FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Contact: Michael Budkie, SAEN www.saenonline.org, saen@saenonline.org, (513) 575-5517

Attn: Assignment Desk

Rockefeller University Slapped with Official Warning by USDA for Primate Death; Watchdog Group calls Penalty "meaningless"

NEW YORK, NY  –  Rockefeller University has been slapped with an ‘Official Warning’ by the USDA for the negligent death of a primate.
 
The Official Warning became available today, and resulted from an inspection of January 25, 2012.  In this report Rockefeller is cited for improper animal handling which resulted in the primate’s death.  According to the report two primates became entangled by their collars, and one was found dead the following morning.
 
 However, a research Watchdog Group, SAEN, is calling the USDA action meaningless.
 
“Negligence at this facility cost a non-human primate his/her life,” said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN.  “When negligence takes the life of an animal the lab should pay the price.  The USDA is allowing labs like Rockefeller to literally get away with MURDER.”
 
Rockefeller is the second NY City lab to kill a primate, and receive only an Official Warning from the USDA.  The Weill Medical College of Cornell University was also give leniency by the USDA.
 
“Both of these labs have carelessly taken the lives of animals,” added Budkie.  “If a private individual killed animals this way they would be prosecuted under animal cruelty laws and go to jail, but labs get a free pass from the USDA.”
 
All USDA documents are available upon request from SAEN.

-30-

See also:

• Rockefeller University, New York, NY
• USDA - Official Warning - 25 Jan 2012

Return to Press Releases

We welcome your comments and questions