ACTION ALERT:
Contact:
Dr. Robert Gibbens
Director, Western Region, USDA
[email protected]
[email protected]
Please levy the MAXIMUM FINE against Purdue University for their blatant
disregard of the Animal Welfare Act when their negligence caused the deaths
of a dog, and burned another. Their behavior should NOT be tolerated and
MUST be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
USDA: Purdue Critically Non-Compliant in Death of Dog, Injury to Another
From WLFI.com, November 12, 2020
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Purdue University was critically
non-compliant in the injury of one dog and the death of another during a
research study, according to an inspection report filed by the United States
Department of Agriculture.
The inspection happened on Sept. 28.
The report states one animal was burned because of the unapproved use of a
heating device during surgery. Another animal overdosed because of an
unapproved dosing chart for an anticoagulant medication. But the issues were
corrected by the time of the inspection.
Michael Budkie, co-founder of the advocacy group Stop Animal Exploitation
Now, is calling for the USDA to fully prosecute these incidents.
"It's very rare that they do anything more than levying a fine and depending
on how many animals they say were involved, as I said, it could be $10,000
per infraction, per animal," he says.
As News 18 previously reported, Budkie filed a complaint in May with the
USDA after Purdue disclosed the death of three dogs and an injury to a
fourth during a research study.
"There a very serious issues which take place in animal laboratories and
this has to draw into question the validity of anything that's being done,"
he says.
Purdue spokesperson Tim Doty confirmed in an email the inspection was
related to the incidents earlier this year.
He also provided the following statement:
"The university is deeply committed to the responsible conduct of
research, including the protection of animals used in connection with
research. The university received a report of unforeseen adverse events
involving research animals in February. Purdue’s laboratory animal program
investigated the matter immediately, working with the research teams to
identify the reasons for the adverse events and prevent recurrence. The
university self-reported the results of the investigation to federal
agencies in March and stands ready to assist those agencies in any way
necessary to protect the welfare of the animals under its care."
News 18 reached out to the USDA for a statement but did not hear back.