9 November 2007
Media Release:

Save The Beagles Campaign

Protest campaign will shut down company testing on beagle dogs
 
Animal rights activists are launching a campaign to shut down a Hawkes Bay company that experiments on beagle dogs. 
 
Valley Animal Research Centre (VARC), based in Whakatu, Hastings, has over 100 beagles for use in experiments on behalf of commercial chemical and drug companies. VARC is the only company in New Zealand using beagles in experiments.
 
Campaigners say the protest this weekend at the beagle breeding centre, owned by Allen Goldenthal, will be the first of many aimed at shutting down the business.
 
Save The Beagles Campaign spokesperson Mark Eden says "This is the beginning of the end for Allen Goldenthal. He cannot survive in business without the support of the community and other businesses. We aim to expose him and cut off all his support".
 
"Anyone in the community that is involved with his evil business is directly supporting the torture of beagle puppies and they will also be subjected to protests and negative publicity".
 
"We won't stop until Mr. Goldenthal and Valley Animal Research Centre stops these experiments and frees the beagles".
 
Allen Goldenthal has had a long career testing toxic substances on animals for many overseas chemical companies and has now set up New Zealand 's first animal research company using beagles in experiments.
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With a breeding programme providing hundreds of beagles to choose from, and sites in both the Manawatu and Hawkes Bay , Valley Animal Research Centre is establishing itself as a significant player in the vivisection industry.
VARC is a contract research business, carrying out chemical toxicity testing for international and local drug companies.
 
The crowded and dirty conditions that the beagles live in are inhumane, as is their fate.  These animals are leading lives devoid of human companionship in terrible conditions just waiting to become subjects of experiments. This isn't about saving human lives, this is about profit.
 
In 2006, over 300,000 animals were used in experiments by universities, pesticide and chemical manufacturers and government research institutes.  Approximately 4,800 animals were subjected to 'severe suffering' and 11,489 to 'very severe suffering'. 
 
Experiments were carried out on cats, dogs, guinea pigs, horses, mice, rats and more.  Experiments involve mutilation, genetic modification, live dissection and deliberate infection with painful diseases.
 
For further information, visit www.savethebeagles.wordpress.com or contact the campaign coordinator Mark Eden on 021 026 49406
 
The protest will be held at the Valley Animal Research Centre's beagle breeding kennels (Animal Boarders) - Saturday 10th November at 3pm
 
Corner of Rangitane Road & Johnson Way , Whakatu, Hastings
 
(The protest will be highly visual, featuring a 'beagle' and a 'mad scientist', along with real dogs).
 
Undercover footage of Goldenthal's beagles is available on mini DV.

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