Animal Aid

Animal Aid was founded in January 1977 to work, by all peaceful means, for an end to animal cruelty. The organization is a not-for-profit limited company run by a volunteer council of management. It has not applied to be a charity so that it is able to use its funds for sometimes controversial campaigns. Its aims are:

• To increase public awareness of the abuse of animals in our society, particularly in vivisection laboratories and factory farms and to educate public opinion to demand, by all lawful means, the abolition of all experiments on animals, factory farming and all other forms of animal abuse.
• To examine existing legislation on matters associated with the above objectives or related aspects and to promote social, legal and administrative reforms in furtherance of the above objectives.
• To prevent exploitation of animals.
• To educate the public and particularly young people with a sense of moral responsibility towards animals.
• To promote, generally, a lifestyle which does not involve the abuse of animals.
• To collect, and diffuse among members and the public generally, information on all matters affecting the above objectives and with a view there to print, issue and circulate papers, periodicals, books, circulars and other literary matter and produce film and audio-visual material, and to promote, sponsor, procure or assist in any way, courses or lectures or other instructions in furtherance of such objectives.{{Cite web|url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are-what-we-do/|title=Animal Aid: Who we are & what we do|website=www.animalaid.org.uk|access-date=27 February 2018}}

Animal Aid's current patrons are Peter Egan, Sara Pascoe, Carol Royle, Peter Tatchell and Wendy Turner Webster.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Who we are & what we do |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are-what-we-do/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=30 June 2021}} It has other celebrity supporters, including Chris Packham, Deborah Meaden,{{cite web|date=2022-01-24|title=Chris Packham, Peter Egan and Deborah Meaden all join campaign to ban snares! |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/celebrities-support-snares-petition/|work=Animal Aid |access-date=13 May 2022}} Thom Yorke, Stella McCartney, Richard Wilson, Massive Attack, Alexei Sayle, Benjamin Zephaniah,{{cite web |title=Animal Aid celebrates 40 years – Vegan Festival of Britain dates announced. 5 December 2016 |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/animal-aid-celebrates-40-years-vegan-festival-britain-dates-announced/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=30 June 2021}} Martin Shaw, Chrissie Hynde,{{cite web |title=Sara Pascoe becomes Animal Aid patron. 14 June 2017 |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/patron-sara-pascoe/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=30 June 2021}} Alan Davies and the Reverend Professor Andrew Linzey. Patrons and supporters now deceased have included Watership Down author Richard Adams,{{cite web |title=RIP Richard Adams. 28 December 2016 |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/rip-richard-adams/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=30 June 2021}} Tony Benn{{cite web |title=Tony Benn to give opening address at Animal Aid's Christmas fayre. 25 November 2009 |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/tony-benn-give-opening-address-animal-aids-christmas-fayre/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=30 June 2021}} and comedian Spike Milligan.{{cite web |title=John Lewis end staff game shoot. 19 January 2001 |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/john-lewis-ends-staff-game-shoot/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=30 June 2021}} {{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Dr Charlotte Uhlenbroek, the primatologist, has supported the Animal Aid campaign against primate experiments, stating: "I have yet to hear a sufficiently compelling scientific argument that justifies the suffering inflicted on primates in medical research."{{Cite web|title = Animal Aid: History of the campaign to stop Cambridge University building a massive monkey research centre|url = http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/CAMPAIGNS/experiments/ALL/727/|website = www.animalaid.org.uk|access-date = 13 October 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130727014057/http://www.animalaid.org.uk/h/n/CAMPAIGNS/experiments/ALL/727/|archive-date = 27 July 2013|url-status = dead}}

BBC TV Springwatch's Michaela Strachan presented Animal Aid's Animal Kind series of short curriculum-based educational films.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Animal Kind |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/AKparents/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=12 July 2021}}

Animal Aid campaigns{{Cite web|url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/|title=Animal Aid: Our campaigns|website=www.animalaid.org.uk|access-date=27 February 2018}} include:

