Animal Aid puts record straight

ANIMAL Aid has recently released details of our investigation into conditions at T&S Rabbits farm in Atlow, Derbyshire, covered in a piece titled “Rabbit farmer’s anger at claims he is ill-treating his animals,’ which appeared in the Ashbourne News Telegraph on April 7 and was reproduced elsewhere.

Animal Aid would like to clarify a couple of points relating to the story.

Firstly, that we have never spoken to the owner of the farm. Secondly, that we take exception to the quote ‘The author is clearly trying to incite hatred in connection with our lawabiding business”.

Animal Aid is a peaceful, lawabiding organisation; we have been since our inception in 1977. For more than 40 years, we have worked with the public, policy makers, politicians and the media to work towards a world where animals are not subjected to cruelty and exploitation.

Animal Aid will continue to expose suffering such as this in a responsible and conscientious manner.

Our peaceful and effective campaigning has led to legislative and societal change for the greater good.

Animal Aid investigators employ strict biosecurity measures during all investigations. Whilst investigators obtain access to sites such as this covertly, they do not enter by force or cause any damage to property while entering sites.

We also seek to ensure that no additional stress is caused to the animals at locations visited.

On this occasion, we filmed through the fence into the area and overhead, especially so as not to cause disturbance to rabbits, some of whom may have had a litter, as we understand they are being bred at the site.

Iain Green, director, Animal Aid

London