Most would choose to spend their 102nd birthday tucked up at home – but not Ron Green.
He is patron of the animal rights Camp Beagle camp at Wyton near Huntingdon, and it was to there he went for his birthday.
And to express solidarity with the protest camp outside Britain’s biggest ‘puppy factory’, MBR Acres Ltd, breeding thousands of beagle puppies for the UK’s toxicology testing industry.
Camp supporters welcomed his visit.
“It’s been a dark few days at Camp Beagle with two puppy shipments in the last three days,” said a Camp spokesperson.
“But we have brought the light, too.”
They welcomed their patron Ron to the camp where he was joined by Shannon Keith, founder, and president of Beagle Freedom Project (BFP).
BFP is based in America but has launched a UK branch to “vigorously expose the animal testing industry”.
Shannon came from California to launch the UK branch.
In America, the BFP continues to grow its support and is attracting publicity through a connection with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry.
The couple have a new four-legged friend in their lives, a seven-year-old rescue beagle named Mamma Mia.
The beagle spent her life prior to joining the Royal couple at an animal-testing facility.
Mamma Mia is one of 4,000 beagles rescued from Envigo; an animal-testing facility based in Virginia.
Once Envigo shut down in June, the dogs were taken to shelters across America – and a chance meeting with Shannon led them to taking Mamma Mia home with them.
