As you know, our ultimate goal is clear: to see MBR Acres close and end the breeding of dogs for laboratory testing in the UK. Getting there won’t happen overnight, which is why our research and lobbying teams have developed a carefully planned, step-by-step strategy. Behind the scenes, we’ve been building relationships with key decision makers, influencers, experts and strategic advisers who are helping us move into the next phase of our campaign. We know you’re eager to hear more. We can’t share all the detail just yet, but we didn’t want another month to pass without reassuring you that a huge amount is happening behind the scenes. There’s a plan, a Plan B and, yes, even a Plan C! We’re having important conversations, strengthening relationships and bringing some incredibly knowledgeable and supportive people alongside us. We’re hopeful we’ll have more tangible progress to share before too long. Until then, please know: we haven’t stopped, we aren’t slowing down, and everything we’re doing is focused on creating lasting change for the dogs.

If you missed the news of the rescue, where have you been? While Save the Dogs had no involvement, it’s impossible not to feel happy for the eight little beagle puppies who made it out of MBR Acres. They were probably less than 16 weeks old, and we hope they are now safe, loved and beginning the lives every dog deserves. What you may not know is that shortly afterwards, police published details of each puppy’s microchip and asked vets to be vigilant, including looking out for any signs that a chip had been removed.

It’s a reminder of just how difficult it would be to scale up this type of rescue safely and successfully. That’s why our focus is firmly on achieving lasting change: strengthening regulation, working with our growing network of MPs to build pressure for MBR Acres to work towards closure and, in the meantime, pushing for surplus dogs to be given the chance of loving homes. Eight puppies are free and we have bigger plans.

As Save the Dogs grows, we want to make sure the organisation behind the campaign grows with it. That means putting the right structures in place to be transparent and accountable, protect our campaigners and volunteers, and make sure everything we do is properly governed. So, we have some exciting news: we are now officially Save the Dogs Ltd, a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG)! This gives Save the Dogs its own legal identity, meaning the organisation, rather than individual volunteers, can take responsibility for things like organising demonstrations and events, commissioning research and developing rehoming partnerships. It’s an important step in our journey from a passionate volunteer-led campaign to a strong, sustainable organisation with the foundations to deliver lasting change for the dogs.

Last newsletter we put a request out there for some more brilliant people to help us. We had a great response to a couple of the roles but we still have three volunteer leadership roles available across Legal, Events and Risk & Compliance. Like all our roles, these are unpaid, but they are a real opportunity to use your skills to make a difference. If you have expertise in any of these areas, and could lead and support fellow campaigners to help us as we work towards our goal, or you want to know more please get in touch, we would love to hear from you.

Peter Egan’s petition calling for a parliamentary inquiry into the regulation of animal testing has nearly 17,000 signatures at time of publishing and we are trying to get it to 100,000 by March 2027, the trigger for a debate in parliament.

So please, sign it, share it and ask your friends and family to sign too. Every signature adds another voice. This is a key opportunity to shine a light on the suffering of animals used in research and those bred for it at facilities like MBR Acres, and to push for a kinder, more modern future. Let’s get it to 100,000. For every animal who deserves better.

Once you’ve signed, how about joining us, alongside Peter Egan, Dr André Ménache, and Sir Roger Gale on 27 October as we stand together to call for this public inquiry into greater transparency, accountability and regulatory oversight in animal research licensing. There’ll be speeches and the chance to engage the public and MPs to make our voices heard – register your interest below

There’s been so much happening lately, we know it’s easy to miss something! So, whether you couldn’t make one of our marches, missed an Instagram Live, or simply want to watch again, you can now catch up with everything on our YouTube channel.

Don’t miss Olly’s conversation with Gretchen Primack and Ella Magers, the women behind the March to Abolish Animal Testing, joined by Ella’s beautiful Ridglan rescue, Jane. Hear what they achieved and get a sneak peek at what they’re planning next. We’ll share new events as soon as they’re confirmed, or you can sign up for updates directly through their website.

Over on Instagram, Siân Berry MP for Brighton Pavilion has been speaking up for the MBR beagles. She’s calling for answers about how the dogs are kept, stronger welfare standards and, importantly, for dogs who are unsuitable for research to be given the chance of a loving home rather than simply being killed. Siân is one of a growing number of MPs speaking up for the dogs, and every voice helps build awareness and momentum.

So, if you haven’t already, please give Siân’s post some love, leave a comment and share it far and wide. The more support these posts receive, the more people we can reach – and the louder the voice for the dogs becomes.