Shelter Pets Sent to Testing Labs

Published June 20, 2011

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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

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Comments (44)

Anonymous (Unverified)

L'Oreal is well known for animal testing, pretty much any scientific lab. These people are sick, disgusting creatures. How dare they do this to such sweet, deserving animals. Scum. All of them.

April Mosen (Unverified)

ugh.. :*( so there is a fate worse then death after all.. ;*((( shame on them.. i'd like to know who they are so i can boycott!!! i don't want any of my money going to any such research thank you very much!!!!

Mary Sinacore (Unverified)

This is so wrong and we must find out what companies are doing this and boycott them - this must stop - these poor animals endure so much pain from the people that are supposed to protect them - please male this stop now!

Ana Maria Cerrudo (Unverified)

Why are we so inhumane to our non-human companions? Can't we send the hardened criminals in prison for life or on death row to these labs? These pets are defenseless and we have to be their voice. We must stop these atrocities. I pray to God and St. Francis to show us the way to stop this NOW!

Juno Rescued Beagle (Unverified)

I am Juno Rescued Beagle and one year ago on July 2 I was liberated along with 119 other beagles and 55 primates from a bankrupt testing facility in NJ. Many people don't realize that buying household and personal care products that are tested on animals supports the very industry some are so appalled by. Please visit my website JunoRescuedBeagle.com to learn how you can take the cruelty free pledge. Or find me on Facebook. Until we all unite together to demand an end to this inhumane practice it will continue... For now I run free but until all animals like me are free from this horrible fate I will not rest...

Anonymous (Unverified)

Nononononono

Dani (Unverified)

Disgusting and appaling I don't even have the words! You should all be sent to the gas chambers and the rest of you sickos should be tested on maybe we can give you cancer you can die a slow painful death from.