Animals in Research News Martin Stephens, Ph.D. on the Science of Alternatives in Animal Research April 1, 2008 ©The HSUS Martin Stephens by Nancy Lawson As the vice president of Animal Research Issues for The Humane Society of the United States, Martin Stephens, Ph.D., is a scientist working to change the nature of scientific inquiry. A trained biologist, he believes that sophi... full article Year of the Rat February 29, 2008 iStock.com Chinese New Year celebrations may have ended, but the Year of the Rat is just beginning, creating the perfect opportunity to celebrate this often overlooked and misunderstood rodent. By Michelle Jacmenovic According to the Chinese lunar calendar, 2008 is the Year of the Rat and m... full article Buzz about Alternatives at the Sixth World Congress September 13, 2007 The HSUS Animal Memorial Service at Sixth World Congress By Andrew Rowan It sometimes seems as though the implementation of alternatives to laboratory animals is all talk and no action. But, the recent 6th World Congress on Alternatives & Animal Use in the Life Sciences, held in Tokyo, Jap... full article House of Representatives Approves Farm Bill Amendment August 1, 2007 iStockphoto Pets and animals in labs would benefit from the Farm Bill Amendment On July 26, 2007, the United States House of Representatives passed an amendment to the Farm Bill that would strengthen federal protections for pets and animals used in laboratories. The amendment—proposed by Rep... full article UNM Experiment Shows Need for Improved Accountability in Research June 8, 2007 iStockphoto Mice are not covered under the Animal Welfare Act In an experiment performed at University of New Mexcio, mice were forced to swim until nearly drowning, hung by their tails with adhesive tape, and electrically shocked, all to measure hopelessness and depression. What's worse, this so-cal... full article Breeding of Government Owned Chimpanzees for Research Comes to an End May 24, 2007 The HSUS Kitty, once used for breeding, now lives at Black Beauty Ranch The National Institutes of Health's National Center for Research Resources' announced its decision to permanently end breeding of government-owned chimpanzees for research May 22. The decision won praise from The... full article Rachel Carson and Laboratory Animal Welfare May 18, 2007 Dogs and cats are still used in research today. By Bernard Unti In 1959, author and animal advocate Ann Cottrell Free made Rachel Carson aware that the Food and Drug Administration was keeping hundreds of beagle hounds for years in small cages, with no chance for exercise, in the sub-basement of a ... full article The HSUS Reveals Results Of Survey On Class B Dealers May 15, 2007 Last Chance for Animals Dog rescued from a B dealer facility. The use of dogs and cats in laboratories has declined by more than two-thirds; from highs of 210,330 dogs and 70,468 cats in 1976 to lows of 66,610 dogs and 22,921 cats in 2005 (the most recent year for which data is availab... full article Animal Welfare Act on the Mend May 11, 2007 iStockphoto 20-25 million animals are used per year in research Legislation introduced earlier this week would prohibit the use of live animals in sales and marketing demonstrations of medical devices and products. United States Representatives Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) introduce... full article Pet Safety and Protection Act Introduced March 2, 2007 Last Chance for Animals Emaciated dog at a former Class B dealer facility By Stephanie Edwards Federal lawmakers have introduced legislation to prevent family pets from being collected by middlemen and sold for use in laboratory research. The Pet Safety and Protection Act  ... full article Demo Dog's Death Spurs Call for Stronger Law January 29, 2007 By Dawn McPherson In light of the recent death of a dog following a demonstration at an Ohio medical center, The HSUS is calling on the U.S. Congress to amend the Animal Welfare Act to bar the use of live animals in medical sales demonstrations. The death occurred as a result of an unauthorized... full article Working to Help Animals In Research: 2006 Highlights January 15, 2007 In 2006, The HSUS worked hard to protect animals used in research, testing and education and to promote alternative methods. Below are a few examples where The HSUS' efforts helped to move these issues forward. In many of these cases, HSUS constituents helped to make a difference, through timely calls... full article Military Uses Pigs in Trauma Training December 20, 2006 By Dawn McPherson A recent article in The New York Times has reignited the controversy over the U.S. Department of Defense's long-standing practice of using animals in military experiments and training