For Immediate Release:
15th September, 2000
Contact:
Andrew Butler 0181 870 3966
Cardiff — A 6-foot “beagle” and members of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) will greet participants at the British Heart Foundation’s fundraising Bute Park Walk to highlight the charity’s funding of primitive experiments on dogs, cats and rodents, instead of channelling their funds into progressive clinical studies and prevention.
Date: Sunday, 17th September
Time: 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Place: Bute Park, Temple of Peace Car Park, King Edward VII Ave.
Recent research funded by the British Heart Foundation has involved cutting open dogs’ chests and circulating their blood out of their bodies and back-in again. In a gruesome experiment on cats, the animals’ chests were cut open, their back legs were skinned, tubes were inserted into their necks and they were shocked and injected with sodium cyanide to test muscle reflexes and blood vessel activity.
“Many caring people are clueless that money they raise for the British Heart Foundation may be used to hurt animals”, says PETA campaigner Toni Vernelli. “A growing list of charities fund only non-animal research and educational programs and BHF needs to move with the times”.
PETA’s giant “beagle” will also visit the BHF charity shop in Barry on Monday, 18th September as part of a tour of the heart charity’s ten most profitable shops. The protest will take place from 12 noon to 1:00 pm at 138 Holton Rd, Barry.
PETA’s guide to animal friendly health charities is available on request.
For more info visit our website www.britishheartlessfoundation.org