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Listen to animal welfare and scientific experts speak on animal research in New Zealand and learn how you can help save companion animals from experimentation.
 1pm Saturday 23 August, Clock Tower in the Square, Palmerston North
Free 'doggy' bags to the first 50 people! The Walk will continue to the Theosophical Hall (304 Church St) where speeches and a short film screening will be held. Over 1700 cats and dogs were used for research experiments in New Zealand last year. Laboratory animals will never experience a loving family home. Did you know the Manawatu has become home for the largest companion animal breeding and research facility in the southern hemisphere? Come join the Walk for the Animals and support calls to prevent cats and dogs from being used in New Zealand laboratories. Walk is on rain or shine! Sorry, dogs are not allowed in the central city, but dog costumes welcome! Make a sign! Dress up! Get your face painted! For more infomation about why you should attend click here
A four-month investigation launched by SAFE last year revealed that beagles and other companion animals are destined for a new wave of New Zealand animal research carried out on behalf of international organisations. Current affairs programme 60 Minutes interviewed the man at the centre of SAFE's campaign, Alan Goldenthal, who made a convincing attempt to justify the use of animals for research. SAFE felt the 60 Minutes programme was disappointing journalism. It was a weak, passive and largely unbalanced look at animal research in New Zealand. The reporter made factually incorrect statements and let the researcher go unchallenged. Watch 60 Minutes VARC is the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere to use beagles for research. Aside from beagles SAFE understands VARC plans to breed cats, horses and rabbits, also for research. While it appears no terminal experiments are taking place right now, the facility is still new. It is likely animals will eventually undergo invasive experiments and be killed. The head of VARC says his animals are necessary research tools in the quest to save human life. The "higher goal" as he describes it.  A total of 318,489 living animals were used for animal research (vivisection) in New Zealand last year. The most recent national figures available reveal 757 cats and 682 dogs were used in 2006. The use of cats and dogs for research in New Zealand has doubled since 2001. Most laboratory animals will suffer. Many will die. None will be loved. If they are lucky, their death will be quick and painless, but most won't be so lucky.
Help SAFE to ban cruel animal experiments now. |
