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Save the Dogs UK
HistoryHow we got here: the breeders, the labs, the trials and the wins.ActionEvents, online actions and the campaign Action Pack.CommunityJoin the WhatsApp community and follow the campaign.SupportDonate, buy the merch or volunteer your skills.
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History

How we got here.

Britain still breeds beagles for laboratories. This is the story of the breeders, the labs, the trials and the wins.

Why beagles

Beagles are bred to order for regulatory toxicity testing of medicines and chemicals. At around sixteen weeks old they are sold on to contract research laboratories. It is legal, licensed and mostly out of sight.

2,889

procedures on dogs in British labs in 2025, up 9% (Home Office)

Evidence and factsThe sourced record: the numbers, the buyers and the regulator.The bleeding licenceWhat the prosecution conceded about procedures at MBR Acres.

The UK story

At MBR Acres in Cambridgeshire, up to 2,000 beagles a year are widely reported to be bred for laboratories. It has become the focus of the UK fight.

  1. January 2018

    MBR Acres Ltd, part of the US group Marshall BioResources, takes over the Wyton site in Cambridgeshire. Previous owners included Harlan Laboratories.

  2. June 2021

    The Camp Beagle protest camp begins outside the gates of MBR Acres.

  3. 2022

    Open rescues at MBR Acres. 23 beagles are rescued across two actions and 18 people are charged with burglary.

  4. February 2026

    Regulations made under the Public Order Act 2023 bring life sciences sites under key national infrastructure protest law, with up to 12 months in prison and an unlimited fine.

  5. April 2026

    Parliament debates a petition signed by 121,854 people, in Westminster Hall on 27 April.

  6. September 2026

    People march in London and Huntingdon while the March for Animals walks to Marshall BioResources in New York. A new petition for a public inquiry passes 10,000 signatures.

The full timelineEvery date, every phase, in order, and what comes next.The five trialsCrown Court verdicts: two acquittals and three convictions.The September marchesLondon and Huntingdon, with photographs from the day.

One company, many countries

MBR Acres belongs to Marshall BioResources, which lists breeding sites in four countries.

  • United States

    North Rose, New York

    Marshall Farms, the company headquarters and flagship breeding site.

  • United Kingdom

    Wyton and Grimston

    MBR Acres in Cambridgeshire, and B&K Universal near Hull.

  • France

    Gannat and Mézilles

    French sites breeding beagles and golden retrievers for laboratories.

  • China

    Breeding facilities

    Public detail on these sites is limited, and we say so.

Marshall BioResourcesThe whole group, site by site.Marshall's FAQ, answeredAll 29 of its questions, with sources.Its animal welfare claimsThe company's welfare page, point by point.Its medical claimsWhat the “medical advances” argument leaves out.Its national security claimsThe “national security” argument, examined.
Where it has been wonItaly banned breeding dogs for experiments in 2014.Green Hill, a Marshall-owned farm, was seized in 2012 and about 3,000 beagles were rehomed. Three senior staff were later convicted of animal cruelty.The Green Hill story 2,100+Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin closed in 2026.More than 2,100 beagles went to rescue, after a public campaign and a licence-surrender deal.The Ridglan story

The law

Breeding dogs for experiments is legal in the UK under a Home Office licence. Laws can change, and that is what this campaign is for.

The legal frameworkThe Acts that permit this, in their own words.The establishment licenceHow breeders are licensed, and how a licence can go.The section 58 challengeThe exemption in the Animal Welfare Act.Protest lawsWhat the 2026 rules mean, and the judicial review.

Now you know. Do something.

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In short

Questions people ask

When did the campaign against MBR Acres begin?
The Camp Beagle protest camp began outside MBR Acres in Wyton, Cambridgeshire, in June 2021. MBR Acres Ltd had taken over the site in January 2018, according to a 2021 High Court judgment. Save the Dogs UK is a separate, independent campaign. See the timeline.
Which countries does Marshall BioResources breed dogs in?
Marshall BioResources lists breeding locations in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and China. Its former Italian beagle farm, Green Hill, was seized in 2012. See Marshall BioResources.
Has beagle breeding for laboratories ever been stopped?
Yes. Italy banned breeding dogs for experiments in 2014. In the United States, Ridglan Farms in Wisconsin closed in 2026 after a licence-surrender deal, and more than 2,100 beagles went to rescue. See Green Hill and Ridglan.