Dismay for TV star at beagle farm ruling

TV STAR Paul O’Grady has said it is a “tragedy” that a legal bid to prevent a beagle farm in East Yorkshire from expanding has failed.

Cruelty Free International has been denied permission to appeal against a High Court ruling, saying it “effectively paved the way for the expansion of the B&K beagle breeding facility in Grimston, East Yorkshire”.

CFI CEO Michelle Thew said they were “dismayed,” but would press ahead with a campaign for a full ban on dog experiments.

Mr O’Grady, who presents the ITV show For the Love of Dogs, added: “This is an incredibly disappointing outcome and a real tragedy for all those who care about the welfare of dogs. Despite strong opposition from residents and the animal welfare community, thousands of dogs have effectively now been condemned to a life of misery, destined to suffer and die in experiments.”

CFI lodged an application for permission to appeal at the Court of Appeal last year. It came after CFI unsuccessfully challenged the Home Office’s decision to allow B&K an exemption not to provide outdoor runs.

CFI said the public would be “shocked to learn that the Home Office will now be able to grant an exemption in any case it wants, just by citing an alleged risk of infection”.

The decision appears to signal the end of legal and planning battles, which have been going on for six years since the plans to upgrade the site first emerged. B&K said: “We are delighted with this decision and we are delighted that this impediment to our project has been set aside.”

Chris Magee, of Understanding Animal Research, said: “This is the right decision for animal welfare, since dogs will no longer be flown in from abroad. It is reassuring that the legal process has put animal welfare first.”