TRS Laboratories, Athens, GA
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TRS Laboratories, Athens, GA
Letter of Complaint - 29 May 2012
See PDF
May 29, 2012
FROM:
SAEN
1081-B St. Rt. 28 #280
Milford, Ohio 45150
513-575-5517
www.saenonline.org
TO:
Elizabeth Goldentyer
USDA/APHIS/AC
920 Main Campus Drive, Suite 2000
Raleigh, NC 27606
Dr. Goldentyer,
I am writing to you today to file an Official Complaint against the TRS lab oratories corporation of Athens (GA 57-R-0015). This facility recently killed several animals through negligence and I officially request that they be issued the largest fine allowable under the law.
As you know, two recent USDA inspection reports dated list a total of 10 separate violations at this facility. These include both repeat and direct violations. This is an extremely high number of non-compliances for one facility in such a short time. Additionally, the violations are severe in nature, leading to the deaths of several animals and extreme suffering for others. Several of the animals had “severe bite wounds.” Others died in cages without access to water. Yet others showed signs of significant bacterial infections.
While the inspection report cites this facility for improper veterinary care lists that 14 animals were overcrowded in an enclosure without water, this incident could also potentially demonstrate untrained/unqualified personnel potentially violating another section of the Animal Welfare Act: 2.32 Personnel Qualifications, etc. It is vitally important that this facility also be cited for all other relevant violations, especially for Unqualified Personnel, because clearly if the staff of this lab were qualified and/or adequately trained, this monstrous incident would not have happened.
I know that your office considers major violations of the Animal Welfare Act to be very serious in nature, especially when these violations take the lives of animals. The treatment of animals at this facility illustrates attitudes of carelessness and negligence that must be punished so that meaningful changes can be made. Therefore, I also insist that you take the most severe action allowable under the Animal Welfare Act and immediately begin the process of issuing a fine against TRS Labs at the completion of your investigation.
I look forward to hearing from you in the near future about the fate of this facility.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T.,
Executive Director, SAEN
Attachments: 3-8-12 and 4-24-12 TRS Labs Inspection Reports
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Rats, mice, birds, amphibians and other animals have been excluded from
coverage by the Animal Welfare Act. Therefore research facility reports
do not include these animals. As a result of this situation, a blank
report, or one with few animals listed, does not mean that a facility
has not performed experiments on non-reportable animals. A blank form
does mean that the facility in question has not used covered animals
(primates, dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, pigs, sheep,
goats, etc.). Rats and mice alone are believed to comprise over 90% of
the animals used in experimentation. Therefore the majority of animals
used at research facilities are not even counted.
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