2/22/2022
USDA/APHIS/AC
920 Main Campus Drive Suite 200
Raleigh, NC 27606-5210
To Whom It May Concern,
On April 15, 2020, USDA issued a citation and imposed a monetary fine on the University of Wisconsin-Madison for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act which occurred from March 4, 2015 through April 25, 2019. See:
Reference Number: WI160011-AC, WI170003-AC
Issuance Date: April 15, 2020
Version: Final
The cited violations occurred over a period just short of four years: from March 4, 2015 to April 25, 2019. The violations involved at least 67 animals of covered species; the overwhelming majority were monkeys injured during routine housekeeping and husbandry. The last reported violation involving monkeys stated that three monkeys were left without water for four days. One was euthanized as a result.
The citation and fine have not had a noticeable effect on the rate or severity of violations occurring at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Since April 25, 2019, to January 18, 2022 a period of just under 3 years, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has reported additional violations involving 50 animals of covered species to the National Institutes of Health’s Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). The frequency and severity of the violations has remained constant.
Presumably, the citation and fine were imposed to encourage the University of Wisconsin-Madison to improve its animal care and compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and the applicable regulations and standards. This has not happened.
I trust you will revisit the intent of April 15, 2020 citation and look carefully at the continuing violations occurring at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. That fine did not lead to a reduction in violations.
Please take all necessary steps to persuade the University of Wisconsin-Madison to comply with the applicable regulations and standards of the Animal Welfare Act.
Sincerely,
Rick Bogle
5133 Maher Ave
Madison, WI 53716
rick.bogle@gmail.com
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
University of Wisconsin-Madison's Violations of the Animal Welfare Act Keep Coming
2/22/2022
On April 15, 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture cited the University of Wisconsin-Madison for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA)* and fined the university $74,000.
The cited violations occurred over a period just short of four years: from March 4, 2015 to April 25, 2019. The violations involved at least 67 animals of covered species; the overwhelming majority were monkeys injured during routine housekeeping and husbandry. The last reported violation involving monkeys stated that three monkeys were left without water for four days. One was euthanized.
The last violation in the citation was dated April 25, 2019. It involved three cages of mice who were left unfed for three days. One mouse had been partially cannibalized; that mouse had hair, paper, and bedding in their stomach. A second mouse was euthanized. (The overwhelming majority of mice used are not covered by the Animal Welfare Act. The mice in the citation were members of a species that is covered.)
Since April 25, 2019, to January 18, 2022 a period of just under 3 years, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has reported additional violations involving 50 animals of covered species. The frequency and severity of the violations has remained constant. The USDA Office of the Inspector Generals has reported that large institutions using animals covered by the Animal Welfare Act see these fines as a mere “cost of doing business.”
*United States Department of Agriculture, U. States Department of Agriculture, & Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, A. and Plant Health Inspection Service. (2017). USDA Animal Care: Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations.
On April 15, 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture cited the University of Wisconsin-Madison for multiple violations of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA)* and fined the university $74,000.
The cited violations occurred over a period just short of four years: from March 4, 2015 to April 25, 2019. The violations involved at least 67 animals of covered species; the overwhelming majority were monkeys injured during routine housekeeping and husbandry. The last reported violation involving monkeys stated that three monkeys were left without water for four days. One was euthanized.
The last violation in the citation was dated April 25, 2019. It involved three cages of mice who were left unfed for three days. One mouse had been partially cannibalized; that mouse had hair, paper, and bedding in their stomach. A second mouse was euthanized. (The overwhelming majority of mice used are not covered by the Animal Welfare Act. The mice in the citation were members of a species that is covered.)
Since April 25, 2019, to January 18, 2022 a period of just under 3 years, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has reported additional violations involving 50 animals of covered species. The frequency and severity of the violations has remained constant. The USDA Office of the Inspector Generals has reported that large institutions using animals covered by the Animal Welfare Act see these fines as a mere “cost of doing business.”
*United States Department of Agriculture, U. States Department of Agriculture, & Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, A. and Plant Health Inspection Service. (2017). USDA Animal Care: Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations.
Saturday, February 19, 2022
PHS self-report(s) 11A to 11Z
UW-Madison's
PHS self-reports
11A
6/1/2021
"... OLAW understands that on March 26, 2021, an adult macaque that was one-day post-op recieved its analgesic dose five hours later than scheduled when a veterinary technician tasked with administering the dose failed to remember the treatment.
"Corrective and preventative measures include the WNPRC considering how missed treatment alerts can be communicated in a timelier fashion via text to reduce the chance of similar events occurring in the future."
"The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin-Madison was consistent with the philosophy of self-regulation. Similarly, the pending action to resolve the issue and prevent recurrence is appropriate."
11B
6/1/2021
"... OLAW understands that on March 18, 2021, a macaque sustained an injury that required veterinary intervention when it exited its enclosure while an animal caretaker was transferring the animal for cage sanitation.
"Corrective an preventative measures include WNPRC making improvements to transport devices to reduce the chance of a similar even occurring in the future."
"The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin-Madison was consistent with the philosophy of self-regulation. Similarly, the pending action to resolve the issue and prevent recurrence is appropriate."
11C
7/20/2021
"... OLAW understands that over a 6-day period, an adult macaque received once daily doses of expired insulin."
"The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin-Madison was consistent with the philosophy of self-regulation. Similarly, the pending action to resolve the issue and prevent recurrence is appropriate."
