|
Dealing Dogs
Many dogs are taken from
pounds and sold to research
Pound seizure is the practice of “seizing”
dogs and cats from shelters and pounds to supply the biomedical research
industry. Some pounds and shelters must sell (or choose to sell) to
Class “B” dealers or research facilities. When dogs and cats are
obtained for research, their fate is terminal. Some animals die quickly,
while others are used in long-term, agonizing studies.
Pound Seizure is Not Necessary
The practice of pound seizure is not only
unnecessary, The World Health Organization advises against it, as well
as the Council of Europe. Pound source animals are poor subjects for
research experiments because their genetic backgrounds and medical
histories are unknown, making it very difficult to acquire accurate
results. Furthermore, the myth that banning pound seizure will prohibit
advancements in medical research and teaching situations is also
incorrect. In 1983, Massachusetts became first state to officially
prohibit pound seizure and has proved that research has not been
hindered. For example, Harvard Medical School is one of the finest in
the world. Three years after the ban was adopted, medical research
remained at the same level as before. More and more scientists and
doctors condemn the use of random source animals and are aiding to end
the practice of pound seizure.
Shelters and Pounds are not Warehouses
for Laboratories
Animal shelters, humane society shelters,
and pounds are set up to do three things:
-
Protect animals until their guardian
reclaims them.
-
Adopt the animal to a loving, secure home
if the animal is not reclaimed.
-
Humane euthanization if there is no other
alternative.
Under no circumstances should an animal
have to be subjected to torture in a research facility.
13 States Have Banned Pound Seizure
Although there is no federal law
pertaining to pound seizure, thirteen states prohibit it.
These states are:
Connecticut
Delaware
Hawaii
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Vermont
West Virginia
 States
vary in their oversight of animal control and transactions involving
animals. Most other states have no laws regarding pound seizure and
leave it up to the county or town governments to decide. For instance,
some states indicate that "owners" must approve of the animal being
released to research institutions, and others mandate the release
of animals without them first being available for adoption.
Three states in the U.S. -- Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Utah -- still
legally require that publicly funded shelters and pounds provide dogs
and cats to institutions for experimental or educational purposes.
What You Can Do:
To find out how your state stands on pound
seizure, go to
www.banpoundseizure.org/home.shtml. Click on your state to find
out whether or not your state prohibits, mandates, allows or has not
dealt with the issue of pound seizure.
If you live in one of the states that permit pound seizure, work
for state legislation to end it. It’s been done, it’s being done and you
can do it in your state. Bills have been presented before and it is not
hard to introduce them. You just have to do it. Until there is a law to
protect our animals, every animal is at risk.
 Contact
those in charge of local pounds and shelters and find out what they have
done or are doing to cease this horrendous practice. Talk with town or
state officials on the issue and insist laws are created to end pound
seizure. Speak out, organize letter writing campaign and get petitions
signed.
|