• Wildlife: Animal Aid campaigns against wildlife culls, including the culling of badgers, wild boar, grey squirrels and pigeons. It has opposed shooting and the use of traps, snares and poisons in the name of conservation, and "calls for tolerance, for compassion and a willingness to concede space to the natural world".{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Wildlife |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/wildlife/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=13 July 2021}} It has produced information and advice sheets on humanely deterring unwanted wildlife, including the use of non-lethal methods.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Unwanted Guests? |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/wildlife/unwantedguests/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=13 July 2021}} In 2021 Animal Aid launched a campaign to ban the manufacture, sale, possession and use of snares in the UK. The campaign presents footage of snares causing extreme suffering to animals, the failure of the 'Code of Best Practice', and the fact that in 2016 a majority of MPs voted for an outright ban.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Snares: Indiscriminate and terribly cruel |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/wildlife/snares/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=13 July 2021 |archive-date=13 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713152712/https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/wildlife/snares/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Joint letter urging PM to ban snares gains huge support. 21st June 2021 |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/joint-letter-urging-pm-to-ban-snares-gains-huge-support/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=13 July 2021}} In March 2022 Animal Aid's UK Parliament petition to ban snares reached over 100,000 signatures, triggering a parliamentary debate.{{cite web |date=2022-03-29|title=Snares petition – you did it!!!|url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/snares-petition-you-did-it/ |work=Animal Aid |access-date=13 May 2022}}
• Animal farming: Animal Aid campaigns against factory farming. It exposes animal suffering in UK intensive farming systems as well as in 'high welfare' rearing systems, such as RSPCA Assured or free-range.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Animal Farming |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/animal-farming/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=30 July 2021}} It conducts undercover investigations with footage documenting animal suffering, overcrowding and poor conditions on UK farms. This has included farms winning Farmer of the Year awards, free-range and RSPCA Assured farms. Investigations have exposed the suffering of meat chickens, egg-laying hens, turkeys, pigs, cows and goats.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Undercover investigations |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/animal-farming/undercover-investigations/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=30 July 2021 |archive-date=28 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228041335/https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/animal-farming/undercover-investigations/ |url-status=dead }} Animal Aid highlights and objects to planning proposals for new intensive farms.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Guidance to objecting to planning applications |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/animal-farming/guidance-to-objecting-to-planning-applications/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=30 July 2021}} In 2021 this included rabbit meat and fur farms.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Investigators uncover extensive works at controversial rabbit meat and fur farm, in Rutland. 25 July 2021 |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/investigators-uncover-extensive-works-at-controversial-rabbit-meat-and-fur-farm-in-rutland/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=30 July 2021}} It also campaigns against the suffering of fish and environmental damage caused by the fishing industry.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: The fishing industry |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/animal-farming/the-fishing-industry/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=30 July 2021}}
• Slaughter: Animal Aid uses hidden cameras to film in UK slaughterhouses. It has filmed inside sixteen British slaughterhouses, finding evidence of lawbreaking in most of them. Its films have revealed widespread and serious problems, including many cases of deliberate cruelty. It also found breaches of welfare laws at slaughterhouses used by 'high welfare' accredited standards, including organic and RSPCA Assured. Even where no laws were broken, it has found animals suffering pain and fear.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Slaughter |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/slaughter/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=13 July 2021}} Following Animal Aid's CCTV campaign, all the major supermarket chains agreed to insist that their suppliers fit CCTV cameras in their slaughterhouses.{{Cite web|title = Supermarkets force abattoirs to fit CCTV after secret film exposes abuse|url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/03/abattoirs-supermarkets-cctv-cruelty-welfare|website = The Guardian|access-date = 13 October 2015|first = James|last = Meikle}} Animal Aid campaigns for mandatory independently monitored CCTV in all UK slaughterhouses.{{cite web |title=The case for mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses |url=https://www.slaughterhousecctv.org.uk/the-case-for-mandatory-cameras/ |website=Slaughterhouse CCTV |orig-date=Original date 23 June 2014 |date=2020-04-07 |access-date=27 September 2024}}{{cite news |last=Hyde |first=Dan |title=Secret halal slaughterhouse film reveals 'horrific' animal abuse |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/shopping-and-consumer-news/11384505/Secret-halal-slaughterhouse-film-reveals-horrific-animal-abuse.html |work=Daily Telegraph |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218222604/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/shopping-and-consumer-news/11384505/Secret-halal-slaughterhouse-film-reveals-horrific-animal-abuse.html |archive-date=18 February 2020}} Although this has now happened in England and Scotland, it continues to campaign for mandatory CCTV in Wales and Northern Ireland.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Mandatory CCTV for all slaughterhouses in Scotland. 1st July 2021 |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/slaughter/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=13 July 2021}}