11D
9/1/2021
"... OLAW understands that an infant macaque in the WNPRC nursery received its [sic] last PM handfeeding via bottle, but the caretaker forgot to provide the remainder of the bottle in the incubator for overnight self-feeding."
"Corrective and preventative measures included adding a new column to the Infant Care sheet to document that the bottle has been placed in the incubator...".
"The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin-Madison was consistent with the philosophy of self-regulation. Similarly, the pending action to resolve the issue and prevent recurrence were appropriate."
11E
9/3/2021
"... OLAW understands that on May 29, 2021, at the WNPRC, after handfeeding a 3-day old infant marmoset, an animal caretaker returned the infant to the nest box with its [sic throughout] sibling and mother but failed to return the the nest box to the home enclosure. Upon discovery the next morning, the nest box was returned to the home enclosure. During the overnight period the dam and offspring had no access to water but both infants had access to their mother overnight. One infant was euthanized later that day due to a poor prognosis for survival. The other infant is alive and healthy. In-room checks had already been performed prior to the last suplimental feeding."
"The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin-Madison was consistent with the philosophy of self-regulation. Similarly, the pending action to resolve the issue and prevent recurrence were appropriate."
11F Missing (These missing cases are "open cases." That is, OLAW is still involved in conversation with the university regarding the problems they reported or that OLAW became aware of as a result of the undercover investigation. See Case 10K.
11G Missing
11H Missing
11I Missing
11J
9/15/2021
This case was opened in response to a complaint to OLAW by Rise for Animals (previously the New England Anti-Vivisection Society) regarding WNPRC's failure to adequately monitor blood-draw volumes. The project appears to be a privately funded project involving the Zika virus which means that the screw-ups were probably in Thomas Friedrich's lab. There are multiple documents in the file.
11K Missing
11L
12/3/2021
"... OLAW understands that several corrective and preventative measures were taken. A new SOP was created detailing requirements for proper labeling, checking, and disposal of expired drugs.... Retraining was also provided...
"In this incident, for 36 days two adult macaques received doses of expired oral acetaminiphen because the expiration date written on the bottle was mislabeled.
11M
10/18/2021
From a letter to OLAW from from Daniel Uhlrich, School of Medicine and Public Health and SMPH IACUC, and Nadine Connor, associate vice chancellor for research policy and compliance in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education:
"A laboratory was performing a non-surgical procedure on rabbits to infect their eyes with an experimental agent. The protocol calls for the use of topical anesthetic drops on the eyes. However, the team discovered that their topical anesthetic had expired. Since the experiments were in-progress, the lab decided to withold the topical anesthetic rathter than use the expired drug."
"OLAW appreciates the prompt consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin-Madison which is consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation."
This file includes a copy of the university's "Animal User Orientation" on-line brochure.
11N
10/15/2021
"... this Office understands that the University of Wisconsin Animal Care and Committee (ACUC) determined that instances of noncompliance occurred with respect to ... lack of food in cage housing animals.... A room housing six Peromyscus leukopus mice was identified with a door husbandry sheet that was not checked off by laboratory personnel from June 26 to 29, 2021. It is stated that one cage did not have food present but no animals appeared harmed and no deaths occurred.
Retraining of the laboratory personnel and PI was completed by the Research Veterinatian and facility supervisor....\
We appreciare being informed of the matters and find no cause for further action by this Office."
11O
11/10/2021
"... this Office understands that the University of Wisconsin Animal Care and Committee (ACUC) determined that an adverse event occurred with respect to: a nonhuman primate that sustained an injury to its hand within its enclosure ... An adult macaque was discovered with its left hand caught between a perch and the wall... In response, the animal was extricated and required amputation of two digits on the left hand....
We appreciare being informed of the matters and find no cause for further action by this Office."
11P
11/10/2021
"... this Office understands that the University of Wisconsin Animal Care and Committee (ACUC) determined that an adverse event occurred with respect to: the actions of inexperienced animal care personnel resusulting in the injury of a nonhuman primate (adult macaque.) The final report states than an adult macaque sustained an injury to the tip of its tongue. The animal was inadvertently placed in a new enclosure ... which was equipped with a mesh divider rather than a solid divider. As a result the animal was able to make contact with another macaque, which resulted in the injury. It was determined that the animal care technician (ACT) was in training and ... believed they knew what to do. ... the ACT was immediately trained...
We appreciate being informed of the matters and find no cause for further action by this Office."
11Q
1/4/2022
"OLAW understands that in August 2021, a macaque received an overdose of an agent prescribed for diabetes mellitus when a more concentrated formulation of the agent was given than what was prescribed. ... this occurred because a more concentrated version of the agent was ordered, but the concentration was not changed in the electronic health records (RHR) system... The animal was not adversly affectged by the inadvertent overdose.
We appreciate being informed of the matters and find no cause for further action by this Office."
11R
1/4/2022
"OLAW understands that four rats died approximately 10 minutes following administration of a combination of ketamine and xylazine being used to anesthetize animals for a protocol-approved procedure. The dose, and route of the administration were the same as had previously been given successfully and followed the protocol description. After remixing the drug, four rats underwent anesthesia with no complications. ...it was determined that the likely cause was a mixing error. The veterinary technician involved underwent retraining... Appoximately three weeks later, two rats died in a similar incident. ...
"The veterinary technician involved has undergone further retraining...
