"Targeted Guinea Pig Farm Closes"

[CavyLove]

Article borrowed from: BBC NEWS | England | Staffordshire | Targeted guinea pig farm closes

A farm that has been breeding guinea pigs for medical research for more than 30 years is to stop after intimidation by animal rights activists.

The family-run Darley Oaks Farm in Newchurch, Staffordshire, has been hit by a six-year campaign of abuse.
The owners and people connected with the firm have received death threats.
The family said they hoped the decision would prompt the return of the body of their relative Gladys Hammond, whose remains were stolen from a churchyard.
I just feel so angry that these animal rights activists have won


Rod Harvey, former farm supplier



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The remains were taken from her grave in nearby Yoxall in October.
Mrs Hammond, who was buried in St Peter's churchyard seven years ago, was the mother-in-law of Christopher Hall, part-owner of the farm.
In a statement, a close relative of Mrs Hammond, who declined to be named, said there was now no reason why her body could not be returned.
"Gladys was a relative of the Halls by marriage only and had no involvement in guinea pig breeding.
"She was a kind, gentle country lady who loved animals. She was also friendly, generous and loving and always put her family first."
'Fantastic day'
The Hall family have been subjected to hate mail, malicious phone calls, hoax bombs and arson attacks.
A spokeswoman for David Hall and Partners confirmed that the business, where several thousand guinea pigs are reared, was to stop breeding animals for medical research.
The Hall family is now expected to concentrate on the arable side of the business.

Campaigners who have legitimately picketed the farm over recent years said they would continue their protest until the guinea pig breeding operation officially closed at the end of the year.
Johnny Holmes, a spokesman for Stop the Newchurch Guinea Pigs, said: "This is the most fantastic day of my life.
"It's a victory for the animals and it's a fundamental victory for the animal rights movement.
"Ideally, I wish they would close down today and hand them over. We want those guinea pigs out."
In a statement, the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI ) expressed its best wishes to the family and said their decision was "regrettable but understandable".
Director of the ABPI Philip Wright said guinea pigs had been essential in research into respiratory disease resulting in breakthroughs in the development of new medicines.
'Not a victory'
"The activities of a few animal rights extremists have placed impossible pressure on those going about their legitimate business," he said.
"While animal rights extremists are likely to be only one factor in the final decision, it does underline the need for greater protection of those individuals and companies targeted."
David Bird, from Staffordshire Police, told BBC Radio 4 it had been impossible to give complete protection because the campaign had been so widespread.
"We have had some success in dealing with those responsible. What I would say is that this closure is not a victory for anybody," he said.
Protesters have used graffiti to get their message across


"This campaign has done absolutely nothing to further the cause of animal rights."
Rod Harvey supplied fuel to the farm and endured four years of abuse from activists before he was forced to cease trading with the Halls.
The 63-year-old businessman said he received threatening letters, including one accusing him of being a paedophile which was then sent to a number of people he knew.
"In December 2003 a brick came through the window of my front door, hitting my foot and cutting my hand," he said.
"In view of what they (the Hall family) and their staff have had to put up with I'm not surprised that they have stopped breeding guinea pigs. "I just feel so angry that these animal rights activists have won."

[pignewton]

While I agree with the result, I do not agree with the methods used to get there. Stealing a body is just horrible and some of the other things were just plain bad. Two wrongs do not make a right.

[Piggersrule]

I have to agree. I am glad that the family has stopped the breeding but the the activists went about it was not right. I wouldn't be surprised if the family sues for harassment (sp?)

[sweetjay6891]

I believe it must take whatever it takes to get a victory. Great job to the activist!

[Cavy Cuckoo]

I am happy for the result of this. Although, I think these kinds of extreme acts give animal rights activists the bad reputation that some people beleive in.

I don't think that's fair at all. I think that if you are trying to get a point across, just play fair and square! We already know what is right.

[Piggersrule]

Breeding GP or any animal for medical research is wrong and we all know that and obviously so did alot of other people, but going around telling people that he is a paedophile is wrong. Unearthing a dead woman's body is just disgusting and sinful.

[daftscotslass]

This happened nearly two years ago. It needs to be said that the original protest group had absolutely nothing to do with the people that made the misguided decision to dig up someone's dead relative.

It wasn't a victory, however, for those guinea pigs still left alive. Those who were young enough were sent off for testing, the rest were destroyed. Many rescues volunteered to take them on but to no avail.

[crazywiggy]

This whole situation was frankly disgusting and it horrifies me that anyone could think this was acceptable.

Whatever you may think about animal testing waging a campaign of intimidation and hate for years on many innocent people is totally wrong. People harassed, attacked, threatened, their lives ruined. Lots of people living in fear....
Well done - whatever moral high ground animal rights supporters have is completely lost when they resort to violence and intimidation! (I don't mean all AR guys obviously, just the violent ones). I mean they say animal testing is wrong because it is wrong to cause suffering to an animal even in order to save human and animal lives. Yet they think its ok to cause suffering to humans to save animals? By being violent they totally destroy their won argument.

Was a even a victory for the guinea pigs? As Daft said, they still died. And if the activists stop all breeding here in the UK would that be a good thing? No - we would just import them from abroad. From countries with lower standards of care, the animals would have to endure longer more stressfull journeys. Brilliant. Some victory!

[gpigluver14]

I agree. I'm glad they stopped it, but the protesters and activists went a little too far with digging up the dead relative. Well they went way too far. I think animal testing is horrible, inhumane, and disqusting, but I agree with crazywiggy, those pigs still died, and now it will just be worse for some other unfortunate pigs.

[MCR_Rox]

I've read that animal testing is inaccurate if it's for humans, because human anatomy is different. There are many alternatives to animal testing that are accurate.