UW-Madison May Be in Frank Violation the Animal Welfare Act

Using their public records request on-line portal, I submitted a public records request to the University of Wisconsin, Madison on December 19, 2020.

Please send me a copy (or copies) of the university's primate psychological enhancement plan (or plans) and any exemptions that have been granted from January 1, 2020 to present. (For reference see 9 CFR § 3.81).

Thanks in advance,

Rick Bogle

Almost 5 months later, I’m still waiting.

9 CFR § 3.81:

§ 3.81 Environment enhancement to promote psychological well-being.

Dealers, exhibitors, and research facilities must develop, document, and follow an appropriate plan for environment enhancement adequate to promote the psychological well-being of nonhuman primates. The plan must be in accordance with the currently accepted professional standards as cited in appropriate professional journals or reference guides, and as directed by the attending veterinarian. This plan must be made available to APHIS upon request, and, in the case of research facilities, to officials of any pertinent funding agency.

If the plan must be made available to APHIS upon request, it seems that the plan must be readily available. (APHIS, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, is a small branch of the USDA. APHIS is charged with oversight of compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, of which § 3.81 is a part.)

Why hasn’t the university sent me a copy of their primate psychological enhancement plan or plans?

The University of Wisconsin is odd in a number of ways, but particularly so with regard to the use of monkeys. Numerous vivisectors across campus use these animals. Maybe the School of Medicine and Public Health, where the infamous Michele Basso experimented on monkeys, has its own plan. Maybe the infamous Harlow Center for Biological Psychology (aka, the Harlow Lab) has its own plan. And maybe the University of Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, just across the street from the Harlow lab, has its own plan. Who knows? Maybe they don’t have a plan? Maybe they are writing one right now?

In any case, a four month-long delay in sending me a document that they are legally required to have on-hand doesn’t instill a lot of confidence. It suggests to me that they are breaking the law by not having a plan, can’t find it (which means that no one ever looks at it), or are afraid I will read it and write about it, or.... Honestly, I can’t come up with another scenario to explain their delay.