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Report: Air Force Lab at Brooks Labeled ‘Most Painful’ in US FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE San Antonio, TX – A national research watchdog organization has
named the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Brooks Air Force Base
“the most painful laboratory in the US,” and has launched an investigation
of research projects at the facility. Accidentally leaked federal documents reveal that 43% of the 2091
animals used in experiments at AFRL experience unrelieved pain during
experiments that are conducted without benefit of anesthesia. Dogs,
primates, rats and mice fall into this category. DOD documents reveal the use of primates in projects involving laser
injuries, microwaves and radiation. Pigs are used in munitions development
and wound research. Rabbits and guinea pigs are irradiated. Rabbits are
also subjected to microwave experiments Leaked government reports, military research protocols, and financial
data for the Brooks lab are available on SAEN’s website. Other leaked government information reveals 6900 animals experimented
on inside other DOD labs (government documents for 20 other DOD labs is
available upon request). However, reports from two of the largest
Department of Defense labs, Fort Detrick and Walter Reed, were
unavailable. “The experimental approval process within DOD facilities needs to be
overhauled," said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., SAEN’s Executive Director.
“It appears that AFRL officials are performing unnecessarily duplicative
experiments, wasting over $5 million per year in federal tax dollars, and
causing needless pain to animals.” Report forms for other federal agencies were also leaked. The Veterans
administration operates 47 labs experimenting on over 12,000 animals
including more than 600 dogs and over 300 cats. The department of the
Interior experiments on more than 8500 wild animals. Due to gaps in federal laws DOD facilities, like all federal labs, do
not receive any independent inspections. See: The Most Painful Laboratory in
the United States: The Air Force Research Laboratory at Brooks AFB -30-
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