Source - In Defense of Animals
From [email protected]
During the weekend of June 9 and 10, more than 30,000
mice, rats, dogs, and primates used in research at Baylor College of
Medicine and the University of Texas Medical School at Houston were left
to drown in their cages as floodwaters in the city of Houston, Texas,
rose. [When fully
counted, 78 monkeys, 18 adult dogs, 17 puppies and
several hundred rabbits were among the dead animals in the basement,
which housed the center's main animal care facility, as well as mice,
rats, and rabbits.]
Apparently, the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
allows research institutions in flood-prone regions to warehouse animals
in basements without providing a plan for their evacuation in the event
of flooding. NIH also consistently promises to reimburse such
institutions for "losses," thereby removing any incentive for properly
caring for the tens of thousands of animals in the researchers'
possession.
Animals are not dust mops or office supplies, and NIH
must not allow them to be stored in basements. NIH should also require
federally funded institutions to have a plan for the evacuation of
animals in the event of emergencies such as fire, flooding, etc. What's
more important, NIH must require these institutions to have animal care
personnel on hand at all times.
No one can reasonably argue that with an annual budget
of $310 million and $60 million, respectively, Baylor College of
Medicine and the University of Texas Medical School at Houston couldn't
afford a security guard! Human patients at the Texas Medical Center were
not left to drown in their beds! Animals used in research should Be
afforded the same consideration.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: Please write NIH's director and demand
that the agency require institutions to file an evacuation plan, house
animals above ground, and hire personnel to monitor animals 24 hours a
day, 365 days a year. Please also write your senators and
representatives and ask that
oversight hearings be held on this issue.
Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein, Director
National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
Fax: 301-402-2700
[email protected]
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Let's also encourage the university to switch to
non-animal and more humane research by sending the following letter, or
one similar but in your own words:
Address letters to the following:
Ralph D. Feigin, M.D., President and Chief Executive
Officer
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza
Houston, TX 77030
Fax: 713-798-8811
[email protected]
James W. Patrick, Ph.D., Vice President and Dean for
Research
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza
Houston, TX 77030
Fax: 713-798-5902
[email protected]
James T. Willerson, President
University of Texas, Health Science Center
P.O. Box 20036
Houston, TX 77225-0036
Fax: 713-500-3026
[email protected]
*Date*
Dear *_________* ,
First, I would like to express my sympathies regarding
the great loss of life in the form of the animals who drowned during the
flooding which resulted from Tropical Storm Allison on 16 June 2001.
At this time, with animal cages empty and remodeling of
laboratories necessary, I would like to suggest that this is an
exceptional time to move your university in to the 21st century by
implementing innovative humane methods of research. As the book 'The
Principles of Humane Experimental Techniques' pointed out in 1959,
humane methods of research call for the reduction, refinement and
replacement of animals in scientific research.
Currently, there are a multitude of valid alternatives
to using animals in biomedical research. Many research techniques which
do not use live animals have proven to be much more reliable and less
costly than their inhumane counterparts - research techniques which do
use live animals.
As you likely know, the Center for Alternatives to
Animal Testing at John's Hopkins University has an extensive database
on-line at http://www.altwebsearch.com and expert advisors who would be
able to guide you about current, cutting-edge humane research
techniques.
You are in a unique position at this time to recoup and
redirect your university's research. Instead of replacing the animals
who drowned with other sentient and vulnerable live animals, and
starting over collecting data, I implore you to seek to improve research
overall, and the nature of research techniques by replacing live
animals.
Thank you for your thoughtful consideration,
Sincerely,
*Your name*
cc: Ruth Kirschstein, Acting Director
National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
Fax: 301-402-2700
[email protected]
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