper vans outside MBR Acres (Marshall BioResources) in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire for over two and half years.
Camp Beagle wishes to close down MBR Acres, a huge beagle breeding factory, which supplies about 2,000 puppies a year to toxicology testing laboratories across the UK.
“Marshalls have just had a 5-year licence renewed by the Home Office to bleed out ex-breeding bitches and studs and grade B puppies so their blood and organs can be sold,” said a Camp Beagle spokesperson.
“This is under terminal anaesthesia and most commonly via cardiac puncture which is literally bleeding from a beating heart.
“Puppies are sold and transported in vans at around 20 weeks old to undergo repeat dose toxicity testing.
“Customers include Labcorp in Huntingdon and Harrogate, Sequani in Ledbury and Charles River in Tranent, Scotland which is a gruelling 6–8-hour journey.”
The spokesperson added: “The beagles are housed in soundproofed, windowless industrial sheds, they have no access to the outside world, no natural light, no bedding, not even a bowl of water.
“There are no ‘care’ staff on site 16 hours weekdays and 20 hours weekends.
“This American company also flies in many thousands of beagle puppies from their breeding facilities in New York, to Europe, including to the UK.”
Attending Monday’s demonstration in London are a number of supporting celebrities, including TV personalities and influencers Gemma Collins and Faye Winter, also large animal rights campaigns, cruelty free organisations and scientific and legal experts.
The Parliamentary debate on Monday 19 February at 4.30pm, is discussing a petition calling for the end of animals use for toxicity tests and the prioritising of non- animal methods (NAMs).
The petition calls on government to radically divert funding and evolve policy to implement the use of NAMs in all regulatory toxicity tests.
John Curtin (spokesperson for Camp Beagle): “Camp Beagle will be here until MBR Acres is gone. This petition to ban toxicology tests would, in itself, if successful, spell out the end very quickly for MBR Acres. Onwards and forwards.”
Gemma Collins, (TV Personality and Businesswoman) is attending both the rally and the debate.
She said: “My heart breaks for the puppies being bred for sale to toxicity laboratories. It’s disgusting, they need to be shut down. It is evil and I will give my very last breath to make sure this happens!”
Faye Winter (TV Personality and Influencer): “As a devoted animal lover I am deeply committed to the welfare of animals and incredibly passionate about this cause.
“It is heart-breaking to think that in today’s world, we are still subjecting animals to cruel toxicology testing when there are humane alternatives available that can deliver the same or better results. It is ethically and morally wrong and we should be working together to create a future where compassion guides our knowledge and animals are respected as sentient beings.
“We have got to abandon the outdated practice of animal testing and fully embrace non-animal alternatives. By doing so, we can create a world where science and ethics exist in harmony.”
The peaceful rally has been coordinated by Camp Beagle, the longest running, permanent grassroots animal rights protest camp in the UK, if not the world. Demonstrators have lived in tents and camper vans outside MBR Acres (Marshall BioResources) in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire for over two and half years.
Attending the pre debate event on Monday 19 February from 2pm are:
Celebrities, Influencers, Animal Advocates
Gemma Collins: TV personality and businesswoman – also attending the debate
Faye Winter: TV Personality and influencer
Shirlie Kemp: Author, Singer, Photographer
Dominic Dyer: Animal Welfare Campaigner, Writer & Broadcaster
Jodie Marsh: Former model & documentary maker, now owner of Fripps Farm
Kirsty Gallagher: TV and radio broadcaster
Gillian McKeith: TV Presenter/creator of hit shows. Nutritionist Dietetic. Author
Kate Lawler: TV & Radio host / DJ / Author and media personality
Roxy Shahidi: Actress and Dancing on Ice star
Victoria Featherstone Pearce: Former model and founder of K-9 Angels charity
Simon King: Singer/songwriter/arranger
Dominic Dyer: Animal welfare campaigner & broadcaster,
Georgia Meacham: Actress
Helen Stanley: Artist
Anna Webb: Canine Expert
Danielle Zarb-cousin: Model & Animal Rights Activist
Jacqueline Webster: Cruelty free blogger
Animal Welfare Organisations
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Animal Aid, VIVA! And others
Cruelty Free Pioneers
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