Victory for Newchurch guinea pigs

Posted on the 1st August 2005

Animal Aid welcomes news that Darley Oaks guinea pig farm in Newchurch, Staffordshire, intends to close at the end of the year.

The business was responsible for the mass-production of guinea pigs destined for painful and lethal research that is both morally unsupportable and scientifically invalid.

Animal Aid recognises that coverage of the Newchurch campaign was characterised by reports of intimidation, threats and other such behaviour. While there does seem to have been protest activity of an entirely unacceptable nature, there has also been a great deal of misreporting and a number of serious, unproven allegations made against peaceful campaigners.

Animal Aid is clear in its own approach; we are committed to peaceful, non-intimidatory campaigning and oppose all violence. Public and media attention should now focus upon the moral and scientific questions underlying the breeding of guinea pigs – and all animals – for medical research. Generations of Darley Oaks animals have suffered grievously in pointless experiments that have proven, time and time again, to hinder true medical progress.

It is important that this message emerges from the debate that will follow the closure of this establishment.

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