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Probe is sought of Cleveland Clinic dog use Animal-rights group seeks USDA check A Cincinnati-based animal- rights group has asked for a federal
investigation into where the Cleveland Clinic gets its research
dogs. The call for a probe comes just days after a Clinic neurosurgeon
caused an aneurysm in the brain of an anesthetized dog so that a
medical device could be used during a demonstration to treat the
condition. The dog was put down after the demonstration, which was conducted
before a group of salespeople, some of whom participated in the
procedure last Wednesday, according to a Clinic spokeswoman.
"Documents from the Cleveland Clinic
clearly discuss the use of 'mongrel' dogs," Michael Budkie,
executive director for the Cincinnati-based Stop Animal Exploitation
Now, said in a written statement Sunday.
"Very often this term is a euphemism
for dogs that have come from animal shelters." Not only do shelter dogs make poor
research subjects because of their pre-existing medical problems,
but those medical problems require additional veterinary care, he
said. That is why the organization is also
asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to look into the
veterinary care of dogs. A Cleveland Clinic spokeswoman said
the dog came from a "dealer" but did not provide any more details.
She said the hospital has long-standing procedures and policies in
place on the use and care of its animals. She also said the Clinic would fully
cooperate with any review of the demonstration by the USDA, which
oversees animal welfare. About two dozen salespeople from the
manufacturer of the device watched the neurosurgeon's demonstration.
The neurosurgeon had submitted an
application to the hospital's Institutional Animal Care and Use
Committee, which reviews requests to work with animals. The doctor had not heard back from
the committee before the demonstration and wrongly assumed it was
OK, a Clinic spokeswoman said. But the spokeswoman said the
committee would have rejected the request because it does not allow
doctors to use animals for the sole purpose of sales training.
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