Oxford University Park Farm
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Oxford University Park Farm at Northmoor, Oxfordshire, UK was a breeding centre for animals that were used in experiments, mainly at Oxford University. It had the dubious honour of being the most raided breeding centre in the UK. It closed down in 1999.
It bred and imported rhesus monkeys, dogs, cats, guineapigs, rabbits, rats and mice.
[edit] Chronology of raids
- 1985: The Central Animal Liberation League (CALL) carried out a widely-publicised raid on Park Farm. Thirty dogs — not just beagles, but mongrels and other breeds — were taken by two dozen people in a daylight raid one Sunday in July. They responded to commands like "Sit" and "Stay". This achieved a great deal of publicity but no conclusive answer was ever found as to the source of the dogs. Eight of them were later seized by the police following raids on the houses of known animal rights activists and were returned to Park Farm.
- 1985: A few day after the CALL raid, Park Farm was again raided by activists from the South East Animal Liberation League (SEALL). Four of the dogs that had been returned by the police were re-taken, including an Old English Sheepdog.
- 1989: Park Farm was raided during a daylight on New Year's Eve by the Animal Liberation Front. 36 dogs were taken.
- 1991: 250 cats, rabbits and guineapigs were taken during a nighttime raid.
- 1998: Activists from the Animal Liberation Front were interrupted during a raid. Following a police chase, 16 dogs were captured and returned, but two dogs remained free and were rehomed. One person was arrested and sentenced to 18 months prison.
- 1999: Park Farm closes.