"The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin-Madison was consistent with the philosophy of self-regulation. Similarly, the pending action to resolve the issue and prevent recurrence were appropriate."
11S
2/1/2022
"... OLAW understands that on 11/10/2021, a water line was found to not be properly secured to a mouse rack. The flexible line was attached to give the appearance of being properly in place, and there was no water leakage at the attachment point. Howeve, the line not secured sufficiently to supply the rack with an appropriate amount of water. Ten mice were reported dead secondary to the incident.
The animal facility supervisor re-checked all the water lines in the facility after the event and provided retraining to animal care staff on properly securing and checking water line attachments.
... The consideration of this incident by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
11T
1/4/2022
"... OLAW understands that an infant macaque received an overdose of midazolam during a 24-hr procedure due to miscommunication between veterinary personnel....
... The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
11U
1/4/2022
"... OLAW understands that an adult female macaque was reported for trauma to her tail which required nonsteroidal anti-inflamatory treatment as well as primary closure with sutures. Several days after primary closure, some of the sutures dehised [the wound opened inspite of the sutures] and antibiotics were added to the treatment regimen. The animal received antibiotics for the first three days, but the final two days of antibiotic were administered to the the animal's cage mate. Despite missing the last two days of treatment, the animal's tail wound healed well.... the veterinary technician responsible for the antibiotic treatment for the wrong animal no longer is employed by the WNPRC.
... The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
11V
1/4/2022
"... OLAW understands that on October 26, 2021, an adult make macaque received an IV infusion of an immunologig agent as described in the protocol. At the end of the infusion, the IV catheter was supposed to be flushed with saline but was inadvertently with a small portion of of the same animal's anti-retroviral theropy dose which was supposd to be delivered subcutaneously.
... The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
11W
1/4/2022
"... OLAW understands that an adult make macaque did not receive its prescribed valium treatment for self-directed behavior. The one missed treaatment did not result in an increase in the self-directed behavior as the animal was currentlty receiving more than one agent to combat the unwanted behavior.
... The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
11X
1/18/2022
"... OLAW understands that two macaques were treated with an antiobiotic for for experimental reasons as suggested by a veterinarian. This antibiotic treatment was not indicated in the protocol....
The consideration of this unfortunate incident by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
11Y
1/18/2022
"... OLAW understands that on December 7, 2021, an adolescent macaque escaped it' primary enclosure when the animals living in the enclosure defeated the welds on the feeding door. While out of the enclosure, the animal sustrained superficial injuries that required veterinary intervention with a non-steroidal anti-inflamitory. The animal recovered....
The consideration of this unfortunate incident by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
11Z
1/18/2022
"... OLAW understands that an adolescent macaque was found entrapped within an enrichment device. The animal was immediately removed upon discovery and CPR was initiated but was unsuccessful....
The enrichment device in question and similar devices at the facility were removed from the large social enclosures to prevent recurrence of a similar event....
The consideration of this unfortunate incident by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
PHS self-reports
11A
6/1/2021
"... OLAW understands that on March 26, 2021, an adult macaque that was one-day post-op recieved its analgesic dose five hours later than scheduled when a veterinary technician tasked with administering the dose failed to remember the treatment.
"Corrective and preventative measures include the WNPRC considering how missed treatment alerts can be communicated in a timelier fashion via text to reduce the chance of similar events occurring in the future."
"The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin-Madison was consistent with the philosophy of self-regulation. Similarly, the pending action to resolve the issue and prevent recurrence is appropriate."
11B
6/1/2021
"... OLAW understands that on March 18, 2021, a macaque sustained an injury that required veterinary intervention when it exited its enclosure while an animal caretaker was transferring the animal for cage sanitation.
"Corrective an preventative measures include WNPRC making improvements to transport devices to reduce the chance of a similar even occurring in the future."
"The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin-Madison was consistent with the philosophy of self-regulation. Similarly, the pending action to resolve the issue and prevent recurrence is appropriate."
11C
7/20/2021
"... OLAW understands that over a 6-day period, an adult macaque received once daily doses of expired insulin."
"The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin-Madison was consistent with the philosophy of self-regulation. Similarly, the pending action to resolve the issue and prevent recurrence is appropriate."
11D
9/1/2021
"... OLAW understands that an infant macaque in the WNPRC nursery received its [sic] last PM handfeeding via bottle, but the caretaker forgot to provide the remainder of the bottle in the incubator for overnight self-feeding."
"Corrective and preventative measures included adding a new column to the Infant Care sheet to document that the bottle has been placed in the incubator...".
"The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin-Madison was consistent with the philosophy of self-regulation. Similarly, the pending action to resolve the issue and prevent recurrence were appropriate."
11E
9/3/2021
"... OLAW understands that on May 29, 2021, at the WNPRC, after handfeeding a 3-day old infant marmoset, an animal caretaker returned the infant to the nest box with its [sic throughout] sibling and mother but failed to return the the nest box to the home enclosure. Upon discovery the next morning, the nest box was returned to the home enclosure. During the overnight period the dam and offspring had no access to water but both infants had access to their mother overnight. One infant was euthanized later that day due to a poor prognosis for survival. The other infant is alive and healthy. In-room checks had already been performed prior to the last suplimental feeding."
"The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin-Madison was consistent with the philosophy of self-regulation. Similarly, the pending action to resolve the issue and prevent recurrence were appropriate."