• Animal experiments: Animal Aid campaigns against animal experimentation on both moral and scientific grounds. It highlights the scale of animal experimentation in the UK: that around 4 million animals are experimented on in British laboratories each year, and that around every 8 seconds one animal dies.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Animal Experiments |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/animal-experiments/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=27 July 2021}} It also publicises that, as well as rats and mice, a wide range of animals are experimented on, including cats, dogs, guinea pigs, rabbits and monkeys. It champions the increasing potential of humane, non-animal research, including test tube (in vitro) and computer (in silico) based methods, and points to documented failures of the animal model, questioning its viability.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: The Case Against Animal Experiments. August 2015. |url=http://animalaid.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/caseagainstvivisection.pdf |website=Animal Aid |access-date=27 July 2021}} Victims of Charity: This campaign aims to persuade medical research charities to stop funding animal experiments and to use methods such as epidemiological studies; in vitro research using human cell and tissue cultures; clinical studies; human autopsy examinations; computerised patient-drug databases and post-marketing surveillance; mathematical models and computer simulations and non-invasive imaging techniques. Since the launch of the campaign, two major charities have committed to stop funding animal research.{{Cite web|title = Major charity stops funding animal experiments {{!}} Victims of Charity|url = http://www.victimsofcharity.org/major-charity-stops-funding-animal-experiments/|website = www.victimsofcharity.org|access-date = 13 October 2015}}{{Cite web|url = https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/who/plans-reports-policies/ethical-statements/care-research|title = Care and research|access-date = 13 October 2015|website = Marie Curie}} Animal Aid publishes a list of UK health charities indicating their animal research status - whether or not each charity funds or conducts animal research.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Health charities and animal testing |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/animal-experiments/health-charities-animal-testing/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=27 July 2021}} Animal Aid campaigns to stop warfare experiments on animals.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Stop warfare experiments |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/warfare/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=27 July 2021}} In the UK these are conducted by the Ministry of Defence's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down. These experiments, conducted on thousands of animals each year, include the use of nerve agents, chemical or biological weapons and the simulation of blast injury. Examples include shooting rodents in the eyes, applying nerve agents to guinea pigs and infecting monkeys with Ebola.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Stop warfare experiments: Examples of warfare experiments on animals |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/warfare/index.html#experiments |website=Animal Aid |access-date=27 July 2021}}{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Exposure to Ebola caused monkeys to bleed from their genitals. 12 April 2019 |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/exposure-to-ebola-caused-monkeys-to-bleed-from-their-genitals/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=27 July 2021}} In 2020 Animal Aid coordinated an open letter to the UK Government, signed by a number of animal advocacy organisations, public figures, parliamentarians and over 8000 individuals, calling for a ban on the use of animals in warfare experiments.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Open letter gathers widespread support. 18 June 2020 |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/open-letter-gathers-widespread-support/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=27 July 2021}}{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: More than 8,000 people sign open letter urging an end to warfare experiments on animals. 1 September 2020 |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/more-than-8000-people-sign-open-letter-urging-an-end-to-warfare-experiments-on-animals/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=27 July 2021}} It also campaigned for MPs to support an Early Day Motion calling for a ban, which 100 MPs signed.{{cite web |title=Early day motion 291 - The use of live animals for warfare experiments. tabled 12 March 2020 |url=https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/56753/the-use-of-live-animals-for-warfare-experiments |website=UK Parliament |access-date=27 July 2021}}
