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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Contact: Michael Budkie, SAEN, 513-575-5517,
[email protected]
University of Michigan 'Negligence' Led to 'Bloodbath' and Research Subject Death, Charges Watchdog Group
ANN ARBOR, MI – A research subject – after it was found near
death in a virtual "bloodbath" – had to be killed at a University of
Michigan research facility after extreme negligence by staff, charged a
national watchdog group in a letter to a federal oversight agency.
SAEN, an Ohio-based national watchdog that monitors the nation's research
facilities for illegal activities and animal abuse, said the September 2016
incident involving a pig at University of Michigan turned up in a U.S. Dept.
of Agriculture inspection of the facility in late July of this year.
The USDA cited the university for breaking federal law – as a result, SAEN
said it's urging a $10,000 federal fine be levied.
"This is clearly a very serious incident because the failure by the
University of Michigan to maintain a cage properly led directly to the death
of this pig...this failed laboratory deserves the maximum penalty for this
fatality, a fine of $10,000 per infraction/per animal. I must insist your
office institute an immediate investigation," said Michael A. Budkie,
A.H.T., SAEN executive director, in his complaint.
"It was a bloodbath when the pig was found because it had lost so much
blood. And it was all caused by extreme negligence by the University of
Michigan. The USDA rightly cited the university for a critical violation of
the federal Animal Welfare act," Budkie added.
The USDA inspection report was graphic, noting: "In September, 2016, a pig
was found loose in a housing room...the pig had already experienced a severe
amount of blood loss and the decision was made to humanely euthanize the
animal. Enclosures housing animals should be kept in good repair to contain
the animals and protect them from injury."
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