SAEN LogoSouth Bay laboratory slammed for animal abuse
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ACTION ALERT:

Contact USDA to DEMAND MAXIMUM FINE against TB Holdings:

Dr. Robert Gibbens, Director, Western Region, USDA
(970) 494-7478
[email protected]
[email protected]

SAMPLE MESSAGE: 

Please levy the MAXIMUM FINE against Tb Holdings for their blatant disregard of the Animal Welfare Act when their ineptitude carelessly killed a calf and caused suffering to many other calves and dogs.
Their utter disregard for the animals and the Animal Welfare Act CANNOT be tolerated and MUST be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

 

South Bay laboratory slammed for animal abuse
By Jenna Lyons, SFGate.com, October 27, 2015

A San Carlos laboratory that conducts chemical tests on animals has been cited by federal officials for dog abuse and the filthy, feces-filled state of its facilities, among other offenses.

A U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection of TB Holdings, a laboratory at 1031 Bing St., found six violations of the Animal Welfare Act, including two serious enough to qualify as “direct violations” — meaning animals were in imminent danger if conditions were not changed.

The USDA report was prepared by the agency’s veterinary medical officer, Marcy Rosendale.

Some low points of the Aug. 27 report describe dogs with back lesions likely caused by poor injection methods, calves housed in enclosures with “excessive” amounts of their own waste and urine soaked bedding. The report also found staffers declined to administer euthanasia to a calf that suffered a painful death.

“This place is a hell hole. This place is literally a hell hole,” said Michael Budkie, a co-founder of Stop Animal Exploitation Now, an animal abuse watchdog group. “You don’t see those kinds of statements in inspection reports.”

Although the USDA usually reinspects places that have received citations, Budkie’s group on Monday filed a complaint against TB Holdings as a proactive measure. The USDA is required by law to conduct another follow-up investigation into entities that have received formal complaints.

The report does not levy fines or punishment against the company, but mandates that it correct the violations.

Budkie hopes the additional inspection will result in the company being prosecuted and fined.

“We’re calling for the USDA to issue a fine,” Budkie said. “They could levy a fine that would exceed $200,000.”

The company is no stranger to violations, having received two in 2010 and seven in 2013 for offenses ranging from unsound animal pens with sharp points and edges to improper disposal of guinea pig waste, according to inspection reports.

A 2014 animal use report from TB Holdings lists that the company uses 188 dogs, 31 rabbits, 97 sheep, and 327 pigs, along with 36 other farm animals.

Among the bleak observations Rosendale noted in the 2015 report, was a sheep with overgrown back hooves, an “agitated,” “spinning,” and “pacing” calf still anxious after lack of adequate care following a cardiac study, and a sickly dog with no apparent medical care.

Brian Diethorn, spokesman for the company, said it has changed its name to PMI — Preclinical Medevice Innovations — although it remains listed as TB Holdings on documents. Diethorn said he does not believe the company has had to pay fines for past violations and that the USDA has returned since the August citations.

“We had a reinspection on Oct.8,” he said. “Everything is clear now.”

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