FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, January 13, 2012
Contact: Michael Budkie, SAEN www.saenonline.org, [email protected], (513) 575-5517

Attn: Assignment Desk

USDA cites Fort Collins Lab for Negligent deaths of 3 dogs; Watchdog Group Calls for Federal Fine and Accuses lab of Cover-up

DENVER/FORT COLLINS, CO – Recently obtained federal reports reveal the USDA has cited staff of the Fort Collins lab Care Research LLC for multiple violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act relevant to an incident which killed three dogs.

A December 6, 2011, inspection report cites Care Research for inadequate monitoring of research by the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee, Unqualified Personnel, and two separate citations are issued by the inspector for Inadequate Veterinary Care. Three out of four of these violations are directly relevant to the incident which killed three dogs.

The report reveals that at 3:40 PM on May 19, 2011 3 dogs were simply found dead after having been checked earlier that day and noted to have no abnormalities. Even at 3:40 these animals were initially noted to have no abnormalities, and then the caretaker apparently noticed that 3 of the dogs were actually dead.

The Attending Veterinarian for Care Research was not included in diagnostic or post-mortem testing to ascertain the cause of death for the 3 dogs, which remains unresolved. Additionally, despite the fact that these dogs died without veterinary care, anesthesia, or euthanasia, they were not designated in required USDA reports as having experienced any pain.

SAEN (Stop Animal Exploitation NOW – www.saenonline.org) has contacted the Western Regional Office of the USDA to insist on the issuance of a fine against Care Research.

“Negligence by Care Research staff killed three dogs is extremely serious and must be punished severely,” said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN. “The exclusion of the staff veterinarian from investigation of the incident and the filing of potentially fraudulent federal reports indicates that a cover-up may be underway at Care Research.”

The USDA inspection reports and relevant documentation are available upon request from SAEN.

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See also:

• USDA cites Fort Collins Lab for Negligent deaths of 3 dogs; Watchdog Group Calls for Federal Fine and Accuses lab of Cover-up Press Release
• Letter of Complaint to USDA About Care Research
• USDA - Inspection Report - 6 Dec 2011

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