Beagles Love and Libby returned by Cambridgeshire police to MBR Acres as 28,000 people and Chris Packham call for their release

Cambridgeshire police have returned beagles Love and Libby to MBR Acres, whom they were caring for following a break in at the dog breeding site.

TV presenter and environmental campaigner Chris Packham had today joined thousands of people calling on Cambridgeshire police to release two dogs they picked up following a break-in at a Cambridgeshire site used for breeding animals for testing.

The beagles, who have come to be known on social media as Love and Libby, were being cared for by Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

Springwatch presenter and naturalist Mr Packham told his followers on Twitter: “I just can’t see where @CambsCops are going with not handing over Libby & Love the beagles.”

And as a petition on Action Network gathered more than 28,000 signatures, he urged people to “call Cambridgeshire police to demand Love & Libby’s release”.

However, Cambridgeshire Police has now confirmed that the two beagles have been handed back to owners MBR Acres.

A police spokesperson said in a statement: "Two dogs recovered by our officers following a break-in at MBR Acres in, Wyton, Cambridgeshire, have been returned to the company.

"We recognise the strong feelings this issue has raised in many people, however, we had no legal justification to retain the dogs and therefore were compelled to return them.

"In response to concerns raised, we contacted the Home Office, which confirmed MBR Acres is a licensed establishment and recent inspections of the site confirm it is compliant with the requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and, therefore, its licence.

"The Home Office and its Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU), which administers and enforces the 1986 Act, supported the return of the dogs for their wellbeing.

"The dogs were recovered on Tuesday (20 December) following a reported burglary at the premises."

Eighteen further dogs were taken and have not been recovered.

Fourteen people arrested in connection with an incident at MBR Acres, the dog breeding centre in Sawtry Way, Wyton, on Tuesday (December 20), have been released on conditional bail.

In photographs released by Animal Rebellion, protesters appeared to pass a dog over the top of a metal fence.

The protesters wore pink T-shirts saying “Put Animal Testing On Trial” and “What Would You Do If This Was Your Dog?”.

The MBR Acres site is a centre where beagle dogs that are specially bred for human and animal research.

Police were called just before 6am to reports of a break-in at the site and a group of protesters at the front gates.

Eighteen dogs were taken and have not yet been recovered. Two dogs - Love and Libby - were recovered.

A police statement said the force aims to ensure staff at the site can go about their lawful work, while protesters are able to express their views peacefully and safely, within the law.

All those arrested were interviewed in connection with burglary and aggravated trespass.

Two men - a 20-year-old of no known address and a 19-year-old from Islington, London - were released on conditional bail until February 21.

Six people - a 29-year-old man from Sheffield, a 23-year-old man from York, a 28-year-old woman from Dalston, London, a 23-year-old woman of no known address, a 22-year-old man of no known address, and a 21-year-old woman from Glasgow – were released on conditional bail until February 28.

Six people - a 33-year-old woman, of no known address, a 23-year-old man from North London, a 32-year-old man from Hackney, London, a 54-year-old man from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, a 30-year-old woman from Worcester, and a 20-year-old woman of no known address – were released on conditional bail until March 1.

MBR Acres said it is “a fully licensed establishment and a lawful breeder of beagle dogs that are specially bred for human and animal research in an environment compliant with our licenses”.

A statement said: “Unfortunately, extremists, including long-time activists, are committing unlawful and dangerous activities each day against our business and staff.

“On top of this continuous harassment, today this has included breaking into the site and entering our buildings to steal our dogs for a second time this year.

“We are appalled by these actions.

“Dogs bred for research need careful rehabilitation not to be harmed by a sudden change to their environment.

“This unlawful extreme action has placed stress on our animals and staff by totally disrupting our daily activity to take care for the welfare of our dogs on site.”

It said an encampment of activists has been at the site for over 18 months.

“In an advanced democracy we ask why we should tolerate daily harassment and such intimidation endured for such a long time now, when our goal is to produce the best healthy dogs to help research, find and validate new treatments to save human and animal lives,” MBR Acres said.

“This is work required by the medicines regulator in the UK.

“We remain proud of what we do every day because our work allows the progress of medicine to improve – and often save – the lives of humans and animals.”

Protests at the site hit the headlines in November 2021 when singer Will Young was involved in a demonstration.