Lifelong animal rights activist Louise Ryan turned up again at Camp Beagle in Cambridgeshire – this time to remove a new banner put up a day earlier by MBR Acres to promote Britain’s largest ‘puppy factory’. The 51-year-old wheelchair campaigner spray painted and pulled down the banner from the factory gates before being arrested and later released pending further inquiries by Cambridgeshire police.
Her actions were on the eve of a day previewed as ‘Operation 1,000’ which organisers had hoped might attract 1,000 people to Camp Beagle to protest.
Many came from all over the UK but in the end numbers were half of that.
Camp Beagle is the longest running permanent animal right protest camp in the world and activists have maintained a presence outside MBR acres 24/7 since July 2021.
“Activists travelled from as far away as Scotland, Wales and Devon to protest against MBR Acres and one activist had even travelled from Spain to display their disgust at the breeding and treatment of the puppies,” said a spokesperson for Saturday’s demonstration.
“The atmosphere was charged with determination as an estimated 400-500 activists caused Cambridgeshire Police to mount an operation to protect the facilities at MBR Acres.
“Cambridgeshire Police closed the B1090 due the sheer number of activists and stood protecting the gates as a group of drummers lead chants of ‘Free the MBR Beagles’ and ‘It’s not science – its violence’.
One activist, Morgan Russell, said: “We have turned up today to let MBR Acres know that we haven’t forgotten about them.
“What goes on behind those gates in secrecy is disgusting and we need to let MBR Acres and the industries that support them know that we won’t stop until every cage is empty.
“That goes for the toxicology laboratories like Charles River in Scotland, Sequani in Ledbury and LabCorp in Harrogate and Alconbury.”
Mr Russell added: “It also applies to Impex Couriers who are the only company that will transport these poor puppies to their death. We will keep raising awareness and keep protesting.
“This country is a nation of animal lovers and most people thought we didn’t do this anymore.”
MBR Acres, owned by US corporation Marshall Bioresources, is Britain’s largest puppy factory and operates at an 8-acre site on Sawtry Way, Wyton, Cambridgeshire.
MBR Acres breed Beagle puppies that are sold to UK Laboratories for toxicology testing by the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
Their operations were largely unknown until footage was obtained in 2021 of beagles on site, this footage prompted the regular protests outside the facility and lead to the formation of Camp Beagle.
MBR Acres is run by Marshall BioResources and a spokesperson has previously said the work they carry out has helped “save millions of human and animal lives”.
