Animal Aid

Live Pigs Blown Up In Government Military Research Laboratory

On Sunday, details emerged concerning shocking experiments being conducted on live pigs at Porton Down, a secretive military research centre in Wiltshire. In a series of tests, 18 live pigs were placed just a few feet away from explosives, which were then detonated. The pigs were left to bleed until almost a third of their blood had drained from their bodies, to see how long they could then be kept alive.

Grey Squirrels Do Not Harm Woodland Birds

Researchers from the British Trust for Ornithology and Natural England published this month results of a study into whether grey squirrels have a negative impact on 38 woodland bird species. Such an accusation has often been made by those with vested interests in squirrel culling, namely shooting and forestry industries but to date no evidence has been provided.

Ask your MP to help ban battery cages for game birds

Please write to your MP and ask him or her to sign Early Day Motion (EDM) 507, which calls for a ban on the use of all battery cages for ‘game birds’. A decision on their future will soon be taken, so please write as soon as possible.

A million or more sheep face death in the snow

In November, we reported that, according to the farming trade press, hundreds, if not thousands, of sheep and cattle perished in the floods that battered Cumbria. Now comes the news that a million Scottish sheep face being starved or frozen to death on exposed hillsides. The National Farmers' Union in Scotland has said about a third of the country's sheep are on hills and warns that many flocks are ‘on a real knife edge’ following weeks of snow and sub-zero temperatures.

Help Ban Animals from Circuses

DEFRA has launched a public survey aimed at testing opinion on the use of animals in circuses. Although the consultation focuses on wild animals, it is still a valuable first step in working towards a total ban on the confinement and use of all animals in circuses.

It is important that you voice your opinion on this issue - and please encourage friends and family to do likewise.

Animal Campaigners Win Important Freedom of Speech Victory

Five animal rights campaigners - including an Animal Aid School Speaker - have won an important victory under the Human Rights Act 1998, following a series of arrests by Lancashire Police in 2006. The placards that the protestors carried - depicting monkeys in vivisection experiments - were deemed by the police to be ‘threatening, abusive or insulting’ under Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.

Have a great 2010

The beginning of a new decade is the perfect time to resolve to make a fresh start. What better way of having a compassionate, healthier and happier 2010 than by going veggie or vegan?

Otter Valley Poultry and the Soil Association – a clarification

In our press release of 18 December 2009 (Organic Poultry for the Christmas Table: Secret Filming Reveals the Grim Truth) – which was also posted on our website – we said that the chickens and turkeys we filmed at Otter Valley Poultry in Honiton were Soil Association-approved organic animals. We came to this conclusion based on declarations on Otter Valley Poultry’s website. We are now informed by the Soil Association that, while the poultry slaughter operation at the Honiton abattoir is Soil Association-certified, the farm at the same address is not organic, Soil Association or otherwise. Otter Valley’s Soil Association-approved organic chickens and turkeys are farmed at three different addresses before being slaughtered at Honiton. We are happy make public this clarification.

Help Ban Gamebird Breeding Cages

A draft Code of Practice on the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes has been published by the Gamebird Working Group, which was established under the 2006 Animal Welfare Act. The Working Group looked at a broad range of issues relating to game bird production, including diet, veterinary care, transportation and housing.

Congratulations to the winners of Animal Aid’s 2009 raffle

They are:
1st prize, £1,500 Mrs J Stephens of Orpington
2nd prize, £500 Mr D Castle of Swanage
3rd prize, £250 Mrs S Banham of Harrow
4th prize, 4 nights in Welsh cottage Ms T Marshall of Scarborough

Three workers suspended and CCTV installed in organic abattoir following cruelty allegations

Three slaughtermen have been suspended from a Soil Association-approved abattoir following an undercover investigation by Animal Aid that reveals what the government regulatory body, the Meat Hygiene Service (MHS), describes as ‘clear evidence of breaches of animal welfare legislation’.

Call for public boycott at Doncaster racecourse

Animal Aid, Europe’s largest animal rights organisation, is demanding immediate action after three horses were left dead during this weekend’s racing at Town Moor, Doncaster.

Government's advisory body on sustainability says, 'eat less meat and dairy'

The government’s independent advisory body on sustainability - the Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) - has today (Dec 11th), published the first official recommendation for a diet that is both healthy and good for the environment. To fight climate change and reduce the growing number of diet-related diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers, the SDC recommends that consumers cut down on meat and dairy produce, reduce their intake of processed foods and curb waste.

Ask your local authority to support Meat-Free Monday to help reduce climate change

Today (Dec 7th), world leaders will meet in Copenhagen and, over the next ten days, will try to come to a political agreement on climate change. But, like most political discussions, economic and business issues will probably dominate. There is likely to be strong resistance to the development of policy initiatives that result in the cut back of the consumption of animal products. But there is something that each of us can do to help our communities to reduce their impact on climate change.

Don't miss Animal Aid's Xmas fayre this Sunday

We regret to announce that, due to illness, veteran politician and campaigner Tony Benn will be unable to attend Animal Aid’s Christmas Fayre this Sunday (December 6) as planned, and give the opening address. We wish Tony - an Animal Aid patron - a speedy recovery. Our annual event, needless to say, still has plenty to offer.

New MEP bulletin presenting case for non-animal research

The field of non-animal biomedical research is expanding at an unprecedented rate. Old-fashioned animal tests look slow, unreliable and cumbersome by comparison. And yet, the message hasn’t got through to Europe’s legislators. This much has become apparent as Animal Aid - in collaboration with several other national anti-vivisection groups - has pressed its case during the current process to rewrite Directive 86/609, the law governing vivisection across the EU. To strengthen our lobbying effort, Animal Aid has produced a new e-mail newsletter featuring the latest developments in non-animal medical research, combined with examples of the human health problems caused by reliance on animal data. Each bulletin will offer six or eight succinct, easily digestible but fully referenced examples, with the aim of making a positive, cumulative impact. It will be sent regularly to all MEPs and UK MPs.

Government-appointed committee ignores widespread demand for ban on game bird cages

The government-appointed Working Group charged with setting rules for how ‘game birds’ will in future be produced for shooting has caused widespread dismay this week by publishing a Code of Practice that fails to outlaw the notorious battery cage for breeding birds.

Government says eat less meat to help combat climate change

Animal Aid is delighted to hear that a new government-backed report (Health and Climate Change) released yesterday (Wed 25th November), is advising people to eat less meat to help combat climate change and reduce heart disease. The Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, is also supporting calls for a 30 per cent reduction in the number of farmed animals bred for meat in order to help halve the UK’s carbon emissions by 2030, in line with current targets.

Tony Benn to give opening address at Animal Aid’s Christmas Fayre

Veteran politician and campaigner, Tony Benn, who is a patron of Animal Aid, will give the opening address at the annual Christmas Fayre, staged by the national campaign group, to be held on Sunday 6th December 2009 at Kensington Town Hall. An avid supporter of Animal Aid, Tony has previously launched our Sponsored Walk – a key annual fundraising event – and says of our work: ‘Animal Aid does a wonderful job, and deserves our full support.’

Remember Cumbria's Animal Victims!

Hundreds, if not thousands, of sheep and cattle have perished in the floods that have been battering Cumbria. Farmers Weekly’s (FW) online news service reports that dead animals have been seen floating alongside bales of silage in the flooded River Derwent, which passes through the centre of Cockermouth.