Shakira Free Miles, an award-winning vet and animal activist, has been let go from the Royal Veterinary College on the grounds of breaking her accommodation rules.
During a police raid, it was found that the veterinary nurse had been keeping a turkey she had rescued from a factory farm.
The turkey in question was rescued and hidden by Shakira in her university halls of residence.
Now named Dorothy, the turkey managed to remain on-site for two months before the police raid.
This raid occurred as part of a wider investigation of tracing her involvement to the animal rights group, Animal Liberation Front.
Due to the university having a strict ‘no pets policy’, Shakira was initially suspended before being later fired.
After the raid, Dorothy was given to the RSPCA for further treatment.
The tribunal panel was told: “She knew that she was not allowed to have animals in her flat but had felt she had to do something as otherwise the turkey would have died.”
This was not the first animal that Shakira has liberated. Other animals include a rescued piglet and a rabbit from two separate occasions.
Some of the previous rescue footage was even featured as part of a Channel 4 documentary, How to steal pigs and influence people.
Shakira’s previous activity with animal liberation groups did not help her case in court, which found these actions to be unjustifiable.
Finding the results of this case unjust and unfair, Shakira claimed this was an act of discrimination against her for being a self-proclaimed ‘ethical vegan’ and has tried to sue the Royal Veterinary College.
However, the panel dismissed her claim on the grounds that she had committed trespassing, and the removal of animals was not a philosophical belief that could be legally justified.
A matter of life or death
This isn’t the first time a member of the public has been punished for following their ethical beliefs.
In 2018, another vegan activist was spared jail after rescuing a piglet from a factory farm and delivering it to safety in a nearby sanctuary.
Wesley Omar pleaded guilty and was punished for this act by receiving a 12-month community order and 100 hours of unpaid service.
His motivation was to highlight the reality of life for farmed animals to the wider public and make it known about their cramped living conditions.
Both of these vegan activists felt compelled to liberate these animals, to whom it is literally a matter of life or death.
Inspired to learn more? Discover the reality of UK turkey factory farming.