Noel Gallagher’s ex-wife Meg Mathews, 59, condemns ‘cruel’ use of beagles for animal testing as she leads protest outside dog breeding facility

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Meg Mathews described her visit to a protest camp near a dog breeding facility as deeply disturbing, saying the experience will stay with her forever.

Fifty-nine-year-old Sara Mathews, who was married to Oasis musician Noel Gallagher, became emotional while recounting how she could hear the cries of approximately 1,000 beagles. These dogs are kept at a Cambridgeshire facility and bred to be used in testing at labs across the UK.

She described the scene as devastating, saying the sights, sounds, and smells were deeply upsetting. She added that she’d never seen such cruelty concentrated in one location.

As someone passionate about animal welfare, I’m really supporting the efforts to free the beagles currently housed at MBR Acres. It’s a breeding facility that provides dogs for research, and I believe these sweet animals deserve a loving home, not a lab. I’m encouraging everyone to learn more and help advocate for their release!

She also criticized the government’s proposal to make protesting at animal testing sites illegal, a law that could be passed as early as next week.

The government is suggesting changes to the law that would protect animal testing facilities in the same way as essential services like airports and railways. If the changes are approved, people who disrupt these facilities could face up to a year in prison and an unlimited fine.

I was really surprised to hear Mathews explain the decision. Apparently, the government is claiming MBR Acres is vital for national security and pandemic preparedness, but it doesn’t make any sense! They say dogs aren’t involved in making Covid vaccines and animals can’t even get the virus, so it’s hard to understand why the facility needs to stay as it is.

It’s time to stop using cruel and outdated practices. Currently, as many as 1,000 beagles are kept in a warehouse with no social interaction, and sadly, they are all euthanized after being used in experiments.

The constant crying is incredibly painful – it felt like a stab to the heart, she said. This was Mathews’ first time visiting the location, a full 6.5-hour drive from her home in Cornwall.

Activists are collecting signatures on a petition to stop the practice of testing products on dogs and other animals before they’re used by people. They intend to submit this petition to parliament.

It’s often argued that results from animal testing aren’t reliable for humans, which explains why the vast majority – between 92 and 96 percent – of drugs that appear safe and effective in animals ultimately fail when tested on people. Advocates for change also highlight the existence of advanced, ethical research methods that don’t involve animals and provide more relevant data for human health.

For the past seven years, protestors have continuously occupied an encampment called ‘Camp Beagle’ just outside the facility’s fence.

Mathews began working to free the beagles in 2021 after discovering the ‘Camp Beagle’ campaign on Instagram. Prior to that, she participated in the Pup Aid charity event and visited 10 Downing Street on three occasions to advocate for ‘Lucy’s Law’ in 2020 – legislation designed to stop puppy farming.

Mathews explained that he’s always cared about animal rights, something he attributes to his mother. She used to tell him stories about the cruelty of animal testing, specifically how Johnson’s baby shampoo was tested on rabbits by dripping it into their eyes, causing them suffering. Because of this, she refused to use the product on him when he was a child.

It’s been ten years since she passed away, but I still think about her. Her views on the cruelty of fur farming led me to never wear fur.

Growing up, my family instilled in me a deep love for animals. During a year off from school, my parents took us on an incredible adventure: a safari through southern Africa, traveling by van through Namibia, Botswana, and Angola.

I’m someone who instinctively tries to help, even small creatures – I’d really go out of my way for an animal in need. When my partner Noel and I lived in Primrose Hill, I always made a point of rescuing earthworms from the sidewalk while walking the dogs.

The dogs are kept in cages with concrete floors inside a dimly lit shed. They are fed by an automatic system, and any puppies that are small or weak are always killed.

They’re legally allowed to draw blood, and then sell the blood, organs, and skin. If a neighbor were doing this, the police would intervene, but because the Home Office is involved, access is restricted and no one can investigate.

A representative from Camp Beagle expressed their thanks to Meg for her continued support of their cause and the beagles. They said her dedication has raised awareness about the situation and is helping them work towards securing the beagles’ release.

Kate Salmon, from the Naturewatch Foundation, criticized the UK government’s recent change to the Public Order Act 2023. She described the move – which effectively prohibits protests near animal testing facilities – as aggressive and a sneaky way to bypass proper debate.

The public hasn’t been properly consulted about how this change will affect people, and it goes against the government’s recently published plan – released just days before this change was announced in November 2025 – to reduce animal testing.

Some have stated the reason for this is to satisfy industry demands. We are deeply worried about the consequences of this change, particularly that it could make it illegal for people to peacefully protest and express their views.

This goes beyond simply caring for animals, and it’s not about opposing all animal testing. It’s fundamentally about supporting democratic principles.

The facilities they want to protect are generally not well-known, and most people aren’t aware of what they are or where they’re located.

It’s hard for people to peacefully protest if they’re unsure whether nearby buildings are covered by strict new laws. We’re still working with politicians to stop a change to the Public Order Act 2023, and we urge everyone to contact their Member of Parliament about this issue right away.

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2026-01-03 19:04