11F Missing (These missing cases are "open cases." That is, OLAW is still involved in conversation with the university regarding the problems they reported or that OLAW became aware of as a result of the undercover investigation. See Case 10K.
11G Missing
11H Missing
11I Missing
11J
9/15/2021
This case was opened in response to a complaint to OLAW by Rise for Animals (previously the New England Anti-Vivisection Society) regarding WNPRC's failure to adequately monitor blood-draw volumes. The project appears to be a privately funded project involving the Zika virus which means that the screw-ups were probably in Thomas Friedrich's lab. There are multiple documents in the file.
11K Missing
11L
12/3/2021
"... OLAW understands that several corrective and preventative measures were taken. A new SOP was created detailing requirements for proper labeling, checking, and disposal of expired drugs.... Retraining was also provided...
"In this incident, for 36 days two adult macaques received doses of expired oral acetaminiphen because the expiration date written on the bottle was mislabeled.
11M
10/18/2021
From a letter to OLAW from from Daniel Uhlrich, School of Medicine and Public Health and SMPH IACUC, and Nadine Connor, associate vice chancellor for research policy and compliance in the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education:
"A laboratory was performing a non-surgical procedure on rabbits to infect their eyes with an experimental agent. The protocol calls for the use of topical anesthetic drops on the eyes. However, the team discovered that their topical anesthetic had expired. Since the experiments were in-progress, the lab decided to withold the topical anesthetic rathter than use the expired drug."
"OLAW appreciates the prompt consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin-Madison which is consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation."
This file includes a copy of the university's "Animal User Orientation" on-line brochure.
11N
10/15/2021
"... this Office understands that the University of Wisconsin Animal Care and Committee (ACUC) determined that instances of noncompliance occurred with respect to ... lack of food in cage housing animals.... A room housing six Peromyscus leukopus mice was identified with a door husbandry sheet that was not checked off by laboratory personnel from June 26 to 29, 2021. It is stated that one cage did not have food present but no animals appeared harmed and no deaths occurred.
Retraining of the laboratory personnel and PI was completed by the Research Veterinatian and facility supervisor....\
We appreciare being informed of the matters and find no cause for further action by this Office."
11O
11/10/2021
"... this Office understands that the University of Wisconsin Animal Care and Committee (ACUC) determined that an adverse event occurred with respect to: a nonhuman primate that sustained an injury to its hand within its enclosure ... An adult macaque was discovered with its left hand caught between a perch and the wall... In response, the animal was extricated and required amputation of two digits on the left hand....
We appreciare being informed of the matters and find no cause for further action by this Office."
11P
11/10/2021
"... this Office understands that the University of Wisconsin Animal Care and Committee (ACUC) determined that an adverse event occurred with respect to: the actions of inexperienced animal care personnel resusulting in the injury of a nonhuman primate (adult macaque.) The final report states than an adult macaque sustained an injury to the tip of its tongue. The animal was inadvertently placed in a new enclosure ... which was equipped with a mesh divider rather than a solid divider. As a result the animal was able to make contact with another macaque, which resulted in the injury. It was determined that the animal care technician (ACT) was in training and ... believed they knew what to do. ... the ACT was immediately trained...
We appreciate being informed of the matters and find no cause for further action by this Office."
11Q
1/4/2022
"OLAW understands that in August 2021, a macaque received an overdose of an agent prescribed for diabetes mellitus when a more concentrated formulation of the agent was given than what was prescribed. ... this occurred because a more concentrated version of the agent was ordered, but the concentration was not changed in the electronic health records (RHR) system... The animal was not adversly affectged by the inadvertent overdose.
We appreciate being informed of the matters and find no cause for further action by this Office."
11R
1/4/2022
"OLAW understands that four rats died approximately 10 minutes following administration of a combination of ketamine and xylazine being used to anesthetize animals for a protocol-approved procedure. The dose, and route of the administration were the same as had previously been given successfully and followed the protocol description. After remixing the drug, four rats underwent anesthesia with no complications. ...it was determined that the likely cause was a mixing error. The veterinary technician involved underwent retraining... Appoximately three weeks later, two rats died in a similar incident. ...
"The veterinary technician involved has undergone further retraining...
"The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin-Madison was consistent with the philosophy of self-regulation. Similarly, the pending action to resolve the issue and prevent recurrence were appropriate."
11S
2/1/2022
"... OLAW understands that on 11/10/2021, a water line was found to not be properly secured to a mouse rack. The flexible line was attached to give the appearance of being properly in place, and there was no water leakage at the attachment point. Howeve, the line not secured sufficiently to supply the rack with an appropriate amount of water. Ten mice were reported dead secondary to the incident.
The animal facility supervisor re-checked all the water lines in the facility after the event and provided retraining to animal care staff on properly securing and checking water line attachments.
... The consideration of this incident by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
11T
1/4/2022
"... OLAW understands that an infant macaque received an overdose of midazolam during a 24-hr procedure due to miscommunication between veterinary personnel....
... The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
11U
1/4/2022
"... OLAW understands that an adult female macaque was reported for trauma to her tail which required nonsteroidal anti-inflamatory treatment as well as primary closure with sutures. Several days after primary closure, some of the sutures dehised [the wound opened inspite of the sutures] and antibiotics were added to the treatment regimen. The animal received antibiotics for the first three days, but the final two days of antibiotic were administered to the the animal's cage mate. Despite missing the last two days of treatment, the animal's tail wound healed well.... the veterinary technician responsible for the antibiotic treatment for the wrong animal no longer is employed by the WNPRC.
