Tell the Department of Transportation to Stop Burning Animals

FROM People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

Stop testing corrosive chemicals before they are transported. Insist that the Department of Transportation inform shippers that only Corrositex® should be used.

The DOT still allows rabbits' backs to be shaved and corrosive chemicals to be applied to their raw skin and left there for up to two weeks. These chemicals often burn the skin, leading to tissue damage. Rabbits are given no pain relief during this excruciating test, and after the test is finished, the animals are killed.

CONTACT

Sign an online petition

And/Or make direct contact:

Ray LaHood
Secretary of Transportation
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
phone (202) 366-4000
website email form

INFORMATION / TALKING POINTS

Animal tests are a one-way street to pain and suffering, and the Department of Transportation (DOT) continues to recommend animal tests that cause tremendous suffering for rabbits—even though a completely non-animal test known as Corrositex® satisfies the DOT's needs without killing a single animal.

Almost 17 years ago, the DOT agreed to start using Corrositex®. Corrositex® provides accurate information, and in the DOT's own words, it "may be more stringent than the skin necrosis [rabbit] test." Yet in 2009, the agency is still telling companies to use the rabbit test!

Shockingly, the DOT has even advised some companies to use both the rabbit test and the Corrositex® test so that the companies can choose whichever result they prefer!

In order to test corrosive chemicals before they are transported, the DOT still allows rabbits' backs to be shaved and corrosive chemicals to be applied to their raw skin and left there for up to two weeks. These chemicals often burn the skin, leading to tissue damage. Rabbits are given no pain relief during this excruciating test, and after the test is finished, the animals are killed.

PETA has asked the DOT to make it clear that the rabbit skin test is not a requirement and that Corrositex® is an approved replacement. We have asked the agency to simplify the procedures for companies to use Corrositex®. To date, DOT officials have failed to respond to this issue.

Please take a moment to insist that the Department of Transportation inform shippers that only Corrositex® should be used and take the simple step of making the Corrositex® special permit information more easily accessible on its Web site so that shipping companies can guarantee the safety of chemical shipments without testing corrosive chemicals on animals.

Thank you for everything you do for animals!