Negligent animal deaths alleged against Denver lab

Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!
S. A. E. N.
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Please contact Dr. Gibbens and demand that he take immediate action against the Colorado Serum Company for negligence that killed 12 animals and went unresolved for over a year.  Despite the fact that this facility has been fined, the original violation occurred in August of 2010, the situation which was injuring guinea pigs due to improper enclosures which caused leg fractures, was unresolved over a year later.  This criminal lab deserves a second fine!

Dr. Robert Gibbens Director
Western Region USDA/APHIS/A
2150 Center Ave. Building B, Mailstop 3W11
Fort Collins, CO 80526-8117
(970) 494-7478
[email protected]

http://www.9news.com/news/article/342147/75/Negligent-animal-deaths-alleged-against-Denver-lab

Negligent animal deaths alleged against Denver lab

By Laurie Cipriano, 9News.com, June 24, 2013

KUSA - A group trying to stop animal exploitation is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fine a Denver lab for alleged violations that the lab injured animals so severely that they had to be euthanized.

The watchdog organization "Stop Animal Exploitation Now" alleges that the Colorado Serum Company of Denver was negligent by keeping guinea pigs in mesh enclosures.

"They [Colorado Serum Company] were using a floor mesh, the purpose of which was to allow droppings to fall through," Michael Budkie, co-founder of SAEN, said. "But, the holes in the mesh were so large that the animals' legs were falling through and they were breaking as a result of that when they were struggling to free their legs."

Budke said that instead of treating the animals the guinea pigs were euthanized.

The USDA fined Colorado Serum for violating the Animal Welfare Act back in 2010.

An inspection report revealed a similar violation in 2011.

The USDA has not confirmed whether another fine will be assessed.

9NEWS reached out to the lab for comment today.

After 9 p.m. Monday night, Joe Huff, with the Colorado Serum Company of Denver, called to say he would release a statement about the allegations on Tuesday. Huff said he does not anticipate his company will be fined by the USDA.

Colorado Serum manufactures vaccines for large animals, including horses, cattle, sheep and goats.

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