Laboratory Conditions
NASHVILLE – Recently-obtained federal laboratory violations reports reveal that negligence inside Vanderbilt labs have taken the lives of several animals, while others have had painful brain scraping procedures done without anesthesia.
USDA reports obtained by SAEN (Stop Animal Exploitation NOW) reveal that in January 2007, a rabbit was killed by being run through a cage washer at Vanderbilt. In May of 2007 three cotton rats were killed due to improper handling. Another federal violation report for Vanderbilt describes a primate who was subjected to a painful brain-scrape procedure without benefit of anesthesia or pain relief of any kind.
"“Vanderbilt research staff is clearly ignorant of the basics of proper animal care,”" said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., SAEN’s Executive Director. “This negligence demonstrates that Vanderbilt is clearly a facility which should not be allowed to perform animal experiments.”
According to SAEN (Stop Animal Exploitation NOW) Vanderbilt’s laboratories have piled up 64 federal violations in the last two years, placing them among the nation’s worst laboratories.
In a recent two year period Vanderbilt’'s experimental animal use has climbed by 52% as federal funding of animal experimentation at Vanderbilt has topped $170 million.
"The federal government is virtually powerless to regulate criminal labs and facilities like Vanderbilt know it," added Budkie. "Despite statements to the contrary, it is clear that this university is much more concerned about the roughly $170 million in federal funding that animal experimentation generates than it is about following federal law," he said.
SAEN has contacted Jeanne Wallace, Vanderbilt'’s Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research to demand a tour of all animal laboratories.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Contact: Michael Budkie, SAEN, 513-575-5517; 513-703-9865 (cell) www.saenonline.org
