Horrific Kitten Experiments at Cardiff University

It has been discovered by the BUAV that horrific experiments are being carried out on kittens at Cardiff University.  Details of the experiments have been revealed by BUAV who have reported that some kittens were raised in complete darkness and others were deprived of sight in one eye by actually having their eyelids sewn shut.  As if this wasn't cruel enough the horror continued when the kittens were anaesthetised, artificially ventilated and paralysed with a drug to prevent eye movements.  You can discover more details about the experiment at the petition link below but I must warn you that it makes very difficult reading.

The experiment was inhumane and completely unnecessary for human health.

Animal loving actor Ricky Gervais has called for an end to these experiments saying “I am appalled that kittens are being deprived of sight in one eye by having their eyelids sewn shut. I thought sickening experiments like these were a thing of the past. I support the BUAV in calling for this research to be stopped.”

Please join Ricky and the BUAV in calling for an immediate halt to these sickening and needless experiments on innocent animals by signing this petition.

Needless experiments like this happen frequently to all sorts of animals, please check out BUAV's website for ways you can help end the suffering of animals with no voice of their own.

Stray cats and dogs to be used in labs?

Source.

Back in August of 2011 I posted about the government's plans to integrate new EU Directives on animal experimentation into UK legislation (Lab Animals Directive - A step back?) It appears that the government are planning to remove the current protection granted to stray domestic animals.  If the new rule is added to UK legislation it means that the government could allow the use of stray, lost or abandoned cats and dogs to be used in experiments.  I find this appalling and agree with BUAV's statement that "subjecting lost pets to painful experiments would be an extraordinary betrayal of the trust that companion animals put in us."

An Early Day Motion, supported by members of all parties, has been tabled by Adrian Sanders MP.  Adrian told the BUAV:

"I'm shocked that the government is considering removing the current protection given to our stray cats and dogs from being used in experiments. Losing a pet is distressing, but the idea that the animal could potentially end up in a laboratory is ghastly and unacceptable, and I urge the government to reconsider.”

If the government go ahead with this would contradict their previous claims that British legislation would not be weakened.

  

Please spare some time to contact your MP and urging them to sign Early Day Motion 193 opposing this proposition.  Find and contact your MP by clicking here and entering your postcode, you will then be directed to a form in which to contact them.  First, have a look at this link showing who has already signed Early Day Motion 193 to see if your MP has already signed.

_______________________________________________________

Suggested text (Feel free to copy + paste)

I am writing with regards to the government's integration of new EU Directives in relation to animal testing.  

Plans to remove the current protection granted to stray domestic animals could mean that stray, lost or abandoned cats and dogs could be used in experiments.  I am shocked and appalled by this decision and echoing Adrian Sanders MP, I think losing a pet is extremely distressing and the idea that a much loved pet could potentially end up in a laboratory is ghastly and unacceptable.  

Going along with this plan contradicts the government's previous claims that British legislation would not be weakened.

I urge you to please sign Early Day Motion 193 opposing this proposition.

Thank you for your time.

_______________________________________________________

Once your message has been sent you will need to check your e-mail as you will be sent a confirmation message from Write To Them, open this message and click on the link to confirm your correspondence to your MP.

Update on Proposed Beagle Farm (More Good News!)

More good news!  Do you remember this?

This proves how what you do makes a real difference to the lives of animals, if you signed BUAV's petition back in October you were one of the 28,000 people who encouraged the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, to reject plans by Bantin & Kingman Ltd to build a breeding facility in Grimston, Yorkshire with the aim of supplying beagles for experiments in the UK and overseas.

BUAV's petition contained over 28,000 signatures which were collected in just over two weeks, they submitted this along with a document explaining why there was no justification for another dog breeding facility and although Bantin & Kingman appealed the decision Eric Pickles has declined the planning application thus saving the lives of thousands of beagles.

Read more.

(on behalf of the Beagles!)

BUAV calls for Parliamentary debate on animal experiments

{Image Source}

After working with MPs over the last few months BUAV has reported that animal testing is an issue that concerns both politicians and the public.  Because of this BUAV has launched a Government e-petition calling for a Parliamentary debate on animal experiments in order for the views of MPs and their constituents can be heard.  

In 2010 the UK reached a 25 year high by using over 3.6 million animals in experiments.

(Figure taken from BUAV)

The Government are currently considering its approach to three important aspects of animal testing:

• Adopting a new EU Directive on animal experiments into the UK law.
• A plan to accomplish the Governments pledge to reduce the use of animals in scientific research
• The Government’s position on a possible delay to the 2013 deadline for the EU marketing ban on new animal tested cosmetics.

If you are a UK resident, please spare a moment to sign this petition calling on the Government to hold a Parliamentary debate.  Once you have signed the petition, please share this with your friends and family.

If you are not a UK resident then you can still help by letting any of your friends or family in the UK know about this by sharing this on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you.

URGENT Help Needed ~ Beagle Breeding Facility Planned

The lovely Beagle, Tess.

Not only do we have an Intensive Pig Farm to contend with, but now representatives of  "animal farmers" Bantin & Kingman Universal Ltd have applied to build a factory farm in Yorkshire in order to breed beagles.  Originally, the East Riding Council Planning Committee rejected their request but B&K have now taken their case to the Planning Inspectorate.

