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News Release

Dogs home urged to dump IAMS

Uncaged Campaigns has written to Manchester Dogs Home (MDH) to urge them to dump IAMS as the sponsor of the 12th Annual Sponsored Dog Walk in aid of the Home, due to take place on Sunday 12th May 2002 between 10.00am and 4.00pm at Debdale Park, Hyde Road, Gorton, Manchester.

Uncaged Campaigns has been spearheading a Global Boycott of IAMS and its parent company Procter & Gamble in protest at the corporation's animal testing practices.

In May 2001, Uncaged Campaigns gained front page coverage in the Sunday Express for an exposé of IAMS-sponsored cruel and lethal laboratory experiments on cats and dogs. Parent company Procter & Gamble (P&G) is responsible for thousands of vivisection experiments every year, including tests for cosmetics and toiletries - tests that would not be permitted in the UK.

Since these revelations and following lobbying, other animal welfare organisations such as the RSPCA and Battersea Dogs Home have severed their links with IAMS and P&G and vowed not to give the corporation a platform.

Uncaged Campaigns had already written twice, in December 2001 and March 2002, to the MDH to inform them about IAMS' cruel lab experiments on animals and their misleading policy statements. MDH did not reply. Now Uncaged Campaigns has written to MDH for a third time, asking them to remove IAMS from sponsorship of the dog walk, or face a protest on the day.

Dan Lyons, Director of Uncaged Campaigns, comments:

"It's a staggering misjudgment on the part of the Manchester Dogs Home to get into bed with IAMS and Procter & Gamble. Promoting these companies means promoting their cruelty to animals. IAMS' sponsorship of the dog walk is a classic PR tactic designed to hide IAMS cruelty through association with animal welfare organisations. If Manchester Dogs Home don't dump IAMS, we'll be there to ensure the public know the whole truth about this company.

"We support the valuable work that the Home does for dogs in need. But we cannot stand by while cruel companies promote themselves to animal lovers. There are many other more appropriate companies that could sponsor the walk, and the Home should ensure it does not enter into deals which conflict with its animal welfare principles."

Action!

• Contact Brian Railton at Manchester Dogs Home to complain about their promotion of IAMS - email webmaster@dogshome.net, phone 0161 205 7136/2205, or write to Brian Railton, Manchester Dogs Home, Crofter's House, Moss Brook Road, Church Lane, Harpurhey, Manchester, M9 5PG.
• If MDH fail to dump IAMS, please participate in the protest on Sunday 12 May 2002 at Debdale Park - contact Uncaged Campaigns or watch this space to see how the campaign develops.
• Write letters of protest to the Manchester Evening News - email
  postbag@men-news.co.uk.

Related links:

• IAMS index
• IAMS exposé
• Global Boycott P&G
• Support for the campaign
• Pet food information sheet

Uncaged Campaigns 02.05.02