SAEN LogoSanta Cruz Biotechnology worst in nation for USDA citations
Media Coverage About SAEN Stop Animal Exploitation Now

ACTION: Demand TERMINATION of SCB's Animal Dealer License

Dr. Robert Gibbens
Director, Wetern Region, USDA
(970) 494-7478
[email protected]
[email protected]

SAMPLE MESSAGE:
Please TERMINATE Santa Cruz Biotech's Animal Dealer License for their blatant disregard of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) when they failed to provide veterinary care for 14 goats who suffered from severe illnesses or injuries (lame, anemic, excessively thin, etc). SCB has previously been levied a $4,600 fine and they are currently the target of a third USDA complaint, but their behavior has not changed. This must NOT be tolerated and MUST be punished to the fullest extent of the law. The time is NOW to send a clear message with stiff penalties to these renegade, negligent facilities that these behaviors will NOT be tolerated!

 

Santa Cruz Biotechnology worst in nation for USDA citations
By Bek Phillips, Register-Pajaronian.com, Wednesday, August 19, 2015

A federal complaint filed for animal cruelty, including a citation for killing a goat with a bolt gun, is the latest in a string of violations brought against Santa Cruz Biotechnology.

With repeated violations for failure to provide adequate veterinary care to its animals, as well as causing animals trauma, behavioral stress, physical harm and/or unnecessary discomfort, the USDA claims that Santa Cruz Biotechnology willfully violated the regulations applicable to animal dealers and research facilities. This is only one of three outstanding complaints, an unprecedented number according to Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN).

"Santa Cruz Biotech is one of the worst research facilities in the nation," said Michael Budkie, an employee at SAEN. "With more that 20 violations and citations in a year, I can't see that they can possibly get out of this without major fines or getting their license revoked."

Santa Cruz Biotechnology is one of the largest global suppliers of antibodies used in research and is registered as both a dealer and research facility. No response was received when asked to comment as of press time.

The USDA reported multiple violations including one on July 7 that involved a goat found "suffering and in distress." This goat was killed in direct violation of Santa Cruz Biotechnology's own standard operating procedure, when an employee euthanized it with a captive bolt gun without using a sedative or secondary euthanasia injection, when they had no veterinarian available to attend the animal, the report stated.

In addition to allegedly not providing appropriate care to its animals, Santa Cruz Biotechnology is also said to have lied to the USDA about how many animals were on its campus.

"They are the only facility that lied to the USDA saying repeatedly that one building had no animals housed inside," Budkie said. "In fact, that building was found to house 841 goats."

Christopher Berry, a staff attorney for Animal Legal Defense Fund, said that their company also had a lawsuit against Santa Cruz Biotechnology.

"The lawsuit is for unlawful business practices that involve animal cruelty," Berry said. "Time and time again they have proved that they are incapable of even the most basic level of care for its animals."

Berry said this is demonstrated by the three outstanding complaints.

"Quite frankly, I have never seen three cases simultaneously being brought against one company before," he said. "There is something corrupt and rotten about the management and how they treat their animals."

He is also not surprised at the latest infractions.

"This is exactly the type of behavior I would expect," he said.

Beyond the alleged improper euthanasia of the goat in July, the latest USDA complaint went on to identify numerous cases where goats suffered from a variety of sicknesses and injuries ranging from anemia, weight loss, dermatitis, leg injuries, respiratory problems and a rattlesnake bite. Going back to 2012, there were also violations listed for the improper handling and housing of rabbits. They were reportedly placed in small wire cages that did not afford the rabbits adequate space within which to make normal postural adjustments or to avoid stepping in their own waste.

The list of violations include failure "to provide adequate veterinary care to animals and/or failure to establish programs of adequate veterinary care that included the availability of appropriate facilities, personnel, equipment, equipment and services, the use of appropriate methods to prevent, control, and treat diseases and injuries and the availability of emergency care," among others.

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