I used to have a beautiful beagle named Tess, I can't imagine how she would have coped with spending her life in confinement.  No animal should spend their life in a cage, only to eventually be killed for food or in the name of research.  Dogs are meant to run, play ball (and in Tess's case really enjoy their food!) they are extremely loyal and rewarding pets.  In fact I agree wholeheartedly with this quote below:

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." ~ Roger Caras

Please spare a moment to click here, enter your details and take action against this cruel planning application which could sentence beagles to a life in prison.

Can you also remember to let your friends know please?

Thank you.

Stop the Delay (Petition Bonanza!)

Source.

My hiatus has been a lot longer than I anticipated, and I hope you will forgive me for this.  We have relocated again to the Big Smoke and this has been my first real chance to sit down and get cracking on The Animal News (and there is lots of it!) 

Back on 3rd August 2011 I posted about an EU Directive regarding lab animals being implemented into UK law threatening current standards, read it here.

Testing on animals for cosmetics is not only cruel and unnecessary but also selfish, is lipstick really worth the life of an animal?  

Back in 2003 it became illegal to test on animals for cosmetics within Europe.  Then in 2009 a ban on the sale of cosmetics that had been tested on animals came into effect.  By early 2013 every shop and Internet supplier must be free of and no longer market animal-tested cosmetics, the deadline for this is March 2013.  The bad news is that the EU is considering delaying this deadline for years.  This risks removing any motivation for companies to work on developing alternatives and condemning tens of thousands of animals to suffer and die.

Please can you spare some time to sign the petitions below calling for the European Parliament to adhere to the original 2013 deadline.  Members of the public are against animal testing in cosmetics on ethical grounds therefore it is important that the government listen to the overwhelming majority European citizens .

When you have signed each petition (it takes less than 2 minutes) please take advantage of the links provided and share the petitions on Facebook or Twitter, as well as e-mailing your friends.

To Do List

Please sign Peta's Petition here.

Please sign BUAV's Petition here.

Please sign HSI's Petition here.

Please sign Care2's Petition here.

P.S. Ladies, if you do wear make up I can recommend a good non animal testing brand in Urban Decay.

Cargo Cruelty!

BUAV are running an international campaign to stop airlines transporting primates that are destined for research.  This follows an investigation which reveals that major airline carriers are shipping monkeys for use in labs around the world.

BUAV obtained a secret film showing rows of small crates, each crate containing monkeys on cargo trolleys ready to be loaded into the holds of Vietnam Airlines and Air France aircraft.  Other airlines playing a role in the primate trade for research include Air Canada (flying monkeys from China to labs in Canada) also both China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines (flying monkeys from South East Asia to the USA).

Please click on this link in order to contact the airlines mentioned above and ask them to stop participating in this cruel trade.  The letter isn't readily prepared but BUAV have prepared some suggested text which I have can copied and pasted below.  Please feel free to alter this slightly if you wish and e-mail or post to the addresses provided at the aforementioned link.

Suggested text from BUAV:

I am writing in support of the BUAV Cargo Cruelty campaign.

I was shocked to learn that your airline is involved in the transportation of monkeys to laboratories. It is unacceptable that these sensitive animals, ripped from their families and homes, are then subjected to the stress of being packed into small crates and shipped as cargo on your airline to end up in laboratories where they will suffer in experiments.

I urge you to join the increasing number of airlines that have made the decision to stop their involvement in this cruelty. Until you do, I will not be flying with your airline.

I sent my messages off quite a while ago and haven't heard back yet but if/when I do I will let you know.

You can download BUAV's Cargo Cruelty campaign poster and postcard by clicking on the links!

Find out more about the campaign.

Thanks for stopping by! Remember to let your friends know about this - the more the merrier!

UPDATE!

Congratulations to Sainsburys!

Sainsbury's have been awarded BUAV Approval (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection).  From April, all of Sainsbury's own brand cosmetics and toiletries is allowed to carry the cruelty-free Leaping Bunny logo.  

Other well-known high street names include Marks and Spencer, Co-operative and Superdrug.

 You will first notice the Leaping Bunny logo on all Sainbury’s shower and hand care products but it is scheduled to roll out across the entire range throughout the year.

BUAV said "Qualifying for certification is a rigorous and stringent process.  As well as guaranteeing that no product or ingredient has been tested on animals from a verifiable date, each applicant must also be open to an independent audit throughout its supply chain to ensure that they adhere to their animal testing policy and the Standard's strict criteria."

Judith Batchelar, Director of Sainsbury's Brand, said: “Animal welfare continues to be one of our customers’ top concerns, so it is great news that we have been awarded BUAV certification. The Leaping Bunny is the most widely recognised and respected endorsement for products that are free from animal testing and will now be shown on over 200 products in our own brand cosmetics and toiletries range. We are very pleased to accept BUAV certification and to be able to offer this clear choice to our customers.”

For a complete list of BUAV approved products please visit this link 

DON'T FORGET!

Say NO to cruel cosmetics in the EU! Please sign BUAV's petition