Noel Gallagher’s ex-wife Meg Mathews slams ‘cruel’ beagle testing

Meg Mathews has publicly condemned the use of beagles in animal testing after speaking out outside a dog breeding facility in southern England. 

Mathews took to social media alongside animal rights supporters to criticize what she called the “cruel and unnecessary” treatment of the dogs used in laboratory research.

In posts shared online, Mathews highlighted the plight of beagles, the breed most frequently used in scientific experiments, and urged authorities and research institutions to adopt alternative methods that do not involve live animals. 

“These dogs are family companions, not test subjects,” she wrote, appealing to her followers to join calls for stricter animal welfare standards.

According to Daily Mail, campaigners have long objected to beagle testing in the UK and beyond, saying that the dogs often endure confinement, repeated procedures and distressing conditions before being euthanized at the end of trials.

Moreover, most scientific bodies argue animal research remains essential for developing medicines and treatments, but opponents, including Mathews, argue modern alternatives can replace many traditional tests.

Mathews gained public attention in the 1990s through her marriage to Noel Gallagher, former guitarist of Oasis, but has since built a reputation as an environmental and animal welfare advocate. 

At the protest, she called on policymakers and the scientific community to “lead with compassion,” acknowledging that change would require both legislative action and shifts in research practice.

Furthermore, the comments from Mathews coincide with broader debates in the UK about the ethics and necessity of animal experiments, with activists campaigning for clearer timelines toward reducing and ultimately ending the use of dogs in laboratory settings.