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Letter of Complaint to the USDA about the University of California,
Davis
1/14/09 Dr. Robert Gibbens Dr. Gibbens, I am contacting you today regarding the
University of California, Davis.
Internal clinical records for several primates at this facility indicate
a clear and consistent lack of adequate observation of animals and
veterinary treatment. I will provide you with several examples of
primates that have recently died at this facility which illustrate this
situation. Primate 27432 -- The necropsy states: �The cutaneous lesions were
consistent with clinical diagnosis of self trauma.� This primate was
handled for cage moves, clinical treatments, serum samples, etc. 323
times in 14 years and seven months of life span. Self injury is never
mentioned until the necropsy report which lists self trauma. It was
never noticed. Primate 30805 is listed with a finger amputations on Jan 6 2003 and
in July 2003. But, then there are no mentions of injuries from July 2003
� through death in Jan of 2008, a period of 5 years. At death this
primates is described as: �The animal is presented in good flesh with
severe traumatic injuries (self-inflicted) on all limbs.� There is no
mention of injuries for the 4 � years from July 2003 � death in Jan of
2008. Clearly, this is inadequate observation. Primate 33659 is described at necropsy: �The animal is presented in
good flesh with multiple, mostly healed or healing cutaneous
lacerations. . . . (self-trauma).� In the entire clinical record there
is no mention of lacerations, or treatments for lacerations. Primate 34975 The necropsy for this animal states: �There are
multiple (self-inflicted) cutaneous abrasions/lacerations.
(self-trauma).� Injuries are never mentioned in clinical record. Primate 35297 The necropsy states: �The animal is presented thin with
multiple (self-inflicted) cutaneous lacerations.� �Skin self-inflicted
injury.� Other than a mention of �lip inflammation, traumatic agent� in
August of 2007 there is no mention of injuries. Primate 35927 The necropsy states: �The animal is presented thin with
multiple cutaneous abrasions/lacerations (self-injurious behavior).�
There are no mentions of injuries during the entire lifetime of this
animal. Primate 27257 The necropsy states: �The animal is presented in good
flesh with severe musculotaneous trauma to the right arm and the right
side of the face.� �Body as a whole traumatic abnormality (bite
wounds).� The clinical record states on 6/3/98 �chronic intermittent
upper extremity self mutilation� However, despite the fact that this
animal has an issue with self-inflicted injuries, the records reveal no
mentions of treatments or even that injuries were noticed, for a ten
year period. IN fact, the injuries are first mentioned at necropsy. It is eminently clear from the clinical records for these and other
animals, that observation of the primates at this facility is somewhere
between inadequate and non-existent. Either injuries are ignored, or at
the very least, they are not reported to veterinarians for treatment.
This situation is clearly a violation of section 2.33 of the Animal
Welfare Act. I find the attitude of callousness and negligence at this facility to
be nothing less than shocking. So, it is clear that the staff of the University of California, Davis
systematically ignores injuries in primates allowing them to be
diagnosed only at death. Therefore I request that you initiate action to
levy the most substantial fine allowable under current federal
regulations. I also request that you immediately suspend any projects
which involve repeat violations. I look forward to hearing of the results of your investigation as
soon as possible. Sincerely,
Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., See also: University of California, Davis
clinical records and necropsy reports.
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