Washington State University to review animal research
Media Coverage About SAEN Stop Animal Exploitation Now

ACTION ALERT:

Contact the USDA to Demand a Maximum FINE against Washington State University:

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

SAMPLE MESSAGE:

Please levy the MAXIMUM FINE against Washington State University for their blatant disregard of the Animal Welfare Act revealed in recent information where their negligence killed a dog, six bighorn sheep, denied pain relief to bears, denied water to calves, and caused broken legs in rabbits. Previous information revealed that WSU negligence killed bears and sheep. Their negligence MUST NOT be tolerated and MUST be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

 

Washington State University to review animal research
By Josh Babcock, Moscow-Pullman Daily News, July 22, 2016

Washington State University announced Thursday it would begin external reviews of all WSU labs following three complaints by animal rights group Stop Animal Exploitation Now and an internal investigation by the university into its own Bear Research Education and Conservation Center.

Phyllis Erdman, chair of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, made the announcement during a teleconference at the T101 conference room in WSU's Food Science and Human Nutrition Building. Roughly 50 people, including researchers, administrators, faculty and staff dealing with animal research at WSU, participated in the conference. The IACUC oversees the assessment and oversight of animal care in research at the university.

SAEN alleges the university negligently failed to provide veterinary care to a dog that died and failed to provide adequate pain relief during biopsies on grizzlies at the Bear Research, Education and Conservation Center. Other issues raised in the complaint involved the deaths of six bighorn sheep, rabbits that suffered broken legs and calves that were denied adequate water during research.

Erdman said during the next five to seven years all of the university's labs would be inspected to ensure WSU is providing the resources the labs need to operate legally and remain compliant with federal regulations.

"We always ensure there are no repercussions to anyone that reports a concern,"  Erdman said.

The external reviews are in addition to inspections the university already receives annually from the United States Department of Agriculture.

Director of the Office of the Campus Veterinarian Nina Woodford also detailed additional changes to policies the committee hopes will help researchers remain in compliance. Among the changes is allowing members of the IACUC and other campus veterinarians to authorize project amendments, such as dose changes to anesthetic, sedation, euthanasia or other modifications.

 

"As of now sending those to the IACUC can take two weeks," Woodford said. "It streamlines the amendment process, if it fits the parameters."

Mike Kluzik, WSU director of the Office of Research Assurances, also addressed who would have to pay fines - potentially $10,000 per animal - if the SAEN succeeds in its suit. Kluzik said it's new ground for WSU and the university has never been fined. Woodford said money would come from the university, the only question is where.

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