UL Lafayette facility accused of animal abuse
Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!
S. A. E. N.
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"Exposing the truth to wipe out animal experimentation"
Please contact Dr. Robert Gibbens to demand a major fine against the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, for fatally electrocuting one primate and fracturing a limb of another monkey. Dr. Robert Gibbens |
http://www.klfy.com/story/27520421/ul-lafayette-facility-accused-of-animal-abuse
UL Lafayette facility accused of animal abuse
By Brheanna Berry, KLFY.com, Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Stop Animal Exploitation Now! says the UL Lafayette incidents are
part of a pattern of negligence and abuse in U.S. research facilities.
The group filed an official complaint with the USDA. They are calling
for a major penalty to be brought down on the university.
“There was a very significant electrical problem with this enclosure.
The current was so strong that the monkey was killed and the situation
was not alleviated before staff went in to retrieve the animals body and
they were electrically shocked as well," said SAEN Co-founder and
Executive Director Michael Budkie
The second incident occurred in November 2013. A lab technician was
attempting to capture a 2-year old female pigtail macaque for a routine
check-up. During the attempt the tech grabbed the animals hind leg which
resulted in a fracture. Due to the age and severity of the injury vet
staff had to amputate the young monkeys limb.
“Obviously we want to see the USDA take an appropriate enforcement
action, because when a facility breaks the law they deserve to be
punished," said Budkie
This isn't the first time the university has been charged with similar
acts. On two separate occasion dating back to 2010 UL-Lafayette paid a
fine for violating the Animal Welfare Act. Budkie says the public should
be concerned for the fact that animals are being abused and that our tax
dollars and are paying for it.
“We want the general public to know all is not well with animal
laboratories within the United States. When laboratories are incapable
of even following the minimum regulations of the animal welfare act the
concept that they could be providing any kind of information which would
be useful for science is simply ludacris," said Budkie
UL- Lafayette did release a written statement earlier today on their
home page. It reads “Federal officials will take no action in response
to the accidents.”
The university says both incidents were self-reported in an appropriate time and the issues were addressed and corrected. They reassured readers that they re-trained after each incident and that new standard operating procedures were created.
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