11/28/10

Phyllis K. Fong
Office of the Inspector General
Room 117-W Jamie Whitten Bldg
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20250

Ms. Fong,

I am contacting you today regarding the failure of the USDA/APHIS/AC to properly inspect a research facility and enforce the Animal Welfare Act based on information which was provided to them several years ago in the form of an official complaint.

Despite a complaint filed in 2007, USDA/APHIS/Ac failed to take any action against the MPI Research facility despite information which we provided to them.

I have since come into the possession of information from within this facility that clearly reveals a pattern of serious violations of the Animal Welfare Act which have gone undocumented and therefore the law has not been enforced.

It is unclear if this was the result of inadequate inspections or some other cause, however, one must wonder how items of this nature (a pattern of traumatic injuries over several years) could have been missed.

Therefore, I have forwarded to you the correspondence which has just been sent to the Elizabeth Goldentyer of USDA/APHIS/AC. This contains all of the relevant information for your office to address.

I hereby officially request copies of all documents generated by your investigation of this complaint under the federal Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. sec. 552. Included in this request are all documents, photos, videos, etc.

I will expect your response within 10 business days.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T.,
Executive Director, SAEN

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