The University of Wisconsin has a long history of
causing severe suffering to animals of many different species. Whether
we look at the infamous Harry Harlow’s maternal deprivation experiments
from decades ago or more recent events where primates were killed by
negligence -- running them through a cage washer -- the University of
Wisconsin is well-known for abusing animals.
During the first nine months of 2005, the UW piled up 20 violations of
the Animal Welfare Act including infractions involving inadequate
veterinary care, unqualified personnel, inadequate housing/facilities,
and improper supervision of experimentation by the Institutional Animal
Care & Use Committee. It is not surprising that the abuses practiced by
this entity involve many species of animals including dogs and primates.
One incident involved a dog that was allowed to suffer severely for
months. Dog #458783 died on 7/5/05 at the UW. In the weeks before death,
this dog lost 41% of his/her body weight. This animal had been vomiting
for more than sixteen weeks with this symptom being listed in the daily
care log no less than seven separate times. Despite repeated notations
of symptoms including vomiting, weight loss, lethargy, lack of appetite,
and general non-responsiveness over a period of almost four months, no
veterinarian was ever contacted. This dog simply wasted away until death
ended this suffering.
On 4/26/05 rhesus monkey #04046 was observed by a USDA inspector to have
an arm caught in the front of his/her enclosure. Upon further
investigation the inspector learned that the primate had suffered from a
similar situation repeatedly since 8/21/04, often being treated for
swelling and trauma to this same arm. However, the veterinarian had not
been informed of the cause of the problem, and so nothing had been done
to rectify the situation. On this day the head animal care technician
was called, and after lubricating the primate’s arm attempted to free it
by forcing the arm back into the cage. The monkey began to scream in
pain, and the USDA inspector intervened and forced the UW staff to call
for a veterinarian. The vet then anesthetized the monkey, and bolt
cutters were used to remove part of the cage.
Stop Animal Exploitation NOW! exposed this abuse and negligence to
Wisconsin media in mid-July. The story was covered by The Isthmus, The
Capital Times, and the Wisconsin Radio Network. These media outlets
revealed the reality of animal experimentation to hundreds of thousands
of Wisconsin’s citizens.
According to government reports, ongoing experiments at the UW deprive
primates, hamsters, and cats of food and/or water. Primates are confined
to restraint chairs for up to 16 hours. Cats are paralyzed, and coils
are placed into the eyes of primates. A lab that has neglected and
abused animals so severely is responsible for the care of thousands of
animals every year. The incidents uncovered by the USDA are likely only
the tip of the iceberg at this huge facility.
UW 2004
Animal Experimentation Statistics
(not including rats, mice and birds)
Since the federal government is grossly ineffective at
ending the abuse of animals in laboratories, Stop Animal Exploitation
NOW! will continue to push the laboratory doors open to expose the truth
to the tax-paying public. Only through our continued vigilance will the
practice of animal experimentation eventually be ended.
The negligence and abusive behavior practiced by UW staff are simply
inexcusable. They must not be allowed to continue this kind of callous
indifference to the needs of animals in their care. Please write to the
University of Wisconsin to express your outrage at their negligence.