... The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
11V
1/4/2022
"... OLAW understands that on October 26, 2021, an adult make macaque received an IV infusion of an immunologig agent as described in the protocol. At the end of the infusion, the IV catheter was supposed to be flushed with saline but was inadvertently with a small portion of of the same animal's anti-retroviral theropy dose which was supposd to be delivered subcutaneously.
... The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
11W
1/4/2022
"... OLAW understands that an adult make macaque did not receive its prescribed valium treatment for self-directed behavior. The one missed treaatment did not result in an increase in the self-directed behavior as the animal was currentlty receiving more than one agent to combat the unwanted behavior.
... The consideration of this matter by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
11X
1/18/2022
"... OLAW understands that two macaques were treated with an antiobiotic for for experimental reasons as suggested by a veterinarian. This antibiotic treatment was not indicated in the protocol....
The consideration of this unfortunate incident by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
11Y
1/18/2022
"... OLAW understands that on December 7, 2021, an adolescent macaque escaped it' primary enclosure when the animals living in the enclosure defeated the welds on the feeding door. While out of the enclosure, the animal sustrained superficial injuries that required veterinary intervention with a non-steroidal anti-inflamitory. The animal recovered....
The consideration of this unfortunate incident by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
11Z
1/18/2022
"... OLAW understands that an adolescent macaque was found entrapped within an enrichment device. The animal was immediately removed upon discovery and CPR was initiated but was unsuccessful....
The enrichment device in question and similar devices at the facility were removed from the large social enclosures to prevent recurrence of a similar event....
The consideration of this unfortunate incident by the University of Wisconsin - Madison was consistent with the philosophy of institutional self-regulation.... We... find no cause for further action by this office."
Sunday, January 23, 2022
There are 15 described races of the dark-eyed junco
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, there are 15 described races of the Dark-eyed Junco.
I worry that the idea promoted by Critical Race Theory - that there is no such thing as race - is a detriment to the advancement of animals' rights.
From what I’ve read about Critical Race Theory (The American Bar Association’s article was helpful), the gist is that racial discrimination is baked into American society and law which results in the perpetuation of the status quo, i.e. racism. I agree.
Anyway, I’m writing to criticize a key tenant of Critical Race Theory because it undermines the notion that the lives and experiences of every non-human sentient being matter. The tenant that alarms me is the notion that “race” is a construct of racist thinking.
This from the American Bar Association:
Race is a synonym of ecotype.
Because of the history of using the word race to justify doing terrible things to others, it might seem smart to coin a new term, but bigots would simply latch on to the new word.
What's clear is that humans are not a homogenous group. Variations exist and the more isolated a group is, the more distinct its members are from other groups.
Here's an interesting article about the ease at which genomes can diverge between isolated groups of humans:
Huge genetic diversity among Papuan New Guinean peoples revealed
Rather than denying the variations in human groups around the world and basing an argument for equal rights and justice on the denial of race, we might be further along if we pointed to the ethically important characteristics and features of what we have in common. Things like wanting to feel safe; to feel that our family is safe. We don’t want to be hurt or imprisoned. We want clean water and a comfortable abode, and good healthful food to name just a few.
The denial of race worries me because it erects another barrier between the acknowlegement of the ethically important similarities shared with us by other species. It is as if we should think of ourselves as being outside of nature. As not being just another animal. This carries dire consequences for those not in the in-group. Consequences that are constantly on display.
What we need to do right now is to fully embrace the Golden Rule and recognize that the others are all those who can suffer. Admittedly, most of us deny that other animals really can suffer or that their suffering matters. Most of us never pause to think about the 20 million chickens killed each day just in the US, but like us, no matter our race, they can and do suffer greatly. Most of us never think about the (literally) trillions of fish caught every year. Most of us don’t give the mice and rats, the dogs and monkeys, the rabbits, hamsters, and all the rest being experimented on every day in the labs even a moment's thought.
In light of our shared ability to be hurt, to be sad, to be frightened, to be happy, to be content, we should stop thinking about our unimportant differences and embrace our commonalities. Therein lies the path to happy residents of a healthy planet.
The unfairness and discrimination some of us face everyday isn't caused by our differences or our race, they are caused by those who want to feel like they are better, more powerful, and more deserving. Denying our differences won't stop mean people from being mean or bullies from bullying, or bigots from being assholes. Our differences make us all richer, we ought not deny them.
The plain fact that humans aren't all exactly the same makes us richer. It would be a profound loss if we no longer noticed or denied our myriad varieties.
I worry that the idea promoted by Critical Race Theory - that there is no such thing as race - is a detriment to the advancement of animals' rights.
From what I’ve read about Critical Race Theory (The American Bar Association’s article was helpful), the gist is that racial discrimination is baked into American society and law which results in the perpetuation of the status quo, i.e. racism. I agree.
Anyway, I’m writing to criticize a key tenant of Critical Race Theory because it undermines the notion that the lives and experiences of every non-human sentient being matter. The tenant that alarms me is the notion that “race” is a construct of racist thinking.
This from the American Bar Association:
Recognition that race is not biologically real but is socially constructed and socially significant. It recognizes that science (as demonstrated in the Human Genome Project) refutes the idea of biological racial differences. According to scholars Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic, race is the product of social thought and is not connected to biological reality.That assertion just isn’t accurate. Scientists who study organisms in nature have long recognized that sometimes there are not well-defined borders or lines of delineation between populations of the organisms they are studying. As the title of this essay notes, there are 15 described races of the Dark-eyed Junco.
