My First Demo!

I've mentioned before that I've wanted to get out there and be more active with animal rights. I'm not exactly sure where I fit yet, not sure where my time is best spent or which area I'm most passionate about. But when plans for a Beagle breeding facility for dogs used for vivisection applied for planning permission close to where I live, I knew this was the best place to start.

Here's me (one of the dogs) on the evening news!



Just in case any of you who watched the clip were fooled into believing that ''the re-development and modernisation is in the best welfare interests of the animals'' let me just point out that currently, the facility holds 5 dogs, and the application is for TWO THOUSAND cages. Also it's important to note that the clip of Beagles scamping around happily was supplied to the TV channel by a group who promote animal testing. B & K have admitted to only letting the dogs out to run around like that for 10 minutes every few days, I would have liked to have seen some footage that truly represents their dire conditions!

In any case, I am absolutely delighted that this is gaining national interest. There have been a number of similar protests this week and certainly the most exciting development is that following occupation by animal rights activists, Marshall BioResources in Italy, the largest breeding facility in Europe has been temporarily shut down after a police raid revealed horrific welfare violations. Things are really happening, and never has the famous Margaret Mead quote rang so true for me:

''Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.''

Beagle Breeding and Thieving Poochies

I've been such an ignoramus. Until last week, I literally had no idea that dogs were bred in the UK for testing. Have I been living under a rock?! I was sick to my stomach and a sobbing wreck when I read about it all on the BUAV website.

Now, I value no life above another, so it might seem surprising that I'm more shocked at this than I am at say, the fact that people breed mice for tests. The reason this makes me more sad and despairing at the world, is because if England, supposedly a nation of dog lovers, can allow this to happen, then what chance do the rest of the animals have? We're even further behind in this war on animal cruelty than I ever thought.

I'm going to this anti-vivisection march at the end of the month in London. Can't wait.

In other news, my naughtiest pair of fuzzy ones, AKA Lord Wallace and his devilish accomplice, Cecil, were up to their usual cheekiness last night.
I was starving in the evening and the only vegan food we had in was a fruit salad (mango, pineapple, melon and kiwi fruit - yum!) I left it on the dining table for 1 minute, literally 1 minute. Popped upstairs, came back down to see the guiltiest looking Lord Wall I've ever seen trying his best to act nonchalant, and as if he'd played no part in the robbery, while Cecil didn't bat an eyelid and continued feasting on my last piece of pineapple right in front of me! They'd scoffed the lot the little swines!!

I went to bed hungry thinking that perhaps I need to regain some control of my pesky pals and rule the roost once more.

''No chance lady. I'm the boss around these parts''