Nearly five years ago a BBC documentary called Pedigree Dogs Exposed investigated some of the serious health and welfare issues experienced by many pedigree dogs as a result of the way they are bred. The documentary sparked a huge and long overdue public debate that has already led to some positive change within the pedigree dog world. But despite some changes, many pedigree dogs are still suffering because the way they are bred and judged focuses primarily on how they … continue reading ››
Gerbils love digging. In fact, they love digging so much that, in the wild, they dig vast underground burrows to house their large family group and keep them safe from harm; a whole host of long hind limbs tunnelling in unison, happily creating their home. They even make a food store and sleeping chambers- gerbils really have thought of everything!
I wish I’d known all this when I was growing up. When I was young, I was in the same … continue reading ››
When the Home Office last week announced figures for the number of animals used in research and testing in the UK during 2011 there were few surprises. Predictably, the annual total rose once again – as it has done almost every year since the turn of the millennium*. It now stands at a 25-year high.
Reduced use and suffering of animals used in testing
Numbers alone, however, don’t tell the whole story. In particular, they don’t currently convey the nature … continue reading ››
