A PEACEFUL protest raising awareness of breeding Beagle puppies took place in Reading town centre today (July 9).

Organised by campaign group Camp Beagle, this Reading event was one of 74 other protests going on across the UK as part of its National Day of Outreach.

The aim of the peaceful protest, held outside John Lewis, was to educate and raise awareness about the beagles bred inside laboratories in the UK.

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It is reported around 2,000 Beagle puppies a year are bred at MBR Acres, which has been hidden in the Cambridgeshire countryside for years.

And Camp Beagle activists are fighting a legal battle to get MBR closed down and the dogs released to loving homes.

Keith Muir, organiser of the Camp Beagle event in Reading, said: “We are against cruelty of animals, not just dogs, everything gets experimented out.

"It’s torturous it’s a horrible, horrible business and we want an end to it."

Mr Muir said these dogs are locked in large units 24/7.

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The gathering took place from midday until 3pm where group members spoke to the public about the issue.

Reading Chronicle contacted MBR Acres for an official statement following today's protest.

The spokesperson for MBR Acres added: “People supporting Camp Beagle also need to understand that UK law already forbids research using animals if an alternative method can be used. 

"The fact that animals are still used in research in some cases means that a suitable validated alternative does not yet exist."

The spokesman claimed while Camp Beagle is allowed by the authorities to remain outside our premises, the action causes stress to staff and animals and means 'police will have to divert resources to allow us to carry on our lawful business'.

The company added the government’s responses to petitions and debates that support the use of animals in research is strong.

“However, it is important to ensure this extreme activity outside our gates does not lead to research moving away from the high standards of animal welfare in the UK to less regulated countries,” the spokesperson added. 

“Until the legal requirements change, we will continue to breed animals for use in medical research.  

“We remain proud of what we do every day because our work allows the progress of medicine to improve – and often save – the lives of humans and animals.”