ACTION ALERT:
Contact the USDA to Demand a Maximum FINE against Washington State University:Watchdog group files complaint against WSU
From Justyna Tomtas, LewistonTribunename, Febrary 20, 2019
A
nonprofit watchdog group has filed an official complaint against Washington
State University alleging violations to the Animal Welfare Act in regards to
four incidents where animals died while under the care of the university.
Stop Animal Exploitation Now filed the complaint Tuesday with the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, one of the federal oversight agencies of WSU.
The animal rights group monitors the nation’s research facilities for
illegal acts and animal abuse.
The group is asking WSU to be fined about $30,000.
Most of the incidents date back to last summer, according to Nina Woodford,
director of the Office of the Campus Veterinarian at WSU.
“I do want to point out these were all self-reported (prior to this
complaint),” Woodford said. “We do have a process for investigating any
concerns or incidents that occur. These reports are part of our normal
process and transparency in making sure that animal welfare is our primary
concern.”
The incidents listed in the complaint include:
A snowshoe hare that was found dead in a trap and had been apparently
targeted by a predator. The field study took place in the national forest
north of Spokane. One hundred hares were trapped as part of a study that
looks at the animals’ population density and distribution to aid a recovery
plan for Canadian lynx. Only one of the animals died, Woodford said.
A goat died at the Pullman campus after its head was caught under a gate.
Woodford said the issue has since been resolved to avoid repeat occurrences.
A ferret that underwent a craniotomy was later euthanized after a thermal
injury that likely occurred from the heating pad that was used. Woodford
said no malfunctions to the heating pad could be pinpointed, but as a
precaution, the pad was discarded.
A study on rabbits that looks at what kind of material can be used in
bone implants led to complications. According to Woodford, all 10 of the
animals were set to be euthanized so researchers could analyze the bone
tissue following the surgery, but several were put down earlier because of
complications.
According to Stop Animal Exploitation Now, the group filed two other
complaints against WSU in August and September of last year, regarding the
deaths of eight animals.
Woodford said WSU is committed to the highest standards of ethical and
humane care of the animals in its programs.
“We have a large and diverse animal program, so on occasion we have
unexpected events that happen,” Woodford said.