• Horse racing: This aims for an end to commercial horse racing, and as a first step, a ban on the use of the whip except for safety purposes. Whip regulations have been somewhat tightened up since the launch of the campaign. Animal Aid's undercover investigation into horse slaughter revealed video evidence of practices and conditions in UK abattoirs providing horsemeat for human consumption abroad. This included former race industry horses.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid's Horse Slaughter Investigation |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/aa-horse-slaughter-investigation/ |work=Animal Aid |access-date=16 May 2022}} The investigation was featured in a 2021 BBC Panorama programme, The Dark Side of Horse Racing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000y2xm|title=BBC Panorama, The Dark Side of Horse Racing|date=2021-07-19|website=BBC |access-date=16 May 2022}} Later that year the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced that it would not permit the sale of race horses to abattoirs to be slaughtered for meat.{{cite web|date=2021-10-07| title=Racing industry forced to take action following Animal Aid's undercover investigation into horse slaughter – but there is more to do! |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/racing-industry-forced-to-take-action-following-animal-aids-undercover-investigation-into-horse-slaughter-but-there-is-more-to-do/ |work=Animal Aid |access-date=16 May 2022}} Race Horse Death Watch{{Cite web|title = Race Horse Death Watch|url = http://www.horsedeathwatch.com/|website = www.horsedeathwatch.com|access-date = 13 October 2015}} is Animal Aid's online database that records thoroughbred deaths on British racecourses.{{Cite web|title = Shocking picture shows racehorse champion Wigmore Hall destroyed at packed course|url = https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/shocking-picture-shows-racehorse-champion-4290791|website = mirror|access-date = 13 October 2015}} In March 2022 Animal Aid launched the Irish Horse Death Watch{{Cite web|title = Irish Horse Death Watch|url = https://irishhorsedeathwatch.com/|website = irishhorsedeathwatch.com|access-date = 13 May 2022}} website which lists all horses killed due to racing on racecourses in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.{{cite web|date=2022-03-14 |title=New Irish Horse Death Watch website reveals 100 horses have lost their lives in the past twelve months|url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/new-irish-horse-death-watch-website-reveals-100-horses-have-lost-their-lives-in-the-past-twelve-months/ |work=Animal Aid |access-date=13 May 2022}}
• Game bird shooting: Animal Aid campaigns for an end to the production and shooting of animals for pleasure. Some 50 million pheasants and partridges are intensively farmed every year so that they can be released and shot for sport.{{Cite web|title = Beware invasion of the 50,000,000 pheasants as shooting season starts|url = http://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/432949/Beware-invasion-of-the-50-000-000-pheasants-as-shooting-season-starts|website = Express.co.uk|access-date = 13 October 2015}} In 2010, the outgoing Labour government was about to ban the metal battery cages in which thousands of egg-producing pheasants and partridges are confined to their productive lives. But this was overturned by the incoming Coalition government.{{Cite web|title = The great animal rights betrayal|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/the-great-animal-rights-betrayal-2132827.html|website = The Independent|access-date = 13 October 2015}} Animal Aid continues its campaign for the cages to be outlawed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/shooting/|title=Animal Aid: Shooting|website=www.animalaid.org.uk|access-date=27 February 2018}}{{Cite web|title = Early day motion 402 - USE OF CAGES TO REAR BIRDS FOR SHOOTING|url = http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2015-16/402|website = UK Parliament|access-date = 13 October 2015}}
• Veganism: Animal Aid promotes a cruelty-free diet, provides free cookery demonstrations in schools, and sends out free information packs and other literature. A central feature of the campaign is the Great Vegan Challenge, which is staged every November.{{Cite web|title = Take the Great Vegan Challenge|url = http://www.govegan.org.uk/|website = www.govegan.org.uk|access-date = 13 October 2015}}
• Living without cruelty: Animal Aid promotes a cruelty-free lifestyle, encouraging people to help end animal suffering through ordinary, everyday decisions which choose compassion over cruelty.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Living without cruelty |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/living-without-cruelty |website=Animal Aid |access-date=14 July 2021}} It focuses on clothing, cosmetics, toiletries and household products, such as cleaning materials and duvets.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Household products |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/living-without-cruelty/household-products/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=14 July 2021}} Animal Aid discourages participation in sport and leisure activities which kill animals or cause animal suffering.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Sport and leisure |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/living-without-cruelty/sport-and-leisure/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=14 July 2021}} It exposes animal suffering in the pet trade, and recommends adopting companion animals from rescue centres, sanctuaries or shelters rather than buying them from pet shops or breeders.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Companion animals |url=https://www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/living-without-cruelty/companion-animals/ |website=Animal Aid |access-date=14 July 2021}} It also encourages people not to buy exotic pets.{{cite web |title=Animal Aid: Companion Animals factsheet. 2016 |url=http://animalaid.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Companion-animals-factsheet.pdf |website=Animal Aid |access-date=14 July 2021}}

Animal Aid's Christmas Festival is held every year, early in December, in London, England, to promote a cruelty-free lifestyle.

There are goods for sale including fair trade crafts and jewellery, cruelty-free cosmetics, recycled goods, environmentally friendly clothing, non-leather boots and shoes and seasonal cards and gifts. There is a lecture programme throughout the day, plus a wide variety of vegan food. It is promoted as a family event.

There is also an annual South West Christmas Without Cruelty Fayre held in Exeter, England.

• Animal ethics
• List of animal rights groups

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website}}

{{Animal rights|state=uncollapsed|movement}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1977 establishments in the United Kingdom

Category:Anti-vivisection organizations

Category:British animal rights organizations

Category:Organizations established in 1977