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UNL halts 4 experiments; federal complaint filed regarding animal cruelty
From Danielle Meaqdows, 3NewsNow.com, June 8, 2021
LINCOLN, Neb. (KMTV) A national watchdog group that monitors American
research facilities for illegal activities and animal abuse has filed a
federal complaint against the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL).
According to a press release from Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN), a
previously unpublished report obtained by SAEN discloses that the university
allegedly halted "four experimental projects because laboratory staff,
including the Principal Investigator, failed to euthanize suffering animals
for a week, and lied about it in falsified records."
SAEN said the university broke federal law and as a result, they filed a
federal complaint against the university's research administration due to
the failure to euthanize animals as required, as well as a cover-up.
"Apparently staff not only failed to euthanize animals, allowing them to
suffer with a serious pathological condition for an additional week, but
they also moved the animals to hide them from UNL administration, and
falsified records to avoid discovery of their illegal conduct," said SAEN's
press release.
SAEN filed the complaint with the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, alleging
federal violations of Federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations for
Animal Handling, Veterinary Care & research supervision by the university's
Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee.
Additionally, SAEN is seeking the maximum penalty allowable under the AWA
$10,000 per infraction/per animal.
UNL staff not only abused animals, causing an additional week of totally
unnecessary suffering, but the staff also lied about it, said Michael A.
Budkie, A.H.T., co-founder, SAEN. The USDA should throw the book at these
criminals.