The One Voice association lodged a complaint against the intensive breeding of dogs in Mézilles in the department of Yonne. Saturday June 9, from 2.00pm to 4.00pm, One Voice organizes a rally in front of the prefecture of Auxerre to demand the closure of the CEDS, the largest French dog breeding provider for laboratories. The same day at 2.00pm a delegation will be received by the Chief of Staff of the Prefect of Yonne.
One Voice was authorized to use a bailiff who was able to undertake findings in the ECSR on 24 May. Following his report, he lodged a complaint against this farm for ill-treatment and lack of care. The association also requires that all the dogs must be handed over to the bailiff.
The breeder requires the Prefecture to endorse an increase in its capacity which is already effective
The Breeding Centre of the Domaine des Souches (CEDS) is asking the State for permission to expand its reception capacity, while it has already exceeded the maximum capacity that is allowed.
A complaint for lack of care and ill-treatment
It is apparent from the report of the bailiff that females are used for breeding each time they are on heat until they are seven years old. On that day, the keepers were clearly understaffed as the report mentions only three keepers were on site. Only one keeper is there at night, but does not watch the animals. So, when the females give birth, how can they benefit from assistance or care in case of complications? Once born, the puppies live locked up with their mother in the same concrete box for 12 weeks, the only "comfort" expected: a plastic bin and sawdust on the ground. There is no trace of any games or other means of isolation for the mothers.
After two months, the puppies are weaned, separated from their mothers, and grouped in the "storage area", where there no "no playground" is planned: nature is absent, except behind the fence. Those who survive are sent to laboratories as early as 10 months of age. When females can no longer reproduce, they suffer the same fate. The complaint of One Voice reports many failings.
The Law and the people demand less cruelty and animal testing
The Beagles and Golden Retrievers are dogs chosen to supply the laboratories applying animal experimentation protocols because they are soft and docile. Since 2016, the quantity of dogs used in the laboratories is increasing. When we know how much they are protected by French law, it makes one imagine what sort of life there is for rabbits, hamsters, mice...
And yet, 83% of French people are in favour of stopping animal testing (IPSOS survey for One Voice December 2016).
The European regulation is clear on the subject, it makes it explicit in the form of the 3R rule: Reduce, Replace, Refine. Member countries of the European Union must replace animals with alternative research methods (computer simulations, stem cells, etc.), refine tests to make them less painful, and most importantly, reduce the number of animals used. The state must therefore finance the search for alternative methods when they do not exist, and scientists have the duty to implement these methods when they exist.
Consistent with these provisions, One Voice calls for the closure of this French breeding facility, instead of its expansion and is supported in this process by more than 40,000 people. These supporters have all signed the petition over a six-week period after its posting on One Voice’s website. Many associations make up the main European coalition in this area, the ECEAE, European Coalition to End Animal Experimentation, who support One Voice - of which we are the French representative. The local collective "Let's close the CEDS" who is also in solidarity with this action.
Saturday June 9 at 2.00 pm, the association will be received by the Cabinet Director of the Prefect of Yonne, the assembly will leave after this appointment.
We are at your disposal for any further information and will be available for any interview at request until 1:30 pm on the day of the meeting, or after 3 pm that same day.
Photograph taken from the complaint filed with the Attorney General of Auxerre
