BUAV pioneered the use of investigative work in the UK through the placing of undercover workers within laboratories. In 1989, our investigation at Huntingdon Research Centre revealed, for the very first time, the plight of beagles in toxicity testing and caused a public and political outcry.

The BUAV investigation broke to the public on 29th Nov 1989 with a front page exclusive in the Today newspaper entitled 'Inside Britain's Beagle Labs' with full colour pictures plus a four-page special report. Predictably, HRC refused to answer any questions from the press or public. The BUAV called for a full Home Office Inquiry.

Parliamentary Questions tabled revealed that in 1988 1,900 procedures had been carried out on dogs at the company. In 1989 HRC had been visited no less than 11 times by Home Office Inspectors who had reported, quite remarkably that "the conditions in which the animals were being kept were found to be generally satisfactory". Indeed, after our investigation the then Home Office Minister Peter Lloyd replied to public queries by writing "In many ways, it [HRC] would serve as an excellent example to others".

It later came as a severe blow, but no real shock, when the Home Office finally resolved its Inquiry without any serious consequences for Huntingdon Research Centre whatsoever.

• Secret suffering
  • The Testing
  • The Outcome
  • It's A Dog's Life
  • Public Outcry