Shelter Pets Sent to Testing Labs

Did you know that certain states require animal shelters to send un-adopted pets to research labs?

According to Discovery News, shelters in Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Utah require pets that aren’t adopted be sent to research facilities. Iowa and Ohio send the remaining shelter animals to labs only if the research facilities make a request.

Regrettably, once these shelter animals become research animals, their future for happiness is very limited.

The Humane Society discovered that 30 states either permitted shelters to surrender animals for research or have no laws concerning this matter. Vice President of the Animal Research Issues for The Humane Society, Martin Stephens, states that animals deserve to die without prolonged suffering.

This news makes adoptive pet parents and their supporters all the more proud. Kudos to everyone out there providing a loving family and a bright future to animal companions, and to those of you who can’t care for a pet, but spread the word anyway. 

To help ease or reduce the problems shelter animals face, Discovery News suggests to have only indoor pets, always keep your dog on a leash when it’s on the street, microchip, spay and neuter your pets, and volunteer at local animals shelters or rescue groups.

Do you think sending un-adopted pets to a lab is unfair? Leave us a comment, especially if you have more suggestions for ways to help!

For more information on shelter animals, please read our Help Ban Gas Chamber Euthanization of Shelter Pets