Letter to USDA about Improper Enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act - 23 Mar 2009

23 March 2009

Dr. Chester A. Gipson
USDA / APHIS / AC
4700 River Rd., Unit 84
Riverdale, MD 20737-1234
Phone: (301) 734-7833
Fax: (301) 734-4978
[email protected]

Dear Dr. Gipson:

We have become aware of the increase in U.S. primate experimentation and the subsequent increase in violations to the Animal Welfare Act. An example: The Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research (San Antonio, TX) was recently reported for beginning a post-mortem on a primate which was not yet dead.

We have also become aware of the flawed reporting of the numbers of primates being held in facilities. Often over 60 percent of the primates held by individual laboratories are not included in national experimentation figures. For example, the entire state of South Carolina is reported by the USDA to have used 471 primates in experimentation. However, the Alpha Genesis Corporation (Yemassee, SC) alone held 8204 primates.

These are only two examples of the many, very serious violations. Please see to it that violators are punished to the fullest extent that the law allows.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Frank L. Hoffman

Mary T. Hoffman

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