Dozens of Animals slaughtered at Iowa Research Lab; Watchdog Group Demands Severe Federal Penalties

Sioux Center/Sioux City, IA – Recently obtained federal reports reveal major violations of the Animal Welfare Act within the labs of the Exemplar Genetics facility in Sioux Center (IA) which took the lives of dozens of animals in late 2010.

A USDA inspection report from September of 2010 reveals an incident during which 39 animals were found dead after being locked in a transport truck overnight, apparently killed by excessive heat and humidity.

The same report reveals multiple incidents of untreated health problems in animals which were sometimes fatal. One infant animal died, undetected, during a difficult birth. Other animals were lame or had large nodules which were draining pus.

“Negligence at Exemplar Genetics has taken the lives of dozens of animals and injured many others” said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN. “It is time for meaningful action by government agencies,” he said.

The incident at the Iowa lab is just the latest in a spreading epidemic of negligence inside U.S. laboratories. Over 35 laboratories have now killed approximately 200 animals through negligence. Facilities caught up in the spreading scandal include Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Vanderbilt, state universities in Wisconsin, Washington, Kansas, and private labs such as Charles River Laboratories.

The USDA inspection reports are available upon request from SAEN. 

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