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Contact Dr. Elizabeth GoldentyerSAEN Watchdog Group: University of Wisconsin targeted in
scathing complaint for repeatedly breaking federal law, and animal abuse -
watchdog blames regulator for failure to enforce U.S. law
From
WISPolitics.com, September 20, 2019
The University of Wisconsin has piled up dozens of federal violations,
injuring and killing multiple animals in less than four years, and federal
regulators have done nothing, charged a national research watchdog group.
According to SAEN, an Ohio-based national watchdog that monitors the
nation's research facilities for illegal activities and animal abuse, U.S.
Dept. of Agriculture inspections from January 2016 through July 9 of 2019
have documented at least 20 incidents where UW negligence has injured or
killed monkeys, or other animals.
SAEN said digits, limbs, and tongues have been partially or entirely
amputated, and one monkey died of dehydration. Dozens of escapes have
occurred – many because of UW negligence. USDA "discipline" against UW for
breaking federal law include critical citations, repeat citations, and at
least one critical repeat citation.
Additional violations found buried in UW correspondence include two more
monkey injuries/escapes, failure to feed infant monkeys, preparing a monkey
for a medical procedure – only to discover that the wrong monkey was being
used; failure to provide pain relief to a monkey, giving medication to the
wrong monkey for 19 days (thereby denying a monkey of treatment for 19
days).
SAEN's complaint, written by SAEN co-founder Michael Budkie, A.H.T. and
available upon request, states in part:
"I know that your office considers major violations of the Animal Welfare
Act to be very serious in nature, especially when these violations kill or
seriously injure animals – the University of Wisconsin has done both. The
treatment of animals at this facility illustrates attitudes of carelessness
and negligence that are nothing short of astonishing in their breadth and
depth," said SAEN in its federal complaint to Dr. Elizabeth Goldentyre,
Eastern Region Director, USDA/APHIS/AC.
"The University of Wisconsin must be punished so that meaningful changes can
be made – otherwise monkeys will continue to be injured and killed ad
infinitum. Digits, legs, and tongues will continue to be amputated. Animals
will suffer needlessly, and in some cases die, and if your office does not
seriously prosecute this facility then you will be at least partially
responsible. Lack of prosecution sends the message to this lab, as well as
others, that you will allow them to abuse and maim animals without penalty..
"If your office has any concern whatsoever for animals, or any concept of
the importance of the Animal Welfare Act, you will immediately open a case
(if an open case does not already exist) against the University of
Wisconsin, and prosecute these amazing examples of incompetence to the
fullest extent of the law," the complaint continued.