A large police presence arrived outside a beagle breeding facility in Wyton amidst ongoing protests.
At least 24 masked officers and two police vans arrived outside MBR Acres near Huntingdon just after 10am on Tuesday (October 19) to facilitate the removal of dogs from the site.
Protestors allege police arrive roughly every fortnight now to assist the facility in removing puppies from the warehouse, to be sent for animal testing.
ALSO READ: Chaotic scenes as police move protesters at beagle breeding facility
Video footage captures police in high visibility clothing removing protestors’ banners, seats and a blockade with the sign stating ‘puppy killers’ from outside the gates of the facility.
Protestors have camped permanently outside the facility since at least early July to protest the use of dogs in animal testing. The group claims that up to 2,000 beagles are kept at the MBR Acres, before being shipped out in crates at 16 weeks old.
The police presence that arrived on Tuesday was met with a dozen protestors, one banging a drum whilst police cleared the gates. Protestors then shouted “shame on you” towards officers.
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The tents and gazebos of the permanent Camp Beagle can be seen on the roadside in the background, along with dog crates protestors stacked as a statement near the entrance.
Throughout the morning. the drumming turned into a samba chorus as other protestors joined in, as the police formed a line to block protestors from the facility entrance. Protestors then stood over the road, filming the commotion.
(Image: Cambridge News)
Another protestor shouted: “You are all devoid of any feelings, look at you. You are like b****y robots, the lot of you.”
One unmarked van then left the facility as police kept protestors back who threw flowers at the van, whilst others hugged each other.
Whilst the protestors claim the beagles are tested on for everything from pharmaceutical products to agrochemicals and will experience “extreme suffering” as a result, MBR Acres – which is owned by Marshall BioResources – states they adhere to “rigorous legislation through the strictest inspection routines” for their laboratory animals.
They did not however dispute details from Stop Animal Cruelty Huntingdon – including that the puppies are trained to accept a gas mask on their face and present their paw for injections – and accepted “a continuing public interest in its business activities.”
A police statement reads: “[On Tuesday, October 19] we provided a proportionate response to the ongoing protests at Wyton, near Huntingdon, which balanced the right to protest with the right of staff at the site to go about their lawful work.
“Our aim was to ensure a safe environment for them to express their views and staff at the site to do their work, which is protected under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.”
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