ACTION ALERT:
Contact:
Dr. Robert Gibbens
Director, Western Region, USDA
[email protected]
[email protected]
Please levy the MAXIMUM FINE against Temple University for their blatant
disregard of the Animal Welfare Act when their negligence caused the deaths
of two dogs, and burned a cat. Their behavior should NOT be tolerated and
MUST be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
Temple Laboratory Facing Animal Negligence Complaint
From Megan Walsh, TempleUpdate.com, December 4, 2020
An animal rights organization is filing a complaint against Temple
University for animal negligence in their research laboratories that lead to
the death of two dogs and the injury of a cat.
Michael Budkie, AHT, the co-founder and executive director of Stop Animal
Exploitation NOW! (SAEN), explained that this issue is one that should
concern the general public.
“Animal experimentation for the most part is paid for with Federal Tax
Dollars” he said.
The complaint was filed in response to two critical citations issued by the
USDA during a lab inspection in September.
In February of 2020, an unapproved heating pad was used on a cat that caused
extensive burns. These burns lead to abscesses which required veterinary
treatment. Two dogs were found dead in their enclosures by lab technicians a
month later. The weekend prior, a lab technician observed that these dogs
were experiencing gastrointestinal issues, but did not alert veterinary
staff.
“It seems to me that it might have to do with laboratory staff not doing
their job” said Budkie.
Temple Update reached out to University Spokesperson Ray Betzner, who was
not aware of the incident. The University has yet to make a formal
announcement regarding the accusation.
When asked what they could do to better their practice, Budkie asks that
institutions like Temple redirect their research on cutting-edge scientific
methods, such as organ-chip technology.
Budkie asks, “If they’re not following their own protocols and if they can’t
perform a procedure without burning an animal, then why should we believe
they can do science?”
SAEN is requesting a full investigation of the laboratory and the incidents
surrounding the deaths and injuries with a maximum penalty of $10,000 per
animal involved.