exercises. The Nov. 2 article featured a Navy medic recounting his participation in a trauma training... full article Shop Humanely This Holiday: Avoid Products Tested on Animals December 8, 2006 By Stephanie Edwards Whether you're shopping for loved ones on your list or buying yourself a little treat this holiday season, remember the animals who are used in testing products. Many cosmetics and household goods are tested on rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and mice, even though it is not required. ... full article ICCVAM to Hold Workshop On Alternatives November 1, 2006 By Loree Talley The pivot point in The HSUS campaign to end animal use in testing Botox® and Botox® Cosmetic is fast approaching. The current testing, conducted on mice, is painful and typically results in half of the animals dying. On Nov. 13 and 14, the U.S. government will hos... full article Chimpanzees Star in 25th Anniversary of "Nature" October 27, 2006 By Stephanie Edwards The chimpanzee—human's closest relative—is in the spotlight as PBS celebrates the 25th anniversary of its acclaimed series "Nature", Sunday, Nov. 5. "Chimpanzees: An Unnatural History," by award-winning filmmaker Allison Argon, tells the heart-wrenching stories of chimpanzees rescu... full article William Russell Dies at 81 September 13, 2006 William Russell, one of the primary architects of the modern approach to laboratory animal welfare, died in Reading, England on July 27. He was 81. Russell co-authored the 1959 book The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique, which introduced the "Three R's" of laboratory animal welfare: Wherever s... full article Class B Dealer Sentenced August 30, 2006 By Stephanie Edwards Chester C. (C.C.) Baird, an animal dealer who pled guilty to money laundering in connection with the sale of dogs and cats to research facilities using false acquisition records, was sentenced July 14 to three years of probation and six months of home detention. He was also fined $7,500. ... full article Permit Could Allow Research on Endangered Monkeys August 3, 2006 By Stephanie Edwards Yerkes National Primate Research Center has announced plans to conduct biomedical research on an endangered species of monkey—the sooty mangabey—according to the U.S. Federal Register. Research on endangered species is prohibited by the U.S. Endangered Species Act unless there... full article Outsourcing of Primate Research Puts Animal Welfare in Question July 17, 2006 By Stephanie Edwards In response to the high cost of buying and using monkeys for animal research in the United States, some researchers are looking abroad for a cheaper option. Unfortunately, many of the countries where scientists can buy and use animals at a lower cost also have lower standards of ... full article The Public Has Spoken: Chimpanzees Deserve to be Retired July 6, 2006 The public has spoken: Seventy-one percent of Americans believe that chimpanzees who have spent more than 10 years in research laboratories deserve to be retired to permanent sanctuary, according to a recent independent public opinion survey. Despite this public sentiment, nearly 90 percent of the chimpa... full article Heart Failure Caused Chimpanzee's Death at Sanctuary May 25, 2006 By Stephanie Edwards The death of Bobby, a 19-year-old chimpanzee who lived at the Primarily Primates animal sanctuary near San Antonio, Texas, was caused by congestive heart failure, according to a recently released pathology report. Bobby was the second chimpanzee to die following the relocation of nine chim... full article Handle with Care- A Cautionary Tale of Chimpanzees April 20, 2006 By Stephanie Edwards The use of chimpanzees in research has been declining over the past decade for several reasons, including the high cost of maintaining chimpanzees, ethical concerns over experimenting on a species so closely related to humans, and failed attempts to use chimpanzees as research models for h... full article Federal Agency Takes on Animal Testing of Botox® Cosmetic February 17, 2006 Imagine that you are one of the animals unfortunate enough to be used in assessing the potency of new batches of Botox® Cosmetic. A popular anti-wrinkle treatment, Botox Cosmetic's active ingredient—Botulinum toxin—is one of the most poisonous of known substances. First, the toxic su... full article Class B Dog and Cat Dealers Are No Friends to the Animals February 15, 2006 By Stephanie Edwards In the shadowy world of Class B dog and cat dealers, an animal’s life can be harsh and unrelenting. Animals may suffer from crowded and unsanitary conditions, poor food, and insufficient water. Veterinary care may be nonexistent. They may not even survive their time in a Class B... full article