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Feds find no problems at SC monkey breeding company The Associated Press - May 02, 2008 YEMASSEE, S.C. — Federal investigators looking into a mistreatment allegations at a South Carolina company that breeds monkeys for research found no evidence of problems, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Agriculture Department said Friday. The Alpha Genesis Inc. facility in Yemassee was inspected April 29 after a complaint from animal rights group Stop Animal Exploitation Now, Ag Department spokeswoman Jessica Milteer said. The complaint alleged that a handful of animals were missing fingers and toes and had injuries that could have resulted from mistreatment or fights with other monkeys. Stop Animal Exploitation Now executive director Michael Budkie said in his letter to the USDA that physical exam reports showed the injuries also could be self-inflicted, raising "very serious questions regarding the psychological health of all primates at Alpha Genesis." Milteer said Alpha Genesis has never been warned or cited for its treatment of animals, and company chief executive Greg Westergaard said he was unaware of any problems. Westergaard said his company is primarily a breeding facility that sells the monkeys to researchers. "We've got 5,000 monkeys living in social groups," he said. "It's like running a small city." See: Alpha-Genesis, Yemassee, SC for more information Return to Media Coverage |
