Harlan are the UK's last remaining breeders of beagles for use in experiments.
The company owns several UK-based sites, two of which house beagles. Their Cambridgeshire site breeds beagles for sale to laboratories and universities whilst their Loughborough site keeps 'donor beagles' (these dogs have their blood regularly drained and sold to laboratories).
We are calling for the closure of both the Cambridge and Loughborough sites or, at the very least, an immediate public inquiry into Harlan's care and treatment of beagles.
In 2011, Harlan were exposed for animal cruelty and neglect in The Sunday Times; a former employee reported seeing staff punching and kicking beagles, shaving profanities into their fur, and daubing their faces with felt tips. He also revealed how the dogs – kept in dirty, cramped pens – grow so frightened and frustrated, they fight to the death or self-harm.
Harlan beagles will NEVER see daylight or breathe fresh air, except when they are transported to laboratories across the world.It is inside these laboratories that 'man's best friend' is tortured and mutilated in cruel experiments. Most beagles will have been experimented on several times before dying (if the tests don't kill them, they are euthanised).
The breeding of beagles for use in experiments is morally reprehensible and testing human medicines on animals = outdated, fallible science.
Despite the Government’s promise to reduce the use of animals in scientific procedures, latest Home Office figures show that experiments involving animals reached a record high in 2011.
Over 3.79 million experiments were started on animals in 2011; a 68,100 increase on 2010 and a 160,000 increase on 1987 (i.e. since The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 was first introduced). This is equal to starting 10,391 experiments every day.
In 2011, 216% more animals – including beagles – were used to test food additives than in the previous year.
Visit the official SAVE THE HARLAN BEAGLES website www.savetheharlanbeagles.com