Race is a synonym of ecotype.
OxfordDictionaries.com: ec·o·type noun Botany•Zoology noun: ecotype; plural noun: ecotypesThere is no agenda, hidden, unrecognized, or otherwise, in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's observation. Every species changes over time. These changes occur in local interbreeding populations. When, for whatever reason, two populations no longer interbreed these non-interbreeding populations can develop distinct differences. When these variations lead to an inability of members of one group to breed with members of another group, they are considered to be separate species. This is how speciation occurs. This would happen in humans if two populations were unable to interbreed for a long enough period of time. The plain fact that more-or-less isolated groups of humans have diverged in appearance over time is no different than populations of Dark-eyed Juncos looking a little different from each other.
a distinct form or race of a plant or animal species occupying a particular habitat.
Because of the history of using the word race to justify doing terrible things to others, it might seem smart to coin a new term, but bigots would simply latch on to the new word.
What's clear is that humans are not a homogenous group. Variations exist and the more isolated a group is, the more distinct its members are from other groups.
Here's an interesting article about the ease at which genomes can diverge between isolated groups of humans:
Huge genetic diversity among Papuan New Guinean peoples revealed
Rather than denying the variations in human groups around the world and basing an argument for equal rights and justice on the denial of race, we might be further along if we pointed to the ethically important characteristics and features of what we have in common. Things like wanting to feel safe; to feel that our family is safe. We don’t want to be hurt or imprisoned. We want clean water and a comfortable abode, and good healthful food to name just a few.
The denial of race worries me because it erects another barrier between the acknowlegement of the ethically important similarities shared with us by other species. It is as if we should think of ourselves as being outside of nature. As not being just another animal. This carries dire consequences for those not in the in-group. Consequences that are constantly on display.
What we need to do right now is to fully embrace the Golden Rule and recognize that the others are all those who can suffer. Admittedly, most of us deny that other animals really can suffer or that their suffering matters. Most of us never pause to think about the 20 million chickens killed each day just in the US, but like us, no matter our race, they can and do suffer greatly. Most of us never think about the (literally) trillions of fish caught every year. Most of us don’t give the mice and rats, the dogs and monkeys, the rabbits, hamsters, and all the rest being experimented on every day in the labs even a moment's thought.
In light of our shared ability to be hurt, to be sad, to be frightened, to be happy, to be content, we should stop thinking about our unimportant differences and embrace our commonalities. Therein lies the path to happy residents of a healthy planet.
The unfairness and discrimination some of us face everyday isn't caused by our differences or our race, they are caused by those who want to feel like they are better, more powerful, and more deserving. Denying our differences won't stop mean people from being mean or bullies from bullying, or bigots from being assholes. Our differences make us all richer, we ought not deny them.
The plain fact that humans aren't all exactly the same makes us richer. It would be a profound loss if we no longer noticed or denied our myriad varieties.
Friday, January 14, 2022
All Sentient Beings Have Rights
There is no higher moral code than The Golden Rule.
It is evident that all sentient beings are equal insofar as they seek pleasure over pain, comfort over duress, safety over threat or fear, and freedom over imprisonment.
The recognition of these common attributes morally necessitates that those able to discern them should treat others who possess them in ways that avoid their imprisonment, or causing them pain, duress, or fear, in recognition of the harmful emotional and physical experience of those detriments.
The ability to recognize pain, duress, and fear in others carries with it an unavoidable moral obligation to not harm or imprison others capable of pain, duress, or fear.
Thus, those capable of experiencing pain, duress, or fear have the right to live their lives free of imprisonment and free of pain, duress, or fear, caused by those capable of recognizing those detriments in others.
It is evident that all sentient beings are equal insofar as they seek pleasure over pain, comfort over duress, safety over threat or fear, and freedom over imprisonment.
The recognition of these common attributes morally necessitates that those able to discern them should treat others who possess them in ways that avoid their imprisonment, or causing them pain, duress, or fear, in recognition of the harmful emotional and physical experience of those detriments.
The ability to recognize pain, duress, and fear in others carries with it an unavoidable moral obligation to not harm or imprison others capable of pain, duress, or fear.
Thus, those capable of experiencing pain, duress, or fear have the right to live their lives free of imprisonment and free of pain, duress, or fear, caused by those capable of recognizing those detriments in others.
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Cashing In on Childhood Malnutrition
The WHO has an informative factsheet on malnutrition.
I was gathering and summarizing data on the amount of tax money received by primate vivisectors at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2021 [About $35 million for the NIH-Funded projects and about $140 million over the life of the ongoing NIH-funded projects. And an additional $1.2 million that is slated to be awarded through September of 2025 by the National Science Foundation. I can send you a spread sheet if you are interested.] and got to wondering how NIH funding for projects using mice compared with the funding for projects using monkeys. I didn't get too far before I got sidetracked by project 1R21AI156151-01A1, "The role of DNA methylation in dysregulated monocyte immune responses during malnutrition and recovery."
The PIs (Primary Investigators) explain: "The first aim of the study will investigate how two weeks of protein malnutrition, induced by a low protein (5% protein calories) diet, in weaning mice affects the monocyte immune response elicited by bacterial endotoxin.... In the second aim, we will explore the efficacy of different treatment diets supplemented with wheat, milk or peanut proteins administered for six weeks after a two-week period of induced protein malnutrition."
