Here’s a roundup of the week’s biggest news stories related to animal research—all the recent media coverage you need to know right now to be the most effective activist for animals in labs.
When Animal Researchers Call Their Victims Their “Kids”…
Rise for Animals, 12/10/2025
A lab tech says she loved the infant monkeys in her laboratory, and even called them her “kids.” But love doesn’t look like trauma.
Here’s the real story behind the animal research industry’s propaganda that rebrands harm as “care.” 📰 Full Story →
FDA Publishes New Draft Guidance on Reducing Animal Testing in Nonclinical Safety Studies
Sara M. Klock & Michael J. Werner, Holland & Knight, 12/2/2025
The FDA has “issued its draft guidance on Monoclonal Antibodies: Streamlined Nonclinical Safety Studies Guidance for Industry, the agency’s most recent step in reducing animal testing in nonclinical settings.”
“The draft guidance marks the first step in implementing [the FDA’s April 2025 “‘road map’ outlining its strategy to reduce animal testing”], specifically for monoclonal antibodies, and reflects FDA’s belief that ‘six-month nonhuman primate toxicity testing can be eliminated or reduced.’” 📰 Full Story →
‘I heard their screams from the car park’ — Man claims alleged puppy burglary was to stop ‘disgusting abuse’
Callum Cuddeford, My London, 12/6/2025
“An activist accused of burglary believed Beagle puppies would die painfully if he failed to ‘rescue’ them from a facility that breeds dogs for testing. Eben Lazarus, 25, told jurors it was ‘the morally right thing to do’ as he gave evidence at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (December 5), adding: ‘Any decent person would agree this is a disgusting way to treat these puppies.’”
“The defendants have admitted trespassing and removing property that was not theirs, and that they did not intend to return, but dispute they were acting dishonestly. Jurors have been told they must decide whether the defendants acted reasonably, which is part of the legal test for burglary when a defendant genuinely believes their actions were honest.”
“‘Beforehand I was aware of the conditions the dogs were living in. I had heard the screams from outside the carpark. They had no bedding. Never seen light. In cages of 20 dogs, sat in their own faeces with no love. Any decent person would agree this is a disgusting way to treat these puppies. This is their life until further abuse and animal testing leading to bleeding and pain and death. I believe if any member of the public… from the jury, saw this, they would agree it was the morally right thing to do, to rescue their lives.’” 📰 Full Story →
Petition to end primate research presented to German Parliament
European Animal Research Association, 12/8/2025
“Representatives from PETA and Doctors Against Animal Experiments presented to the petition committee of the German Parliament on 1 December, calling for a phased EU-wide end to primate research. The petition, which gathered 40,000 signatures, demands a full ban on great ape studies, revisions to EU law, use of IUCN Red List criteria for primate protection, and a 10% annual increase in funding for non-animal research methods.”
“During the committee hearing, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and MPs from the CDU/CSU and SPD defended the continued use of primates, arguing that a ban would hinder biomedical progress and push research abroad. Only one MP, from Die Linke, backed the petition, questioning the scientific value of primate research.” 📰 Full Story →
‘What you’re doing is killing animals’: Footage from ‘burglary’ on Beagle breeding facility shown to jury
Callum Cuddeford, MyLondon, 12/8/2025
“Eighteen men and women from Animal Rising face charges of burglary and handling stolen goods after 20 dogs were taken from MBR Acres in Cambridgeshire in December 2022. The facility breeds Beagles for animal testing and is already a site of a permanent protest called ‘Camp Beagle’, jurors have been told.”
“A video recorded by a security guard, which was played to jurors at a trial in Cambridge Crown Court, appeared to show activists removing the dogs, while wearing pink t-shirts that said ‘Animal testing on trial’ and ‘What would you do if this was your dog?’”
“At one point in the footage, it appears a security guard attempts to move a ladder, leading one male activist to tell him: ‘You’re endangering her life.’ The security guard responds: ‘What you’re doing is breaking the law.’ The male activist says: ‘What you’re doing is killing animals.’” 📰 Full Story →
Writing the Eternal Treblinka
Koushik Banerjea, Tribune, 12/8/2025
“A stinging new novella by The Football Factory author John King uses the narrative of an anti-vivisection cell to explore deeper, darker themes of fascism, colonialism, and genocide….”
“The focus [] is largely on the actions of an anti-vivisection cell rather than on the horror experienced by the defenceless creatures used for ‘scientific research’ in secretive laboratories. Chief scientist Simon Spinks gradually emerges as a sadistic control freak, enjoying what he sees as a natural mastery of his domain: ‘Different rules were meant to apply. Us. Them. The pecking order… Animal class.’ Effectively playing God in his warped fiefdom, Spinks deploys the cold logic of science, ‘civilisational progress’, and its attendant subtext of ‘reason’ to justify not only the cruelty of the experiments but the almost erotic pleasure he takes in inflicting pain on the caged animals.”
“ . . . the novel joins the dots linking human and animal abjection and the hierarchy, which relies on suffering for its own warped sense of purpose, and of course, profit. Yet for all the darkness the story wades through, King nonetheless offers hope. It is a remarkable book and one we badly need.” 📰 Full Story →
Number of Test Animals in 2024 at Lowest Level in Years — but Still Millions Affected
Louisa Stoeffler, PetBook, 12/10/2025
“Every December, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) publishes the number of animals used or killed for scientific purposes in Germany. For the reporting year 2024, it shows: The number of laboratory animals has decreased for the fifth consecutive year—yet despite the renewed decline, millions of animals still die for research.”
“In total, 3,063,569 animals were used or killed for scientific purposes in Germany in 2024. This number comprises: • 1,327,931 animals actually used in experiments, • 626,538 animals killed solely for organ or tissue extraction, • and 1,109,100 animals bred for scientific purposes but ultimately not used, and still killed. The BfR also distinguishes between animals used in an experiment for the first time and those reused. In 2024, 1,302,190 animals were reported for the first time, while 25,741 animals were used multiple times.” 📰 Full Story →
Laboratory Survivors Show Us What’s Possible
Rise for Animals, 12/11/2025
Beautiful moments happen for animals when people like you refuse to accept that suffering behind closed doors is the best we can do. Now, double your impact for animals with a matching gift up to $25,000 through December 31, 2025. 📰 Full Story →
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