ACTION ALERT: Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! (SAEN) ~
Contact:Animal rights group calls OHSU’s primate lab ‘worst’ in the
country
From Lizzy Acker, OregonLive.com, March 20, 2019
An animal rights
group that has filed multiple claims with the United States Department of
Agriculture against Oregon Health and Science University’s primate lab has
now labeled the facility the “Worst U.S. Primate Lab.”
“OHSU has violated the Animal Welfare Act more than other major primate
laboratories in the last 18 months,” Michael Budkie, executive director of
Stop Animal Exploitation Now, said in a press release sent out earlier this
week.
OHSU called the complaint “inconsistent with the record and the reputation
of the Oregon National Primate Research Center.”
According to the animal rights group, “The 12 federal violations amassed by
OHSU leads major U.S. primate labs.”
“The next worst violator” has only four violations, the group added in its
release.
In January, citing the death of a primate and several other issues, the
group asked the USDA to fine OHSU the maximum of $10,000 per animal and
infraction, totalling more than $100,000.
Last October, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals asked the federal
government to stop testing on animals at the lab.
In a statement responding SAEN’s dubious distinction, the university said it
“understands and embraces its need to provide compassionate and
state-of-the-art health and veterinary care, a responsibility that comes
with the privilege of working with animals.”
“Research with nonhuman primates, in particular,” the statement continued,
“has led to critical health advances that have saved or improved millions of
human lives.”
OHSU said they report all animal issues and solve problems that are
discovered, including, they added, “each of the citations referenced in the
most recent complaint filed by Stop Animal Exploitation Now.”
OHSU also pointed out that during its most recent USDA inspection, which
occurred earlier this month, no citations were issued against the Oregon
National Primate Research Center.
“OHSU continually monitors and evaluates new methods and technology as
alternatives to animal studies in our programs,” the statement said, “and is
committed to adopting these techniques as soon as their effectiveness is
demonstrated.”