Mice aren't humans. Here's an example of real science studying the treatment of malnutrition.
There is something particularly disturbing about intentionally starving baby animals. It's even worse when it is dressed up and defended with claims about wanting to help children.
I was gathering and summarizing data on the amount of tax money received by primate vivisectors at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2021 [About $35 million for the NIH-Funded projects and about $140 million over the life of the ongoing NIH-funded projects. And an additional $1.2 million that is slated to be awarded through September of 2025 by the National Science Foundation. I can send you a spread sheet if you are interested.] and got to wondering how NIH funding for projects using mice compared with the funding for projects using monkeys. I didn't get too far before I got sidetracked by project 1R21AI156151-01A1, "The role of DNA methylation in dysregulated monocyte immune responses during malnutrition and recovery."
The PIs (Primary Investigators) explain: "The first aim of the study will investigate how two weeks of protein malnutrition, induced by a low protein (5% protein calories) diet, in weaning mice affects the monocyte immune response elicited by bacterial endotoxin.... In the second aim, we will explore the efficacy of different treatment diets supplemented with wheat, milk or peanut proteins administered for six weeks after a two-week period of induced protein malnutrition."
Mice aren't humans. Here's an example of real science studying the treatment of malnutrition.
There is something particularly disturbing about intentionally starving baby animals. It's even worse when it is dressed up and defended with claims about wanting to help children.
Sunday, November 7, 2021
My Friend PeeWee
One of the things I’ve thought about as a result of getting to know him is his experience of time. When PeeWee gets in my hand, his tiny warm feet feel to me as if they are almost electric. He seems to be buzzing with energy.
Numerous sources cite a mouse’s heart rate to be between 310-840 beats per minute, mine is about 60 beats per minute.
Likewise, a mouse’s respiratory rate is reported to be between 80-230 breaths per minute; a normal adult human’s is 12 to 16 breaths per minute.
Even though PeeWee will live for only a couple of years, maybe his life span and mine feel more or less the same to each of us. He lives a fast life. Everything he does, he does at a quick rate. (That's why my pics of him are always blurry.)He never seems to move slowly except when he is evaluating whether he can make it down a steep surface. Other than that, he generally runs everywhere, he scurries. When he's holding something and eating it, his hands are turning it this way and that a mile a minute. He bites off little pieces so quickly that it seems almost to disappear. When he grooms himself, his foot is a blur. Maybe to him, when he is grooming, the speed of his scratching feels the same to him as it feels to me when I scratch myself. And he does have hands; he isn't a four-footed animal like a horse or an elephant or a dog. He has hands. Others have noticed this too. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0226774
PeeWee isn’t on the same schedule I am. His “days” and “nights” seem to last a few hours. In the period of my single 24 hour day, he seems to have a number of days or active periods.
The speed of his life has increased my sadness and alarm over the use of these small animals in labs around the world. The overwhelming majority of them live out their lives in small barren plastic bins; typically, about 80 square inches of floor space. https://www.allentowninc.com/rodent-housing/nexgen/ In most cases, from what I can glean on-line, they have very little to do and no place to go. Their environments are cramped, bleak, and often crowded. While they seem to us to live for only a short period of time, to them, their life in a plastic tub in a lab must seem to go on forever. I wonder whether they are all somewhat insane as a result.
The annual number of mice used worldwide is anyone’s guess, but sources I’ve looked at acknowledge that it is over 100 million. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-79961-0
It is hard to calculate the area of floor space PeeWee has, but it’s around 40 sq. ft. and is filled with many places to hide. Tubes of varying sizes and construction connect his main area to satellite areas. The longest tube is about ten feet in length. He is essentially on an archipelago in my office. The only barriers he encounters are the edges of his islands. He has three exercise wheels and four water sources. We periodically give him a block of wheatgrass which he seems to like, both for the grass and the roots.
His diet is varied. We also put bits of popcorn (thanks JB for that tip) and oats throughout his estate.
He seems glad to see and interact with me. I call him early in the evening and most of the time, but not always, I can hear him rustling around in his ship for a while (one of the pieces of furniture upstairs in his main house) before he comes down and visits with me. (Lately, he has been shacking up in one of the more distant annexes, but still gets out of his nest box there to come see me when I call him.) He walks around on my lap and climbs into my hand. He seems genuinely glad to see me. I don’t feed him by hand; I assume he interacts with me simply because he wants to.
The other day, I leaned a small mirror where he could see it. He stops and checks it out every once in a while. I've learned that he is very alert to changes in his environment. He scopes out new things, investigates new passages and seem altogether fully aware of everything around him. The zillions of mice in the labs live in a never-changing mind-numbing environment.
I think he has the best life a lone male fancy mouse could have. A “fancy mouse” is a mouse bred for the pet trade, for humans who fancy mice. We breed them to entertain us. We also breed mice to use as tools in laboratories. We also breed them to feed to other animals we fancy who we keep in confined spaces. The astronomical number of mice we create and consume each year must make them the most suffering-filled species on the planet.
I’ve been struck by the claims of some of the people who work in labs that use animals that they got into their profession because they like and care about animals. This seems to me like a concentration camp guard saying they got into their line of work because they like people. Given the fact that the overwhelming majority of the mice in the labs are stored in plastic tubs that are stored in racks and that they are accessed only to clean the tub, refill the water bottle, or to do something to the mice, I’m doubtful that many, if any at all, of the animal care- and lab-techs ever get to know any of the mice in the tubs. It’s unlikely that they could even if they might want to.
