ACTION ALERT:
Bernadette Juarez, Deputy Administrator, USDA/APHIS/AC
Why did the USDA shut down an online
animal abuse database?
By Gretel Kauffman,
CSMonitor.com, February 5, 2017
An online database containing thousands of records documenting animal abuse in research labs, puppy mills, zoos, and elsewhere suddenly disappeared from the United States Department of Agriculture website on Friday, reportedly because of privacy concerns.
An online database documenting animal abuse suddenly disappeared from the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website on Friday, sparking
outrage among animal rights activists.
Thousands of inspection reports and other information documenting animals
mistreated, injured, or killed at research laboratories, zoos, puppy mills,
and elsewhere were removed due to privacy concerns, said the USDA's Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in a statement.
But some animal welfare groups believe the move was in response to pressure
from industries that rely on animals, as advocates for such businesses have
long fought against what they see as excessive government oversight
influenced by animal rights groups.
"There has been tremendous pushback from the industries that exploit animals
because the information in that database was used to publicize and expose
the abuse of animals," Michael Budkie, the executive director of Stop Animal
Exploitation NOW!, told CNN. "Essentially this is going to help labs and
animal dealers and animal breeders who break the law to remain undetected
and out of the public eye, because it will slow down the process of
obtaining information."
The shutdown has been decried by animal rights advocates as a reversal of
the progress that has been made in recent years to crack down on animal
abuse. Last year, the FBI began tracking data on animal cruelty crimes, a
move that was widely applauded by both law enforcement and animal activists.
A number of states have also proposed or implemented animal abuser
registries to ensure that listed offenders aren't able to access animals.
Name that animal!
Advocates for businesses that rely on animals have spoken out against such
registries and argued that public USDA records allow animal rights groups to
target individual animal owners and animal related businesses.
"USDA has succumbed to the pressure of animal rights extremists by hiring
them into key positions at USDA and by allowing the release of private
licensee information knowing full well that it will be used to attack the
licensee’s business and customers," wrote Mindy Patterson, president of the
Cavalry Group, whose aim is "protecting and defending animal enterprise," in
a column last month. "The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) was intended to
provide transparency to government, not to be used against American
citizens, yet this process is being used frequently by animal rights groups
whose nefarious use of such private, confidential information is being
handed to them by the USDA."
Animal rights advocates and journalists have previously used information in
the database to track and expose poor animal treatment at circuses, zoos,
and scientific labs. The records were also available to pet stores and
members of the public, allowing them to research dog breeders before buying.
In a statement, APHIS said those who wish to access the removed records will
now have to submit a Freedom of Information Act Request, which can take
years to process.
"APHIS, during the past year, has conducted a comprehensive review of the
information it posts on its website for the general public to view," the
statement said, adding: "We remain equally committed to being transparent
and responsive to our stakeholders’ informational needs, and maintaining the
privacy rights of individuals with whom we come in contact."
Mr. Budkie of Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! disputes that the decision was
driven by concern for privacy, noting that the information removed already
had redacted sections and arguing that the documents contained "virtually no
personal information."
A lack of public access to inspection records will make it significantly
more difficult for groups to monitor the treatment of animals in labs and
elsewhere, he and other advocates say.
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