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11
Nov
Beagle testing ‘shames’ Harrogate, say animal protestors
About 25 protestors called for a ban on live animal testing outside Labcorp in Harrogate today (November 11).
The US-owned life sciences company tests medicines on beagle puppies at its site off Otley Road and dogs used in research may be euthanised after experiments.
The protestors greeted delegates attending a life sciences networking event by waving banners
Lynne Coates told demonstrators 368 puppies bought from the commercial breeding facility MBR Acres in Cambridgeshire were sent to Labcorp in Harrogate last year.
Ms Coates said:
I’ve lived near Harrogate for most of my life and have always been proud to say Harrogate is my local town. However, since I became aware of what goes on in these buildings, I am ashamed.
I can no longer drive past the end of this road without feeling great anger and despair at what goes on inside those gates.
Three of the demonstrators.
She added new technology meant there were now more effective ways of testing medicines than testing on animals, which is banned in some US states.
“This is the way forward, and we must keep pressure on our government to bring this into law,” Ms Coates said. “A ban on all live animal testing cannot come soon enough, it has to stop now.”
Attracting the attention of people leaving the site.
Protestors from the campaign groups Save the Dogs UK and Camp Beagle travelled from as far as Wales and Scotland to take part in today’s demonstration.
Smaller weekly protests are held outside Labcorp.
The Stray Ferret asked Labcorp to comment on the demonstration but has not had a response.
The company previously said it takes “very seriously” the ethical and regulatory responsibilities to treat research animals with the “greatest care and respect”. It added testing new drugs on animals “is the right thing to do”.
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