Examples of Violations
It is clearly impossible to delineate all violations of
the Animal Welfare Act at these 25 facilities. The sheer number of
violations (559) precludes the possibility of such a listing. Therefore, a
listing that details some of the most shocking abuses will be used.
During 1999 Riki, a rhesus monkey, died at Johns Hopkins
University. This primate had received treatment for ulcers in 1996. During
1999 Riki was found to be biting his/her stifles (area near the knee), a
form of self-mutilation. On 8/27/99 Riki was found lying on his/her side
at noon. Examinations showed that Riki was in shock. The only treatment
given was intravenous fluids. A government report states: “The primate was
allowed to suffer and die, instead of being immediately humanely
euthanized when the decision was made not to administer further
treatment.”
Also at Johns Hopkins -- Primate 58L, a marmoset, had
surgery on 7/11/00 to place a head implant. On the day after surgery 58L
was found shivering on a heating pad that had been turned off.
The University of Pennsylvania (PENN) is another large
laboratory which experiments on tens of thousands of animals every year.
During 2003 three cats labeled only F256, L372, and M036 died at PENN.
Cats at PENN have suffered through stereotaxic procedures that placed
electrodes into their brains. However, according to USDA documents the
“researchers” at PENN cannot even keep accurate and complete records
regarding the cats that they utilize.
Two pigs at PENN were found without adequate water. The
water bowl in one run was empty and turned upside down, the water for the
other pig was brown. The animal caretakers were leaving the building at
the time.
PENN is also cited for many instances of unalleviated
suffering in primates, sheep, and pigs. These animals had experienced
surgical or experimental procedures without receiving pain relievers.
The University of Pittsburgh (PITT) also has a record of
substantially abusing animals. One experiment at this facility
deliberately deprives primates of water. While this is not illegal (though
it is obviously inhumane), regulations require it to be done carefully,
and only when the animals are being monitored closely. The officials at
PITT were not monitoring the animals sufficiently to ensure their safety.
Another experiment at PITT causes rabbits to suffer
horribly. This project keeps rabbits restrained continuously for 30
consecutive days, while the leg of the rabbit is kept in motion for the
entire period.
There are many instances where primates are
unnecessarily isolated at PITT, and this isolation affects them mentally.
At least one of the primates had begun to engage in the type of
stereotypical pacing that indicates mental pathology in captive primates.
Duke University is another facility that substantially
abuses animals in experimentation. One incident involving the neglect of a
dog occurred during September of 2002. The dog was found hunched up in a
cage, depressed and coughing. Treatment records for this dog were sketchy,
and it was unclear what (if any) treatment the dog had received.
The majority of the primates at Duke were housed alone
as of September 2002, with substantial effects of psychological depression
showing up in at least one primate. This Owl Monkey exhibited significant
signs of distress including depression, self-clasping, and poor hair coat.
Duke was cited for inadequate environmental enhancement for primates four
times during 2001 and 2002.
During 2003 primates at the University of Oklahoma
Health Science Center suffered terribly due to inadequate shelter. One
documented incident revealed that 60 primates were left outside without
any shelter from the sun in 100 degree heat. The misters which were
supposed to provide relief from the heat had not been turned on, and the
primates were locked outside.
Many primates at the University of California, San
Francisco are routinely victimized in experiments that deprive them of
water. One primate suffered so terribly during this experimentation that
he/she lost 15% of his/her body weight during an eight-month period.
Emory University is the home of the Yerkes Primate
Research Center. This facility performs abusive experiments on thousands
of primates every year. One of these primates was named only 3566.
Internal documents from Emory have revealed the circumstances surrounding
the death of this primate. MPTP is a drug that is administered to induce a
state in primates that is similar to Parkinson's disease. In the week
preceding March 16th of 2002 primate 3566 had received systemic treatments
with MPTP. On March 16th, 2002 primate 3566 was found to be very lethargic
and so an antagonist to MPTP was administered to counteract the effects of
the MPTP. 3566 seemed to have improved by the following day and was
eating. By March 31, 2002 primate 3566 was again in a state of extreme
lethargy. The MPTP antagonist was administered again. Since this was
apparently a problem especially on weekends, arrangements were made for a
lab tech to be available on weekends to deal with the situation. On April
14th, 2002 primate 3566 was again lethargic (on a weekend). The researcher
who was responsible for 3566 was unavailable. A message was left for the
lab tech regarding a further administration of the MPTP antagonist. On
April 15th 2002 primate 3566 was found recumbent and stiff. 3566 was
revived with CPR, but was extremely hypothermic (temperature was less than
90 degrees). The lab tech who was supposed to be responsible on weekends
admitted that he did not check the animal on the previous day and that he
hadn't come into work or checked his messages. Primate 3566 was found dead
on April 16th, 2002.
Primate #14007 was housed alone at the State University
of New York at Brooklyn. This primate had been kept in a room where he/she
can neither see nor hear other primates. #14007 was kept in solitary
confinement in this way for over two years. The experiment in which this
animal was used did not require isolation. This psychological torture was
totally unrelated to an experiment.
On September 17, 2003 a terrible incident took place at
the Kalamazoo Pfizer facility. A cage containing a living dog was run
through the cage washer. The dog died horribly while in the cage washer.
