Animals in Labs Article used with permission from All-Creatures.org

In Defense of Animals reports on the good news that eight healthy horses have been spared certain death at an elective surgical laboratory at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Unfortunately, around sixty goats, who already have offers of new homes, may still be killed.

Washington State University Cancels Deadly Surgical Lab, Sparing 8 Healthy Horses But 60 Goats Remain at Risk
From Staff, IDA In Defense of Animals, idausa.org
March 2026

Images from Canva

PULLMAN, Wash. (March 16, 2026) — Following intense public outcry led by veterinary students, alumni, and animal protection organizations, Washington State University’s (WSU) College of Veterinary Medicine has reportedly canceled a controversial third-year elective surgical laboratory that would have ended the lives of eight healthy horses, and activists are urging the university to do the same for 60 goats and accept standing offers of sanctuary.

The horses, which federal records recently revealed were healthy and adoptable former USDA research animals, were scheduled to be subjected to terminal surgical training exercises in the coming days.

WSU administrators cited safety concerns as the primary reason for halting the lab. In a statement to the community, the Dean claimed, “The university has received a high volume of threatening and hostile communications.”

In Defense of Animals and Our Honor, organizations which amplified students' concerns, firmly condemn any threats or acts of violence.

“We do not approve of any threats of violence,” said Dr. Crystal Heath, executive director of Our Honor in an Instagram post announcing the news. “As animal advocates, we believe in protecting all animals, including human beings, and that means protecting them from psychological stress as well.”

Advocates argue that terminal laboratories — where healthy animals are subjected to invasive procedures and then killed — cause significant psychological harm and moral distress to the students required to perform them.

“We are grateful that WSU has canceled the horse lab and encourage them to release the horses and goats safely to a sanctuary,” said Fleur Dawes, communications director for In Defense of Animals. “Veterinary medicine should prepare students to serve and heal, not harm. Canceling this lab spares the horses from a needless death and spares the students from the profound moral distress of participating in it. WSU now has a clear path forward to demonstrate ethical leadership by expanding this compassion to the goats as well. We thank our supporters who took nonviolent action to protect these animals and urge them to maintain peaceful pressure on WSU until all animals are safe.”

While the immediate threat to the horses’ lives has been suspended, their future remains uncertain. WSU has not yet confirmed where the horses will go. Furthermore, the university's cancellation statement completely omitted the fate of approximately 60 goats that are also scheduled to be killed in similar terminal training exercises.

Rescue organizations, including Triple J Horse Haven in California, have already offered to take in the horses and provide them with lifelong care at no cost to the university. Similarly, sanctuaries and conservation grazing programs — which use goats to reduce wildfire fuel — are standing by to take the 60 goats.

In Defense of Animals, Our Honor, and the WSU veterinary students who originally blew the whistle are calling on university leadership to formally cancel all remaining terminal labs and release both the horses and the goats to sanctuary immediately.

“We will not rest until the horses are brought safely to a sanctuary,” added Heath.

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Posted on All-Creatures.org: March 17, 2026
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