Mayo County Council has granted a Dog Breeding Licence to Saotharlanna Bitheolaiocha Idirnaisiunta Teoranta/Charles River Laboratories in Ballina, Co. Mayo. This licence allows them to hold up to 200 breeding bitches at their premises in Bellagelly South, Glenamoy, Ballina, Co. Mayo. These dogs and pups can then be used for medical research and experimentation either in their laboratories in Mayo or sold throughout Ireland for research purposes.

Charles River Laboratories, which is one of the biggest animal testing companies in the world, has two research facilities in Ireland. They are located in: Carrentrila, Ballina, Co. Mayo and Glenamoy, Co. Mayo.

Charles River Labs. are a contract testing business, which means they will test anything, on any animal, for a price. They conduct painful, live experiments on animals for the Pharmaceutical, Animal Health, Medical Device, Biotechnology and Food Industries in Ireland.

Thousands of animals are experimented on in these labs every year. Their torturous lives are full of pain, fear, suffering and misery. And any animal that manages to survive an experiment, is killed shortly afterwards.

They breed animals on site, both for their own use and to sell to universities and other commercial laboratories. The species used include mice, rats, dogs, cats and horses.

We are calling upon Mayo County Council to revoke the breeding licence for this establishment immediately.