Free the MBR Beagles - Demand an End to Animal Testing

'Free the MBR Beagles' is a current series of protests against a breeding farm (MBR Acres, owned by Marshall BioResources) that is rearing Beagles for toxicology testing. The company breeds beagles for medical research and they are sent for testing at just 16 weeks old, force fed chemicals, and then killed. Undercover footage revealed whimpering dogs being hauled into crates and transported to laboratories.

Photo by Aditya Joshi on Unsplash

Glen Black (2021), in his article on the campaign, quoted the spokesperson of Camp Beagle as he explained the reasoning behind these protests:

"The problem with MBR Acres is one that applies to the whole animal research industry. In the 21st century where we have the scientific capability of doing human-relevant research using technology, why are we still trying to turn animals into surrogate humans? Equally animals are not only sentient but capable of emotional as well as physical suffering. Beagle dogs are used because they are docile and trusting. The cynical abuse of this trust is totally unacceptable. The factory farming of these dogs to be used in toxicity research runs contrary to everything we know and understand."

"The future of the campaign and camp is dependent on how successfully we can reach out to not just the animal rights movement but also the public who through loving their own dogs come to truly understand what is happening at MBR. If we achieve that then we will not only free the MBR beagles but change the future direction for what happens on the issue of using animals in research."

On the other hand, MBR Acres announced in a press statement that:

"Protesters trying to shut down medical and veterinary research in the UK are doing so based on misinformation. Almost every medicine we have today, including those the protesters give to their pets, has resulted from animal research.

Animals remain utterly vital to scientific breakthroughs that ensure human and animal health, they cannot by law be used if a non-animal alternative is available and they are not allowed by law to be kept in poor conditions"

This is a complicated debate, but the viability of the link between human and animal medical research has been proved questionable (as argued in many research papers). I would argue that it is time to bring the practices of the animal testing industry to an end. Peta argues that human-relevant, non-animal methods of testing are available, such as organs-on-chips (devices lined with living human cells which imitate organ functions), computer simulations, and human cell cultures. Yes, medical research is crucial to both human and animal health, but with the rapid development of research technology it is no longer necessary to subject any animal to this kind of horrific testing.

See this very thought-provoking video of Ricky Gervais and Dr Ray Greek discussing animal testing:

This animal testing is needless and wrong, and these dogs (like all living creatures) deserve to lead happy lives.

There are protests happening at two sites - MBR Acres in Huntingdon (PE28 2DT) and B&K Universal in Hull (HU11 4QE) - on Sunday, August 15. If you're interested in supporting this cause do also follow the social media accounts below and share their content!

Links to Events & Social Media:

• https://www.facebook.com/events/419257842760732 - Dual Site Rally - Huntingdon & Hull, Sunday 15th August

• https://twitter.com/freembrbeagles?lang=en

• https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=free%20the%20mbr%20beagles

• https://www.instagram.com/free_the_mbr_beagles/

References:

• https://phoenix.coop/2021/07/the-campaign-to-shut-down-a-factory-farm-supplying-dogs-for-animal-testing-is-snowballing/

• https://www.peta.org.uk/blog/cambridgeshire-beagle-animal-experiments/

• https://wyss.harvard.edu/technology/human-organs-on-chips/#:~:text=4%2F7%20The%20Organs%2Don,that%20mimic%20organ%2Dlevel%20physiology.