There is something dark and very ugly about our use of animals, our indifference to their suffering, our arrogance. I’m glad I’ve gotten to know PeeWee, and am glad I have been able to make his life a little better than the lives of most other captive mice.
PeeWee is most assuredly a someone rather than a something.
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
How Should We Kill Them?
It must be terrible to be homeless, on the street, to wonder where your next meal will come from, to deal with all the stares, the cold shoulders, the business owners and local residents who want you out of their neighborhood, the rain, the cold, the heat. I doubt that I can fully imagine the stress, distress, the pain and suffering that must at times simply overwhelm someone in this terrible predictament.
We could put them in shelters, and I know that many people are actively pushing for more shelters, better shelters, greater shelter capacity, but it's a plain fact that we just don't have room for all of them. Leaving them on the street, to fend for themselves, its inhumane.
Gas chambers and electric chairs seem particularly gruesome; they don't seem very humane. Lethal injection seems less violent. That might be the kindest way to kill them.
It's a big problem. An article in the NY Times reports that the 2020 estimate of 580,000 homeless people in the US is likely much too low given the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic.
Here's a crazy idea: let's not kill them. Let's provide for them. Let's make vasectomies and other birth control methods free and something to be celebrated. Let's take a tiny sliver of our tax dollars and build free and very low-rent public housing all across the US. Let's make free cafeterias a part of these housing projects.
If this seems like the right way to go, I don't see a reason not to expand it in ways that will provide shelter and meals and birth control for homeless dogs and cats as well.
How should we kill them? We shouldn't kill them. Homeless humans, dogs, and cats are victims, not criminals, and certainly are not guilty of capital crimes simply for being alive and homeless.
In every case, in every circumstance, homeless is better than dead.
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Little Downside for Multiple Federal Law Violations
On April 15, 2020, the USDA fined the University of Wisconsin $74,000 for series of twenty-two violations of the Animal Welfare Act that occurred from March 4, 2015 to April 25, 2019.
The USDA reports that the university has not been inspected since December 10, 2019. [To see the data, you need to enter 35-R-0001 into the "Certificate Number" field.
Since December 10, 2019, the university has self-reported thirty-seven violations (most involving monkeys) to the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). [See UW-Madison's Self-Reported Animal Welfare Violations] OLAW rarely, if ever, issues citations or levies fines.
You might imagine that an institution fined for multiple violations would warrant extra attention, but in the world of tax-payer-funded vivisection, that does not appear to be the case. There is no downside for repeat violations of the so-called Animal Welfare Act.
The USDA reports that the university has not been inspected since December 10, 2019. [To see the data, you need to enter 35-R-0001 into the "Certificate Number" field.
Since December 10, 2019, the university has self-reported thirty-seven violations (most involving monkeys) to the NIH Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). [See UW-Madison's Self-Reported Animal Welfare Violations] OLAW rarely, if ever, issues citations or levies fines.
You might imagine that an institution fined for multiple violations would warrant extra attention, but in the world of tax-payer-funded vivisection, that does not appear to be the case. There is no downside for repeat violations of the so-called Animal Welfare Act.
Sunday, July 25, 2021
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Isn't Doing Its Job and They Know It.
USDA Inspector General's Audit Report: 33601-0002-31 "Animal Care Program Oversight of Dog Breeders."
APHIS is responsible for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act. The agency not doing its job is like all the cops being on vacation at the same time.
There's really no one policing APHIS. This is just the latest scathing report on APHIS from the USDA's Inspector General's Office.
Excerpts from the summary:
"We identified data reliability issues with reports generated from APHIS’ Animal Care Information System (ACIS) database. This occurred because the agency no longer has a data manager for ACIS, and several large patches to the system have made it unreliable. As a result, APHIS is impeded in its ability to make informed management decisions, identify trends in noncompliant items, and identify how many inspections have been completed."
We also found that APHIS did not consistently address complaints it received or adequately document the results of its follow-up. This occurred because APHIS does not have a documented process for responding to complaints or for recording the results of the agency’s actions. As a result, some dog breeder facilities may be conducting regulated activity without a USDA license or oversight. Therefore, APHIS is not able to ensure the overall health and humane treatment of animals at these facilities."
"APHIS agreed with our findings."
APHIS is responsible for enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act. The agency not doing its job is like all the cops being on vacation at the same time.
There's really no one policing APHIS. This is just the latest scathing report on APHIS from the USDA's Inspector General's Office.
Excerpts from the summary:
"We identified data reliability issues with reports generated from APHIS’ Animal Care Information System (ACIS) database. This occurred because the agency no longer has a data manager for ACIS, and several large patches to the system have made it unreliable. As a result, APHIS is impeded in its ability to make informed management decisions, identify trends in noncompliant items, and identify how many inspections have been completed."
We also found that APHIS did not consistently address complaints it received or adequately document the results of its follow-up. This occurred because APHIS does not have a documented process for responding to complaints or for recording the results of the agency’s actions. As a result, some dog breeder facilities may be conducting regulated activity without a USDA license or oversight. Therefore, APHIS is not able to ensure the overall health and humane treatment of animals at these facilities."
"APHIS agreed with our findings."
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