No Public Money for Animal Abuse

  • by: Jamil A
  • recipient: National Institutes of Health

Universities get billions of dollars a year from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct research - much of it done on live rats and mice. But with these substantial grants comes an understanding that the universities will abide by federal animal welfare guidelines in their treatment towards these lab rodents. Sadly, that is not always the case.

No clearer example can be made than that of the University of Minnesota which according to a recent report, ranks as one of the worst animal abusers when it comes to animal research. Yet, their more than five dozen violations over a 2.5 year period hasn't barred them from receiving American taxpayer funds. In one gruesome case, researchers drew blood from behind rodents' eyes. The animals weren't given any type of pain relief. These stories are unfortunately too common.

Although rats and mice make up 95% of lab test animals, they have no federal protections. Meaning that they can be drowned, suffocated, starved or denied pain relief by researchers, and there is no penalty for this abuse. So even if universities break their animal-care agreements with the government they are likely not to be punished.

That is not ok. The NIH needs to step up and ask for more of the schools they give our money to. Because every time a public dollar goes towards animal cruelty we become complicit in the abuse.

It is time we ask the NIH to deny research grants to schools that cannot abide by federal animal care guidelines. Sign the petition and tell the NIH "No Pain in My Name!"

Dear regulators,


As an animal lover, I urge you to abide by federal animal care guidelines.


The NIH needs to step up and ask for more of the schools they give our money to. Because every time a public dollar goes towards animal cruelty we become complicit in the abuse.


Universities get billions of dollars a year from the NIH to conduct research - much of it done on live rats and mice. But with these substantial grants comes an understanding that the universities will abide by federal animal welfare guidelines in their treatment towards these lab rodents. Sadly, that is not always the case.


No clearer example can be made than that of the University of Minnesota which according to a recent report, ranks as one of the worst animal abusers when it comes to animal research. Yet, their more than five dozen violations over a 2.5 year period hasn't barred them from receiving American taxpayer funds. In one gruesome case, researchers drew blood from behind rodents' eyes. The animals weren't given any type of pain relief. These stories are unfortunately too common.


Although rats and mice make up 95% of lab test animals, they have no federal protections. Meaning that they can be drowned, suffocated, starved or denied pain relief by researchers, and there is no penalty for this abuse. So even if universities break their animal-care agreements with the government they are likely not to be punished.


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[Your name]

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