Recently many letters have come into the Constituency mailbox regarding treatment of stray cats and dogs and EDM 193 which addresses the use of strays in animal experiments.

This is one of the many letters concerned with this issue:

As MEPs for my region, I am contacting you to ask you all to sign EDM 193 and say NO to the use of stray cats and dogs in animal experiments.
 
Join the BUAV campaign to oppose the UK Government's plans to remove the current protection granted to stray domestic animals, such as cats and dogs, as it integrates the new EU Directive on animal experiments into UK legislation.
 
If these new rules are imposed, the Government could allow the use of stray, lost or abandoned cats and dogs to be used in experiments and sentenced to a life in a UK laboratory.
 
An Early Day Motion with cross party support has been tabled by Adrian Sanders MP in support of the BUAV campaign.  Adrian told the BUAV:
"I'm shocked that the Government is considering removing the current protection given to our stray cats and dogs from being used in experiments. Losing a pet is distressing, but the idea that the animal could potentially end up in a laboratory is ghastly and unacceptable, and I urge the Government to reconsider."
 
Please sign the Early Day Motion 193 opposing this appalling proposition.
 
Replying on Nick Griffin MEP’s behalf, his outreach officer sent the following:

Thank you for your email regarding Early Day Motion 193, opposing the use of stray cats and dogs in experiments.
 
Early Day Motions (EDMS) are a petition that only Members of Parliament (MPs) can sign. Unfortunately, as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Mr Griffin is not eligible to sign or debate Early Day Motions.
 
The European Directive on animal experimentation (No. 2010/63/EU), due to come into force in 2013, requires that non-animal alternatives should be used wherever they are scientifically suitable across Europe. Where it is not possible to use alternative methods to testing on animals, the number of animals used must be reduced or the testing methods refined so as to cause less harm to the animals.
 
The proposal by the Home Office to allow stray pets to be caught and used for experiments for "environmental" or scientific purposes is abhorrent and it flies in the face of the spirit of this new European legislation.
 
As a British National Party MEP, Nick Griffin believes that it is the responsibility of government and the drug companies to acknowledge the public's unease with experimentation on animals and to work towards a change in practice. In response to widespread public support to end experimentation on animals, British National Party delegates at their 2009 Annual Conference supported a motion that called for "an immediate ban on experiments on primates, dogs and cats for the cosmetic industry" and further affirmed that "all experimentation will be banned within 5 years of a British National Party Government taking office, whenever this can be done without prejudice to human health or life."

Mr Griffin has a genuine concern for animal welfare and has supported a number of measures since being elected to the European Parliament which aim to prevent cruelty and abuse. Please be assured that he will continue to use his status as an MEP to improve the treatment of animals and livestock.