The BUAV, the leading organisation campaigning against animal experiments, has been joined by celebrities – including Ricky Gervais and Chris Packham – in calling on the Planning Inspectorate to reject an appeal to construct a new facility to breed and supply dogs to the research industry.
In 2012 and 2013, following a widespread BUAV campaign and resulting public outcry, an application by Bantin & Kingman Universal Ltd for a new beagle breeding facility was rejected by East Riding Council’s planning committee.
B&K (using the name Yorkshire Evergreen) has appealed the decision. The Secretary of State for the Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, has taken the unusual step of ‘recovering’ the appeal to himself, which means that he will decide it, after a recommendation from the planning inspector. It is thought that Mr Pickles has recovered the appeal because the proposal gives rise to regional and national controversy.
The BUAV has once again launched a powerful campaign to contest the appeal and is calling for a public inquiry.
Comedian Ricky Gervais backed the BUAV previous campaigns in both 2012 and 2013 and has responded to this recent appeal, stating: “If the Government allows this proposed facility to be built there will be hundreds – if not thousands – of dogs whose only existence will be for use by the research industry and then killed. Please join me and the BUAV to ensure that this doesn’t happen.”
The sentiment has been echoed by Wildlife presenter, Chris Packham, who said: “No dog should be trapped inside a laboratory and never experience freedom or love from a caring family. Please join me in calling on the Planning Inspectorate to reject this appeal and prevent thousands of puppies being born to die.”
Michelle Thew, CEO of the BUAV said: “We thank Ricky and Chris for their support for our campaign against this facility. There is widespread public concern about this planning appeal. People simply do not want a facility within their community breeding hundreds, possibly thousands of dogs, to suffer and die in the name of research. Moreover, there are a number of complex issues with this appeal which we believe can only be dealt with properly with a public inquiry.”
She added: “There is a strong ethical and scientific case to end these outdated experiments and strong planning reasons to reject the appeal.”
Other high-profile figures supporting the campaign include Actress Carley Stenson.
