Victory! Derbyshire Dales District Council Rejects Rabbit-Butchering Facility

Wonderful news just in: Derbyshire Dales District Council has made the compassionate and progressive decision to reject plans for a gruesome rabbit-butchering facility in Atlow, Derbyshire.

If approved, the facility would have turned the flesh of thousands of slaughtered rabbits into pies, pâté, and other “products ”.

The owners of T&S Nurseries also planned to expand their horrific franchise by building additional rabbit farms in Cornwall and Buckinghamshire, but both councils rejected the proposals following widespread criticism, including two PETA petitions – each signed by over 30,000 people!

Now, after receiving complaints including a letter from PETA – signed by over 25,000 of our supporters – Derbyshire Dales council has ruled in the rabbits’ favour and rejected the plans, too.

Thanks to everyone who spoke out and objected to the plans!

Why Did We Submit a Petition to Derbyshire Dales District Council?

Rabbits can live to be 9 years old, but those at this facility would likely be slaughtered before they reach 3 months of age.

When slaughtered, the terrified rabbits would likely be hung upside down to be stunned before their throats are cut. As stunning is often carried out incorrectly, many rabbits endure excruciating pain as they die.

Once killed, the animals would be sent to the proposed butchering facility and turned into “oven-ready” whole rabbits, jointed and diced rabbit meat, pies, pâté, and other “products”.

T&S Nurseries Investigation

Rabbits are social animals who feel pain and distress. A recent investigation by Animal Aid into T&S Nurseries’ existing rabbit farm in Atlow uncovered the dreadful conditions in which the animals are kept.

Rabbits were seen to be confined to hutches for hours – with no visible access to grass – and denied the chance to do anything that comes naturally to them, such as sprinting, hopping, and playing.

Sneaking in Fur Farming Through the Back Door

The applicants would also likely make a profit from selling the rabbits’ skin, under the guise that their fur is a “by-product” of killing them for their flesh – even though fur farming has been banned in the UK for almost two decades .

Take a look at this PETA exposé to see the horrors that rabbits face when farmed for their fur, and support a #FurFreeBritain:

Support a #FurFreeBritain

Processing Plants Affect Mental Health

Working at abattoirs and meat-processing plants has been linked to various mental health problems. Records show that many workers grapple with suicidal thoughts, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

These workers are typically some of the poorest and most exploited people – because it’s a job that nobody wants to do.

What’s Next?

Although the council rejected these plans, the applicants may try again.

We’ll continue to oppose plans for cruel farms when they’re put forward. If you want to receive alerts so that you can be among the first to take action, ensure you’re subscribed to our e-news:

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Rabbits Still Need Your Help

While you’re here, take a moment to sign our other urgent action alerts to help rabbits who are being exploited and killed for their fur and treated like laboratory equipment in horrific experiments.