Lovelace lab charged with 9 federal violations in 1 year; Monkey dies with head trapped in cage

Press Release
From Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!
S. A. E. N.
"Exposing the truth to wipe out animal experimentation"


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Contact: Michael Budkie, SAEN, 513-575-5517; 513-703-9865 (cell)
attn: News Desk

Lovelace lab charged with 9 federal violations in 1 year; Monkey dies with head trapped in cage

Albuquerque, NM – Recently obtained federal reports reveal major violations of the Animal Welfare Act within the labs of the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, according to the national research watchdog group SAEN.

The 9 violations amassed by Lovelace in just 1 year include unqualified personnel, inadequate veterinary care, inadequate housing, and inadequate monitoring of experiments by Lovelace’s IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee).

According to government reports, a May 2008 inspection cited the Albuquerque lab inadequate housing of primates based on an incident in which a primate died with his/her head trapped between a perch and the wall of the cage. Another incident involved an infant primate that had escaped from the cage.

More recent inspection reports cited the lab for further issues involving improper housing of primates. The facility was also cited for using an improper anesthetic regimen for a procedure involving a rabbit which resulted in injuries to the technician performing the procedure.

“Negligence at Lovelace took the life of a female monkey and caused injuries to their own staff” said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN. “This facility should face serious consequences, but the USDA is allowing them to literally get away with murder,” he said.

“If Lovelace researchers can’t even keep the animals in the cages, then something is seriously wrong. How can any of the research results from this facility be given any credence whatsoever,” said Budkie.

The USDA inspection reports are available upon request from SAEN.

-30-

See Also:
Animal Research Facility Had 9 Violations in 1 Year: Fed Reports Cite Monkey's Death - 6 Jan 2010
Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute

Return to Press Release


We welcome your comments and questions