Animal rights campaigners will be protesting against animal experiments in Palmerston North on Saturday.

The National Anti Vivisection Campaign says a protest will be held in the Square at noon, followed by a visit to a beagle dog testing laboratory in Bainesse near Himatangi.

Spokesperson Mark Eden says “around 300,000 animals are used in experiments in New Zealand. Most are for agricultural research designed to increase profits, not save lives. Experiments include genetic modification, toxicity testing, being injected with chemicals, force fed drugs etc. Massey University uses tens of thousands of animals in testing and a laboratory near Himatangi breeds beagles for experiments. Most of this research is government funded but entirely shrouded in secrecy”.

The group will be distributing leaflets in the city centre before moving on to protest at the Valley Animal Research Centre at Bainesse.

Mr Eden said “The Valley Animal Research Centre breeds beagle puppies for use in toxicity experiments at their laboratory in Bainesse, near Himatangi. VARC is owned by Allen Goldenthal who has been involved in vivisection (live animal experiments) in Canada, at Massey University and now with his own specialist commercial animal testing company”.

The National Anti Vivisection Campaign said Massey University also used animals in experiments

“Massey University is one of the main vivisection centres in the country and uses between 15,000 and 30,000 animals in experiments every year. Massey is the only university in NZ that regularly uses both cats and dogs in experiments. Recent (2007 onwards) statistics are being withheld by the government. Most of the animals used at Massey are killed in agricultural research designed to increase the profits of the meat and dairy industries”.

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