See PDF

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 9, 2012
Contact: Michael Budkie, SAEN www.saenonline.org, [email protected], (513) 575-5517

Attn: Assignment Desk

Cleveland Lab Drowns Monkey in Toxic Chemicals; Dog Dies without anesthesia; Watchdog Group Demands Federal Fine

CLEVELAND, OH – Recently obtained federal reports reveal major violations of the Animal Welfare Act by a Cleveland area lab in the experimental deaths of a dog and a primate. An Ohio-based Research Watchdog Organization has filed a complaint with a federal regulatory agency and is insisting on the maximum penalties allowably by law.

Federal reports reveal that the Ricerca Biosciences LLC Corporation of Concord (OH) killed two animals negligently while performing toxicity testing. According to documents filed by Ricerca, during a monkey experiment ““Test article was inadvertently instilled into the lungs, which was confirmed by histopathology following necropsy.” This situation would have literally drowned the monkey in toxic chemicals.

A second procedure allowed a dog to die without anesthesia or pain relief. According to the federal report: “Single dose, for rising dose study caused death overnight. The animal was found dead in its cage the following morning.” And it also states that: “Had the animal been found to be in distress at the evening observation, appropriate measures would have been taken to relieve the animal.”

“It is clear that Ricerca Biosciences utilizes Unqualified Personnel and is inadequately staffed causing unnecessary pain and suffering to the animals within this facility,” said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN. “If they can’t even follow the minimal requirements of the Animal Welfare Act, and follow their own procedures correctly, then why should we believe that this facility is capable of performing anything that even roughly resembles science? This lab is not only criminal, but also endangers public health and deserves the largest penalty allowable by law.”

The USDA report is available upon request from SAEN.

-30-

See also:

• USDA - APHIS Report - 2010 - Ricerca Biosciences LLC, Concord, OH
• Letter of Complaint to USDA About Ricerca Biosciences LLC - 9 Jan 2012

Return to Press Releases

We welcome your comments and questions