PETA questions Penn State on nonessential animal research
People For the Ethical Treatment of Animals accused Penn State of likely killing hundreds of animals as part of orders to experimenters to “terminate projects that are underway,” with PETA calling the practice “shameful” in a written statement.
When twice asked whether PETA’s characterization was accurate, if the university had or has plans to kill such animals, a university spokesperson twice declined Thursday to answer directly.
According to PETA, experimenters at Penn State were told to begin preparing for work to be reduced to essential research-related activities due to the global pandemic, meaning no new animal work may be initiated and that current nonessential projects should be terminated.
PETA, an animal-rights organization that’s been accused of being too radical, opposes all animal testing regardless of the benefits. But, in an open letter to Penn State President Eric Barron, the organization questioned why animal testing at Penn State would include nonessential research in the first place.
In response, the university issued a statement to the Centre Daily Times that outlined how animal-testing is important to researchers in “investigating vaccines, treatments and cures for diseases such as cancer, diabetes and various infectious diseases.”
But when asked if such research — involving potential vaccines, cures and treatments — could still fall under the “nonessential” umbrella, or what nonessential experiments might have been discontinued involving animals, the university again to declined to comment.
“Our priority is to conduct research in a way that maintains the public trust and reflects the highest level of respect for research subjects, including humans and animals,” the university’s statement read. “Research projects at Penn State that involve animal subjects follow a strict set of University and federal guidelines that are overseen by the University’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and Animal Resources Program.
“These regulations are in place to support the humane use and care of animals, which includes providing animals with comfortable accommodations and proper veterinary care. This care and guidance continues during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Shalin Gala, PETA’s vice president of International Laboratory Methods, called on Penn State to publicly release several pieces of information — an itemization of experimental protocols that will (and will not) continue as part of the COVID-19 response plan, the number of species of animals that are in experimental protocols and the number of animals that have been or will be destroyed.
PETA also urged the university to discontinue new animal experiments, halt all existing experiments and prove such experiments are “concretely advancing human health.”
It is not known what kind of animals are involved. But, according to PETA, the animals most often used include mice, rats, reptiles and birds.
As of Friday afternoon, PETA said it has not received a response from Penn State — although it remained “hopeful” one would be forthcoming. The open letter was dated Wednesday.
“Our main point in this is, in the wake of this COVID-19 pandemic, we’re asking why these animals are being experimented on in the first place if they’re easily disposed of,” Gala said.
This story was originally published April 25, 2020 at 9:33 AM.
