Congress Tackles Animal Research Rules

[RamboLiberal]

Source: ABC News/AP

It's the nightmare of pet lovers everywhere: Their beloved Fido or Whiskers gets lost, is scooped up by animal thieves, then sold to be dissected in a university research lab.

The Humane Society of the United States estimates that every year middlemen known as "Class B" animal dealers round up about 18,000 dogs and cats through flea markets and free-to-good-home ads, and then sell them to laboratories and university research labs.

In the process, it says lost pets are rounded up, too.

Now that Congress has undergone a change in leadership, the animal advocacy group hopes lawmakers will make it illegal for "Class B" dealers to sell "random source" cats and dogs to research labs.

The proposed ban is dubbed "Buck's Bill" in honor of Buck, a black hound dog seized in 2003 in Oklahoma from a dealer. Buck, who had heartworm disease and other ailments, died of internal hemorrhaging months after his rescue, while in foster care.


In this photo provided by Last Chance for Animals, shown is Buck, a mistreated black hound dog seized in 2003 from a "Class B" dealer in Oklahoma, who later died. The Humane Society is advocating legislation dubbed "Buck's Bill" the would ban "Class B" dealers in 11 states from using questionable and sometimes illegal practices to round up about 18,000 dogs and cats annually at flea markets, from free-to-good-home ads and through other means to sell to research labs.(AP Photo/Last Chance for Animals)


Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=3173232

[Mojorabbit]

1. This stuff breaks my heart

look at that sweet face.

[piesRsquare]

2. Go HSUS!

The Humane Society is awesome. They've got some incredibly sharp people in their ranks, and do absolutely amazing work. I was deployed to New Orleans by HSUS.

If you ever plan to donate to an animal welfare organization, donate to HSUS.

[doodadem]

3. There's some truly horrible documentation

From an animal rights group that went underground to get themselves hired by Huntington Labs (google it--I can't remember the web address). The absolute worst was this lab started using Beagles as their research animal of choice, because they would take all of this abuse, yet still be quietly compliant to experimentation--even to the point of licking their hands.

They used to use Greyhounds off the track for the same reason. I can't take it--I read this stuff, and I just start bawling.

[The Stranger]

6. That is truly horrifying -- I can't believe it has taken this long to act.

[The Stranger]

4. K&R

[The Stranger]

5. Again