Dog Abuse in the UK
Image courtesy of BFP UK website
How many products in your home got there because they were tested on mice?
How many because they were tested on rats?
Tested on rabbits?
How many got there after being tested on DOGS? More specifically, beagles?
Heartbreakingly, the reason that animal testing centres use beagles is down to their naturally gentle and sweet nature.
How horrific is that?!
And to make things even worse, these tests are not even scientifically relevant. There is little to no correlation between the reactions of an animal and those of a human. Their size, anatomy and physiology make drug testing on animals farcical given the technological advances made in the last century. The methods they use are over 100 years old!
Luckily, some brilliant scientists such as, Dr Carol Treasure at XCellR8, have developed in vitro tests which use human cells, and so give superior and more accurate results. Companies need this evidence to bring products safely to market, but sadly, many companies still opt for the animal testing route, despite being less safe for the public.
Can you guess why?
This information was brought into sharp contrast at the launch event I attended last night celebrating the arrival of the Beagle Freedom Project - a US charity who have been rescuing beagles from testing facilities since 2010. They have just launched in the UK and are looking to change UK law around animal testing to enable the standards that currently exist to be enforceable and to raise awareness of the barbaric ways in which animals are exploited in the name of “science”. Dr Treasure spoke of the amazing work they are doing - you can see an interview with her in our video series to find out more!
Unbelievably, it is legal in the UK to breed beagles specifically for animal testing in the pharmaceutical industry. There is no law around how these animals are treated in these centres and there are approximately 5 centres in the UK. The most infamous of these is Huntingdon Life Sciences in Cambridgeshire - the location of MBR Acres and Camp Beagle. It was here that Will Young handcuffed himself to the gate and drew press attention to the plight of these innocent puppies and their mothers. He is now the ambassador for the Beagle Freedom Project charity and spoke at the event in his typically self-deprecating, jolly fashion despite the tough subject matter.
Find more information here and share this information in your community to help stop the exploitation of these gorgeous pups: https://bfpuk.org/. Thanks to Shannon Keith and Robert Cogswell for such a great event - providing the audience with plenty to think about and act upon!
