Shocking numbers of animals harmed in laboratories in Great Britain
A government report published today reveals how more than 2.9 million animals were used in more than 3 million experiments in Great Britain in 2021.
Posted 30 Jun 2022

Posted on the 20th December 2011
At a packed meeting last night (19 December 2011), Oxford councillors voted against plans to introduce a bylaw that would allow companies to operate horse-drawn carriages in the city centre.
The vote – 27 against the proposal and 16 in favour of it – followed a powerful and passionate speech by Animal Aid’s Horse Consultant, Dene Stansall, where he outlined the potential dangers to horses and the public should the scheme go ahead.
A representative of the firm that would operate the carriage horse scheme then addressed council, but councillors still voted overwhelmingly against the proposal even though the General Purposes Licensing Committee and the Head of Environmental Development had approved it. Dene’s speech followed a concerted campaign by Animal Aid in the weeks running up to the vote. We sent a series of briefings to every council member and we established links with sympathetic councillors.
On the day of the vote itself, Animal Aid’s Director, Andrew Tyler and campaigner Fiona Pereira joined Dene in briefing councillors at the Town Hall, where we explained our concerns regarding animal welfare and public safety (see Carriage Horses in Oxford: The case against – below).
This is the second time that Animal Aid has been instrumental in persuading Oxford’s councillors that the city centre is no place for horses. In 2001, we succeeded in halting a plan to establish a horse-drawn omnibus.
A big thank you to all campaigners and groups who have helped in persuading Oxford City Council to once again say ‘no’ to using carriage horses in its City.
Homepage photo was taken at Oxford Town Hall on the night of the vote. From left to right: Andrew Tyler, Fiona Pereira and Dene Stansall.
Carriage Horses in Oxford:
The case against
Horse welfare:
The question of horse welfare – as well as the proposed new bylaws – does not appear to have been considered in an adequate or independent manner. The General Licensing Purposes Committee accepted that the welfare conditions were satisfactory based on the recommendations of the Public Health Team Leader in Environmental Development. But it is unclear how the Team Leader came to his or her decision and whether an independent expert was consulted. Below we set out a number of concerns relating to horse welfare:
Pollution:
Congestion:
The Route:
Public safety:
Other issues:
A government report published today reveals how more than 2.9 million animals were used in more than 3 million experiments in Great Britain in 2021.
Posted 30 Jun 2022
Watch our new animation all about animal experiments!
Posted 28 Jun 2022
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