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Reports Letter to AAALAC demanding that Harvard Medical School and Vanderbilt University be placed on probation for incidents of animal abuse and negligence
4 June 2007 Dr. John G. Miller Dr. Miller, I am contacting you today to request that you take severe and
immediate action against two AAALAC accredited laboratories: Vanderbilt
University and the Harvard Medical School. Both of these laboratories
have a lengthy record of substantial and significant violations of the
Animal Welfare Act (AWA) over a sustained period of time. Therefore, I
hereby request that you immediately revoke the accreditation for these
laboratories because it is clear that they do not adhere to AAALAC
standards for animal care and scientific procedures. It is also patently
clear that they do not follow federal laws. For full-text of the AWA violations committed by these facilities
please examine our website: For Harvard Medical School: For Vanderbilt University: If it would be helpful to you I would be happy to provide you with
full copies of all USDA documentation regarding these facilities. The Harvard Medical School has accumulated 46 violations of the AWA
in a three-year period including seven repeat violations. The majority
of these violations are in the areas of Institutional Animal Care & Use
Committee, Cleaning/Sanitation, and Facilities. However, several
individual incidents were extremely disturbing. In July of 2003 one
primate escaped during an incident that occurred as several squirrel
monkeys were being transported across the property of the primate
center, this was clearly due to negligence. During July of 2004 a
primate died due to strangulation when left unattended in a primate
restraint chair. During 2006 a cat died due to unapproved anesthesia and a dog lost
20% of his/her body weight without being reported for veterinary care. These incidents are only the tip of the iceberg at this facility. Of
the 46 violations mentioned above, 11 were committed by the
Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee, the very body that is charged
with enforcing the AWA within this facility. Other abuses included
inadequate veterinary care, food, water, sanitation, housing, etc.
Clearly this institution has no regard for the law, correct scientific
procedures, or for the welfare of the animals used in experimentation. The recent records of Vanderbilt University may actually be worse
than that of the Harvard Medical School. Vanderbilt has amassed 49
violations of the AWA within 3 inspections that occurred inside a two
year period. The number of violation occurring at Vanderbilt has
increased with every inspection. The abuses at Vanderbilt include one
incident which took the life of a primate through dehydration (the water
supply for this animal had been turned off) and one incident during 2006
centered around an unauthorized surgery in which the eyes of a bush baby
were cut out. Again, the IACUC of Vanderbilt was responsible for violating the
Animal Welfare Act 17 times during this time period. Other abuses
included inadequate veterinary care, food, water, sanitation, housing,
etc. Both of these facilities have demonstrated a lack of respect for
federal laws, appropriate scientific procedure, and animal welfare. They
should not have the respect which comes with AAALAC accreditation. Therefore, I officially request that you immediately put these
facilities on probation and revoke their accreditation in the near
future if no improvement occurs. I would appreciate a response to this letter within five (5) business
days. With Respect For All Life,
Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T.,
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