Kitten Hung at Colorado State Lab; USDA Issues Citation

Press Release
From Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!
S. A. E. N.
"Exposing the truth to wipe out animal experimentation"


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Contact: Michael Budkie, SAEN, 513-575-5517
attn: News Desk

Kitten Hung at Colorado State Lab; USDA Issues Citation

FORT COLLINS, CO – Recently obtained federal reports reveal major violations of the Animal Welfare Act within the labs of Colorado State University, according to the national research watchdog group SAEN.

According to a January 27, 2009 USDA report a kitten was found dead inside Colorado State University labs with his/her “neck and head caught in a worn towel.”

Colorado State University was cited for an improper and unsafe enclosure in this incident. The same USDA report also cites CSU for an incident during which a dog escaped from the lab overnight. An additional citation was made for a third incident in which a CSU researcher was performing unapproved procedures on animals, a repeat incident.

Meanwhile, labs across the U.S. have recently been cited in the negligent deaths of many animals including:

  • University of Washington – cited for primate starvation death.
  • Dartmouth College – living hamster found in freezer after improper euthanasia
  • Joliet Junior College – cat bleeds to death after routine surgery.
  • Vanderbilt University –Infant Galago dies in cage cleaning incident,
  • Charles River Labs -- primate boiled alive in cage washer.
  • OHSU – primates killed by administering unapproved chemicals, female primate dies of infection after undiagnosed fetal death
  • Stanford – animal dies during surgery when oxygen tank runs out, another animal bleeds to death.
  • Lovelace Research Institute – primate dies with head caught in cage

“Negligence at these facilities has taken the lives of many animals and caused unnecessary suffering to many others,” said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN. “These facilities should face serious consequences, but the USDA is allowing them to literally get away with murder,” he said.

“If these labs can’t even perform surgery or clean cages without killing animals, and are incapable of simple talks like insuring that primates are fed, then something is seriously wrong. How can any of the research results from these facilities be given any credence whatsoever?” said Budkie.

The USDA inspection reports are available upon request from SAEN.

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See Also:
CSU Cited In Lab Kitten's Hanging Kitten Got Tangled In Cage Bedding
Colorado State University

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