The Italy Story: Marshall BioResources’ Conviction for Animal Cruelty
Before MBR Acres opened in Cambridgeshire, Marshall BioResources operated a dog breeding facility called Green Hill in Montichiari, Brescia, Italy. Between 2008 and 2012, a total of 6,023 dogs died at the Green Hill facility. That figure was established by the veterinary consultant instructed by the Italian public prosecutor.
The deaths, and the conditions in which the dogs were kept, led to criminal proceedings against senior executives of the company. In January 2015, the Court of Brescia convicted three individuals of animal cruelty:
- Ghislaine Rondot (Director) — sentenced to 18 months imprisonment
- Renzo Graziosi (Veterinarian) — sentenced to 18 months imprisonment
- Roberto Bravi (Director) — sentenced to 12 months imprisonment
The convictions were appealed. On 4 October 2017, the Italian Supreme Court (Corte di Cassazione) upheld all three convictions. The convictions stand as final and were not overturned.
Marshall BioResources’ Response
Following the Italian proceedings, Marshall BioResources closed the Green Hill facility. In public statements, the company stated that Italian animal welfare laws were “too restrictive” for its operations to continue there.
MBR Acres, the company’s UK facility in Cambridgeshire, opened in 2017 — the same year the Italian Supreme Court upheld the Green Hill convictions.
The Connection: Ghislaine Rondot and B&K Universal
Companies House records show that Ghislaine Rondot — one of the executives convicted of animal cruelty in Italy — simultaneously served as a director of B&K Universal Group Ltd, Marshall BioResources’ UK sister breeding facility based in Grimston, East Yorkshire. Rondot remained a director of B&K Universal until 30 June 2015, according to Companies House records — after the Court of Brescia had already delivered its conviction in January 2015.
This connection between the Italian conviction and the UK operation is a matter of public record and is documented in Companies House filings.
Sources and Reporting
The Green Hill case and convictions were reported by multiple credible sources, including Science (the journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science), Nature, Cruelty Free International, and the Italian animal rights organisation LAV. The Italian court records are publicly accessible.
The Italian courts found that the conditions at Green Hill constituted criminal animal cruelty. Three executives were imprisoned. The company described the laws as too restrictive and moved its operations to the United Kingdom.
Why This Matters
When evaluating the fitness of Marshall BioResources to hold a Home Office licence to breed up to 2,000 beagle puppies per year in Cambridgeshire, the Italy story is directly relevant. Three of the company’s executives were convicted — and those convictions were upheld on final appeal — for animal cruelty at a facility that operated under the same corporate structure as MBR Acres.
Camp Beagle believes the Home Office should have taken this history into account when issuing and renewing MBR Acres’ licence.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Italy Story
Were the Italy convictions overturned?
No. The convictions were upheld by the Italian Supreme Court (Corte di Cassazione) on 4 October 2017. The original verdicts from the Court of Brescia in January 2015 — which found Ghislaine Rondot, Renzo Graziosi, and Roberto Bravi guilty of animal cruelty — were confirmed on final appeal. The convictions are final.
How many dogs died at Green Hill?
6,023 dogs died at the Green Hill facility in Montichiari, Brescia, Italy between 2008 and 2012. That figure was established by the veterinary consultant appointed by the Italian public prosecutor and was used as evidence in the criminal proceedings against Marshall BioResources executives.
What happened to the Green Hill facility?
Marshall BioResources closed the Green Hill facility following the Italian proceedings. The company stated publicly that Italian animal welfare laws were “too restrictive.” MBR Acres in Cambridgeshire opened in 2017, the same year the Italian Supreme Court upheld the Green Hill convictions.
Was Ghislaine Rondot connected to the UK operation?
Yes. According to Companies House records, Ghislaine Rondot — convicted of animal cruelty in Italy in January 2015 — was simultaneously a director of B&K Universal Group Ltd, Marshall BioResources’ UK sister facility in Grimston, East Yorkshire. Rondot remained on the B&K Universal board until 30 June 2015.
Where can I find the original sources for the Italy story?
The Green Hill case was reported by Science (AAAS), Nature, Cruelty Free International, and the Italian animal rights organisation LAV. Italian court records are publicly accessible. Companies House records regarding Ghislaine Rondot’s directorship of B&K Universal Group Ltd are available through the Companies House search at companieshouse.gov.uk.