Naturewatch Foundation, a leading animal welfare charity, has joined forces with Fire Lily Studio and Paul Goodenough to launch a powerful short film and new fundraiser on this Tuesday, August 12, 2025.
The short film, titled A Tail of Two Dogs, sheds light on the often hidden suffering of dogs used in laboratory experiments in the UK. Through animation, the film highlights the stark contrast between the life of a beloved pet dog and the fate of thousands of dogs bred for scientific research.
Created by Fire Lily Studio, the short film follows the daily lives of two dogs: Toby, a cherished family pet, and ’43’, a nameless beagle used in laboratory testing. The animation provides a poignant portrayal of the vastly different realities these two dogs experience.
The launch of the short film coincides with a national fundraising campaign by Naturewatch Foundation. The charity aims to support its work for animals, including the launch of a new grant to fund the development of non-animal testing methods.
Despite public opposition, a staggering 3,565 scientific procedures were conducted on beagles in British laboratories in 2023. These dogs are primarily used in regulatory toxicity tests, which often involve repeated exposure to harmful substances for up to 90 days. ’43’ symbolizes the thousands of dogs who are forced to live without freedom, comfort, or companionship.
Kate Salmon, Campaign Manager at Naturewatch Foundation, stated, “The dogs used in experiments are no different from the ones we share our homes with. It is disgraceful that in 2025, here in the UK, thousands of dogs and hundreds of thousands of other animals are still subjected to experiments. Our new short film drives home the message that behind every animal experiment is an individual whose life matters.”
Ben Sinclair, Founder of Fire Lily Studio, added, “At Fire Lily Studio, our work is inspired by real animals facing real suffering. In this film, scenes from ’43’s’ life are based on actual footage of dogs confined in labs – stuck in cold routines and handled by clinical, uncaring hands. Through the power of animation, we aim to raise awareness for animal rights and allow viewers to connect with the emotions of these animals. Real footage can be too painful to watch, but animation offers another way to build empathy through character and story.”
Writer and producer Paul Goodenough shared his thoughts on the film, saying, “If I had one wish right now, it would be that this film didn’t exist. Not because it’s not amazing, it really is…I just wish it didn’t need to be made, and instead, we could be celebrating a film that announced the end of animal testing forever. To all the ’43’s’ in the world, I’m sorry. We are fighting for you.”
Naturewatch Foundation is calling on the public to take positive action to help animals in laboratories. This includes sharing the animation, using the charity’s Compassionate Shopping Guide to shop cruelty-free, and donating to support its wider animal welfare work.
The short film, A Tail of Two Dogs, can be viewed on YouTube at https://youtube.com/shorts/2Y3x_Vi67uY?feature=share. To donate and learn more about beagle testing, please visit https://naturewatch.org/campaigns/animal-experiments/beagle-testing/.
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