Animal advocates say Texas A and M should be fined for violations
Media Coverage About SAEN Stop Animal Exploitation Now

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Dr. Robert Gibbens
Director, Western Region USDA/APHIS/AC
2150 Center Ave. Building B, Mailstop 3W11
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Dr. Gibbens, Please LEVY a MAXIMUM FINE against Texas A&M Uni ersity for their blatant disregard of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) when their negligence caused significant suffering to guinea pigs and rabbits. Their behavior must NOT be tolerated & MUST be punished to the fullest extent of the law. The time is NOW to send a clear message with stiff penalties to these renegade, negligent labs that these behaviors will NOT be tolerated!

Animal advocates say Texas A and M should be fined for violations
By Taylor Montgomery, KXXV.com, January 14, 2016

COLLEGE STATION - The animal rights group "Stop Animal Exploitation Now" or SAEN says Texas A&M University should face fines for federal violations at their animal research lab.

News Channel 25 obtained the lab's inspection report from the United States Department of Agriculture. The report, dated June 18th, 2015, states the University-approved protocol does not give details on how rabbits or guinea pigs are to be sedated before being injected in the heart. The injections are used for blood work or to euthanize the animals.

While the lab stated they never do the procedures without sedation, The USDA says the protocol approved by The University's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee or IACIC did not include details about sedation.
The lab was also cited for expired medicine. Some of the medications were mixed with unexpired ones in an emergency kit, the report states.

The report also includes citations for temperature sensors used in cage washing machines. The water must reach 180 degrees to properly clean and sanitize guinea pig and rabbit cages. The report states on at least five dates the water temperature was not noted.

Stacey Ellison, a SAEN research analyst said in a press release, "The fact that the IACUC approves protocols involving extremely painful procedures without requiring appropriate anesthesia shows that there is insufficient institution oversight".

News Channel 25 contacted Texas A&M for a response on the violations and SAEN's statement, but they declined to comment.

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