An award-winning veterinary nurse who supported an animal liberation movement was sacked after a police raid found she was keeping a rescued turkey in her flat, an employment tribunal heard. 'Ethical vegan' Shakira Free Miles had rescued the 'unwell' bird, called Dorothy, and had taken it to hospital two days after Christmas Day as it could not stand, the hearing was told.
But the turkey was discovered by officers in the university-provided home she lived in when she was being investigated for potential involvement in activist group the Animal Liberation Front. At the time, Ms Free Miles was working for the Royal Veterinary College [RVC], which was alerted to her arrest and consequently investigated her.
The prestigious veterinary university then found social media posts where Ms Free Miles was seen holding a piglet in Barcelona under the heading 'Meat the Victims – One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws'. Not only this, but it found she had treated a rabbit that had been taken during a raid on a farm and featured in a Channel 4 documentary called 'How to steal pigs and influence people', the panel was told.
