05.00am
“Woke up from a fitful sleep – these cages are hard metal, and with no soft bedding. They are not big enough for me to exercise, so I never sleep well. Most of the time I all I can do it is sit, alone, awake through the night, silently crying from frustration and loneliness. I miss my mum and want a cuddle.”
08.00am
“Our food arrives – boring pellets that taste of nothing. It never changes.”
08.30am
“A man in a big white coat appears suddenly and tries to grab me. I am frightened and lash out with my teeth and claws to defend myself, screaming in panic and desperation. He swears and screams. Why does be make so much noise? This goes on for what seems like hours. Finally I am overpowered, and flop, limp, exhausted but still trembling in fear and anticipation of something. Something awful that I know will happen next. ”
09.00am
“I am forcefully put into a metal clamp so that I cannot move my head. Row upon row of rabbits are already there. My feeling of dread increases. My heart races, waiting for the inevitable.”
09.15am
“The man hovers over me and drips something in my eyes. Ouch it burns. It burns even more. It feels like my eye is being gouged out of its socket. I want to wash the burning out of my eyes, but this is impossible as I have no tears -I cannot cry. I scream and struggle, but the clamp holds me fast. The screaming of other rabbits is deafening too. My sight goes all blurry which scares me even more. What’s happening to me?”
09.30am
“When I’m put back into my cage my eyes are still burning. I rub them with my paws, desperate to reduce the pain in some way. I shake my head back in forth and writhe in agony on the floor, but nothing helps. Finally I give up and sit at the back of my cage, defeated by life, and wanting to die and dreading the moment that it all happens again. Fearful of the men in the white coats who treat me roughly. Why would anyone do this to me? Oh yes! it’s because humans want a new lipstick that stays on longer, or a new brand of perfume.”
Choosing make-up that is not approved by the BUAV tortures animals.
Think, before you choose.
In 1997, (the last year that cosmetics animal testing was permitted in the UK), Home Office figures showed that there were 1,319 animal tests of cosmetics in ingredients and finished products conducted in Britain with an estimated 30,000 animals used within the EU. Comprehensive figures are not available despite member states having a legal obligation to provide figures.
Look out for the Humane Cosmetics Standard rabbit and stars symbol on the packaging or downloading the BUAV pocket guide, “The Little Book of Cruelty-Free” for a list of cruelty-free cosmetics manufacturers, from the website below or emailing info@buav.org
http://www.buav.org/gocrueltyfree