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Press Releases

Major US Labs Illegally slaughter and maim animals; USDA fails to enforce federal law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 5, 2009
Contact: Michael Budkie, SAEN, 513-575-5517; 513-703-9865 (cell)
attn: News Desk

Major US Labs Illegally slaughter and maim animals; USDA fails to enforce federal law

Washington, DC � Recently obtained federal reports reveal major violations of the Animal Welfare Act within Charles River Laboratories (MA), Bioreliance (MD) and the Tufts University Veterinary School according to the national research watchdog group SAEN.

The Charles River location in Shrewsbury (MA) amassed 13 federal violations during 18 months include inadequate veterinary care, facilities, enclosures, sanitation, environmental enhancement and violations by the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee. According to government reports dated August of 2008, a primate and a dog had to be killed after botched surgical procedures.

These recently disclosed incidents follow another 2008 episode at a Charles River facility in Nevada during which a heating malfunction took the lives of 32 primates.

The 7 violations amassed by Bioreliance (MD) during only 6 months include unqualified personnel, inadequate veterinary care, improper handling of animals and violations by the Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee. According to government reports, in August of 2008, living animals were found walking around in a refrigerator used for storage of the bodies of euthanized animals. This incident may have involved as many as 18 animals and during June of 2008 an animal was killed by being left inside a cage that was sterilized, likely being boiled alive.

The Tufts Veterinary School piled up 6 violations of federal law in January of 2009 including an incident where 3 dogs were negligently burned by a heat lamp following surgical procedures.

�The negligence at Charles River, Bioreliance, and Tufts has injured or killed many animals� said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN. �These facilities should face serious consequences,� he said.

However, the USDA/APHIS/AC has apparently taken no enforcement actions against these facilities.

�The USDA has abdicated its� responsibility for enforcing the Animal Welfare Act,� added Budkie. �Laboratories are torturing and maiming animals through negligence with impunity.�

The USDA inspection reports are available upon request from SAEN.

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See also:
Bioreliance Corporation, Rockville, MD
MD Research Firm Accused of Lab Animal Misuse - 8 Jun 2009
USDA - APHIS Report - 2007
USDA - Inspection Report - 22 Aug 2008

Charles River Laboratories, Inc., Wilmington, MA
USDA Inspection Report - 12 Aug 2008

Tufts University, Medford, MA
USDA - Inspection Report - 28 Jan 2009

Reports show animal welfare violations at 3 labs

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