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From the Desk of Michael Budkie, SAEN’s Executive Director The millions of animals that are imprisoned in laboratories have very
little protection from the depredations practiced upon them during
animal experiments. The only law which protects animals in labs is the
Animal Welfare Act (AWA). This law has very minimal requirements,
spelling out things like standards for adequate feeding, watering,
housing, and veterinary care. However, it seems that adherence to even
these extremely basic standards is beyond the ability of most
laboratories. Dozens of facilities across the U.S. have a history of violating the
AWA. Facilities like the University of Connecticut continue to violate
federal regulations despite being fined $129,000 by the USDA for AWA
violations. Other laboratories have fared no better. The University of
California (San Francisco), Northwestern, Emory, Harvard, Yale, and many
other laboratories continue to violate the AWA on a regular basis. Dogs,
cats, rabbits, primates, and other species are suffering tremendously
simply because the labs can’t follow the laws. Therefore, we have launched our National Lawbreakers Campaign
with the goal of gaining access to the labs and exposing the true extent
of suffering experienced by the animals. In this issue of The
Defender this campaign is discussed in these articles:
National Lawbreakers Campaign – Targeting University of Connecticut
and The Deaths of Primates 9K2 and 8D4 at Northwestern University.
Other articles discuss our ongoing campaigns for animals in
laboratories: World Laboratory Animal Liberation Week Update –
Activists from Coast to Coast Fight for Animals! &
National Primate Liberation Week is Coming! Our ongoing efforts at educating activists to enable them to be
effective in their struggle for animals continues this year through
participation in two national conferences for animal activists. Our work
in this area is outlined in: AR2003 Conferences – SAEN Leads the
Fight Against Vivisection. The plight of exotic animals in exhibitions (such as circuses) is
exposed by Don Elroy (Director of SAEN’s P.E.A.C.E. Project) in
The UNReality Show – The Truth Behind Exotic Animal Training. Animals are abused in so many ways and in so many places that it is
easy to feel that we have taken on an impossible task. The fight which
we wage for animals is a long and arduous battle against adversaries who
are always large and powerful. It would be easy to despair of ever
making any changes. But, were it not for organizations like Stop Animal
Exploitation NOW!, the victims of animal abuse might have no voice, no
champion, no advocate. I have recently spoken to several people who are, or have been on the
inside of a laboratory. They fight battles every day that you and I can
only dream of. Most people never understand what it is like inside a
laboratory. However, seeing animals suffering is a torture with which I
am familiar. I have seen the inside of a research facility, and it is
not a pretty sight. So, you see, I understand how these people must feel. They spend
their days trying desperately to ease the suffering of all the animals
whose paths they cross. They cannot end the abuse, but they do
everything in their power to make a difference. These people have
personally thanked me for trying to make a difference for animals. This must be our mission – to do everything in our power to make a
difference. We may not be able to save the world, but maybe we
can save a little piece of it. Maybe we can prevent the death of another
primate like 9K2 who died of dehydration at Northwestern University.
Maybe we can end the suffering of an animal like primate 94B106 who was
stress pacing within the laboratories of the University of Pennsylvania.
Maybe we could help an animal like primate #3566 who lost 1/3 of his/her
body weight at Emory University over a fourteen-month period. Maybe we
can do something for the rabbits at the University of Pittsburgh who
were restrained twenty-four hours a day for thirty consecutive days. Remember these innocent victims and those of us who have made it our
lives’ work to be their voices, their advocates. We wage an unending
battle against immense odds, often with little support, except from
people like you. You have a simple way of expressing your belief in
the importance of our work. You can make a donation to Stop Animal
Exploitation NOW! which will enable us to continue our crusade. Your
check for $25, $50, or $100 will make it possible for us to keep up the
battle. A special gift of $250, $500, or $1000 will truly demonstrate
how much you believe in our work, and how important the animals are to
you. Do you want to end the suffering of all of these animals? Can we count on your help?
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The Defender: Vol. 2, No. 1 - Spring/Summer 2003 |
