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Welcome to the home page for the Animal Cruelty Investigation Group and the Animal Welfare Information Service

P.O. Box 8, HALESWORTH, Suffolk. IP19 0JL

PLEASE NOTE THAT NOTHING ON THIS WEB SITE SHOULD BE TAKEN AS ENCOURAGEMENT FOR ILLEGAL ACTIONS AGAINST ANIMAL ABUSERS. THERE ARE IMAGES, VIDEO CLIPS AND DESCRIPTIONS HERE OF SHOCKING ABUSE INFLICTED ON ANIMALS BUT THERE SHOULD BE NO ILLEGAL REPRISALS AGAINST THE ABUSERS - TO DO SO IS TO DESCEND TO THEIR LEVEL.

THE ACIG AND AWIS ONLY EVER ENCOURAGE LAWFUL ACTION TO IMPROVE ANIMAL WELFARE AND END CRUELTY.

FURTHERMORE EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF THE CONTENT OF THIS SITE. THE LOYALTY AND ATTITUDES OF INDIVIDUALS CAN CHANGE OVER THE YEARS. IF YOU SEE ANYTHING ON THIS SITE THAT NEEDS TO BE UPDATED/CORRECTED PLEASE SEND AN E-MAIL TO mike@acigawis.co.uk ALONG WITH EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE CHANGES YOU REQUEST AND THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED AND ACTED UPON IF CORRECT. THANK YOU.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Animal Cruelty Investigation Group (ACIG) was set up in June 1989 with the aim of acquiring the hard evidence of the cruel abuse of our fellow creatures in order to curtail such abuse. The ACIG exists to raise funds for investigation work and then to promote the results of that work. ACIG investigators strive to expose all forms of cruelty to animals. They aim to gather, by any lawful means, the still images, video film, and documentary records that will expose the truth to the public.

Wherever possible ACIG investigators work closely with the police to prosecute offenders. Where our laws are too outdated to allow prosecution the ACIG gathers the evidence to persuade Parliament to create effective new animal welfare legislation - and then have the offenders prosecuted. To do this the ACIG works closely with the major animal welfare/rights groups to ensure the most effective use of the information gathered.

Failing all else the ACIG aims to see those who gain pleasure or profit from cruelty to animals vilified in the media.

The ACIG also promotes this style of entirely lawful investigation work within the animal welfare/rights movement. This is done through this web site, through Facebook campaigning and contacts, through e-mails, through illustrated talks and through the production of educational material. The purpose is to demonstrate the value of the ACIG style of campaigning work. Over the years the ACIG has proven its ability to succeed. The ACIG always needs new supporters and recruits to aid its work.

The ACIG depends for its success in the field on support from people who care, i.e. YOU. Investigation work is expensive. Vehicles cost a great deal to purchase and maintain. Petrol is expensive. Camera and computer equipment is all expensive.

To minimise the bureaucracy the ACIG has no membership. Instead a list of supporters is maintained. There is no set subscription level. Supporters give as they can afford. The ACIG is pleased to enrol people as supporters in return for ANY donation including foreign currency and mint (unused) postage stamps. Donations can be made through cheque (payable to ACIG) to PO Box 8, Halesworth, Suffolk, IP19 0JL or via the donation button on this site.

Supporters are encouraged to contribute via Bankers Standing Order.

All supporters receive a newsletter twice yearly in February and August. With the August mailing a brief financial statement is sent. Because of the cost of postage stamps and printing we prefer to send News Bulletins by e-mail if possible.

At present the ACIG is not a charity. Legal advice was taken before this decision was made. Whilst many animal rescue centres and animal homes are charities most of the large campaigning animal welfare groups are not. Like them the ACIG is at present unwilling to restrict its campaigning activities which would be the inevitable result of taking on charitable status.

Help is needed in many other ways. In the field obviously, not only right up front taking pictures, but also through low-key observation and surveillance. The ACIG also needs information and tip-offs about animal cruelty. All information received is treated in absolute confidence and with the greatest discretion. Information received anonymously is investigated but treated with a degree of caution.

Finally, the ACIG welcomes donations of items that can be sold to raise funds. Such items include old and broken jewellery, unwanted photographic and computer equipment and any items that can be sold at car boot sales or through auctions. Larger items can be collected if required.

Web site Editor

Please note, the web site Editor suffered a stroke in May 2021. This site has been upgraded to the new version but a lot of the content has gone missing. Sorry!

WE URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT PLEASE!

You can contact us by post to the PO Box address above or by e-mail to : mike@acigawis.co.uk We are pleased to enrol new supporters in return for ANY donation.

We are very grateful for any donations. If you would like to join our mailing list please send us an email

PLEASE SEND US YOUR SPARE FOREIGN CURRENCY. WE CAN SELL NOTES AND COINS, NEW AND OLD, TO RAISE FUNDS FOR OUR WORK. IF YOU HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF COINS PLEASE SEND US AN E-MAIL AND WE CAN ARRANGE COLLECTION (IN THE UK). THANK YOU.

You can join our e-mail circular contact list simply by sending us an e-mail.

IN MEMORIAM

Tragically, some people working for animals have suffered appallingly at the hands of the abusers. Several have paid the ultimate price. They will never be forgotten. The memory of their sacrifice should inspire us all to do much more for the cause that we know to be just. ALL who give their lives for animals are remembered but we do particularly recall the following whose lives were taken by our opponents:-

James Piper, RSPCA Inspector : Died in 1838 after sustaining severe injuries tackling cockfighters at Hanworth, Middlesex.

William Sweet, LACS member : Murdered 6/1/1976 after altercation with man shooting birds. Assailant was jailed for life but has long been released.

Fernando Pereira, Greenpeace photographer : Murdered 10/7/1985 by the French Secret Service when the vessel “Rainbow Warrior” was sunk by two explosions, Auckland Harbour, New Zealand.

Michael Hill, Hunt Saboteur : Killed 9/2/1991 protesting against hare hunting at the Cheshire Beagles.

Thomas Worby, Hunt Saboteur : Killed 3/4/1993 protesting against fox hunting at the Cambridgeshire Foxhounds.

Jill Phipps, Animal Rights Activist : Killed 1/2/1995 protesting against live exports of farm animals, Coventry Airport.

Paola Quartini, animal activist for LIPU (Italian League for Bird Protection - UK) from Genoa, Italy and Elvio Fichera, a volunteer for the Association of Abandoned Animals : Both were murdered 12/5/2010 whilst trying, with police, to serve a warrant on Renzo Castagnola for cruelty to animals. Renzo Castagnola shot them dead, then injured his wife, then killed himself.