Breeders Sacrifice Pets For Science
28 April 2009
by Anai Rhoads
AnaiRhoads.org -- A new report called "Dying to Learn: Exposing the Supply of Dogs and Cats to Higher Education" was released on Monday by Animalearn, a division of the Animal Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS).
The research exposed the dark side of higher education, where public colleges and universities in the United States routinely use live and euthanised cats and dogs for vivisection.
The two-year study revealed that 92 public colleges and universities acquire the animals through shady dealers, who routinely supply dogs and cats to these institutions. The report documents that not only did these pets come from unethical sources, but were used for unjustifiable means.
The animal dealers who are profiting from supplying dogs and cats to these schools have repeatedly violated the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA). It was discovered that inhumane treatment and lack of minimal care of these pets were apparent.
The AWA requires that all dealers obtain a license from the USDA. There are two categories that a breeder or dealer may fall under according to the USDA. Class A dealers specifically only breed animals in order to sell them to schools and for scientific research. Under the Class B license, the animal dealers are also free to breed the animals for similar purposes, but they may also obtain animals from a variety of sources.
Many animals were brought into the colleges and universities by Class B animal dealers, where animals were routinely collected from shelters, rescues, pounds, newspaper and Internet ads, auctions, and other sources.
Tracie Letterman, Esq., Executive Director of the American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS), commented, "Congress should act to cut off the supply of pets to labs by banning random source Class B dealers and the use of random source animals in general. Immediate action could be taken by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which has the discretion not to renew licenses for those random source Class B dealers who are consistently violating the AWA."
The USDA finally admitted that some of the dealers were also trafficking in stolen animals in its 2007 Animal Welfare Report.
Dying to Learn also documents how Class A animal dealers breed dogs and cats on their premises. In addition, it discusses how biological supply companies routinely supply "preserved" animals.
"With the current economic and foreclosure crisis causing homeowners across the country to lose their homes, the numbers of pets being relinquished to shelters is drastically increasing, putting an ever-increasing number of former pets at risk of ending up in labs. That kind of fate is completely at odds with recent studies showing that 65 percent of Americans consider the welfare of pets 'very important'," says Animalearn Director Laura Ducceschi.
Despite viable alternatives, used by other universities, the documents point out that 52 percent of the colleges and universities in question still opted to use live and dead domesticated animals despite having access to other methods.
Cruella's Story
The report highlights the case of a shepherd-cross female who was found in Carson City, Michigan. Records show that she was obviously someone's beloved pet - she was healthy and vibrant and found wearing a purple collar, but lacked proper identification.
According to the documents, she was housed in pen number 20 at Montcalm County Animal Control until she was handed over to the a Class B dealer that worked with R&R Research. It was there that she was simply called "E6993".
After spending half a year at the R&R facility, she travelled over 1,000 miles and was sold to the University of Florida. It was there that they replaced her ID from E6993 to Cruella.
For seven months, Cruella was sedated or anesthetised several times, often for hours. Veterinary students used her in a host of experiments, including endoscopies, abdominal surgeries, and for ultrasound exercises.
At one point the students anesthetised Cruella with the intention of spaying her, only to discover she had been already spayed.
After spending 195 days and suffering countless unnecessary experiments at the University of Florida, Cruella was ultimately killed by lethal injection on 23 July 2008.
What you can do
To ensure your beloved family pet does not end up like Cruella, register him or her with your county. Always keep a current tag on his or her collar that supplies your name, address and phone number visibly present, along with your vet's information.
As a precaution, have your pet micro-chipped in the event he or she is found without a collar. Once your pet is picked up, a scanner at the shelter or rescue will identify you as the owner.
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