Animal rights activists in Aberystwyth held a protest in solidarity with a protest camp, against the “horrific torture and abuse” of beagles, in Cambridgeshire.

Camp Beagle is a protest camp set up in July 2021, against the breeding of beagles for laboratory experiments, outside the gates of MBR Acres, after activists Polly and Beth decided not to home from a demonstration on the site.

On Saturday, 30 October, around 10 West Wales Animal Action protestors gathered in Aberystwyth, outside Barclays Bank, to show their support for Camp Beagle.

Organiser Rebecca Bell said: “The protest went well, people were shocked that beagles are still being used in laboratories. It was in sympathy with Camp Beagle.

“We had some leaflets that we gave out, and we were just talking about what’s going on because people don’t always realise. We also had some badges made.

“Some people had heard about it but lots hadn’t and they were shocked. Especially people that have beagles, it’s terrible that they are persecuted because of their gentle nature. Anybody who has a beloved family pet dog especially a beagle, it’s so horrible to think about what they go through.

“Dogs are really intelligent, all animals are really.”

Rebecca said they also managed to raise money for Camp Beagle: “We collected £100 in donations for the campaign, which has been sent down to Camp Beagle.

“Because they are camping there over winter they had to purchase tents, and then put tents inside tents. It really shows their dedication.”

West Wales Animal Action are planning to hold another protest later this month: “We are going to do another protest in Carmarthen on 19 November. There’s been protests in other places as well, I think there’s been one in Brighton for example, lots of outreach protests all around the country to show support for Camp Beagle.

“It has an international reputation, there was a lovely art installation somebody did in Brazil, paying homage to all the beagles who have suffered vivisection, it was very moving.”

Rebecca said West Wales Animal Action found out about Camp Beagle “through the grapevine”.

“We were aware of animal exploitation generally and we are very involved in campaigning for animals, so we knew about it for the grapevine,” Rebecca said.

“We wanted to do something about it, but Cambridge is quite far away, but then this idea took off around the country - of people holding outreach protests.

“There’s a lot of support, hopefully we will manage to close it down, because other similar places have managed to be closed down. It has no place in our society now. All of the experiments they do are common sense, you know if you put bleach in an animals eye it’s going to cause corrosion.”

The first goal of Camp Beagle is to “shut MBR Acres and to free the beagles”, and then to move “towards ending vivisection in the UK for good”.