Rabies Research

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| Print | By | July 10, 2008 1:30 PM

An email arrived in my mailbox the other day, containing a link to an article about The Rabies Challenge Fund Charitable Trust. Their mission purports to reduce the number of rabies vaccinations given to dogs. They are soliciting donations from dog lovers to support their work.

Of course, I immediately visited the Rabies Challenge Fund website to read more about their research. There was no mention about how many dogs would be infected with Rabies over the period of their experiments, which is comprised of two studies, one lasting 5 years and the other, 7 year. Additionally, the report on their site failed to mention how many dogs would die from the disease or how many would be euthanized.

Shih tzu Puppy Oscar

As I researched further, I discovered the Catster site, that focused on the dark side to the research Rabies Challenge Fund is undertaking. Catster reports that the "Rabies Challenge Fund fails to mention that donations will also fund painful experiments that cause dogs to suffer and die."

Through their investigation, they learned that the Rabies Challenge Fund has purchased puppies and dogs from a laboratory supplier where they will be housed in a secret location for the rest of their lives. The dogs will be infected with the live rabies virus at the end of the two studies planned. The dogs who have not received the experimental vaccine are destined to suffer an excruciating death, and those dogs that given the vaccine may die. If the virus does not kill the dogs, the experimenters will. These dogs are the same types of dogs who are our beloved companion dogs.

The existing vaccine carries a degree of risk for both cats and dogs. While we are told that the risk of the vaccine outweighs the risk of our pets becoming infected with rabies. From where I sit, it seem to me that research directed to discover a much safer vaccine that does not carry those dangerous side effects might be far more worthwhile. Additionally, I would suggest earmarking the funds donated to the Rabies Challenge Fund to first design and develops a research project, which does not include using live animals in their research. With today's technology, it seems to me a realistic undertaking.

If you wish to get involved, you can contact the Rabies Challenge Fund Founder and Co-Trustee Kris Christine (ledgespring@lincoln.midcoast.com), Co-Trustee Jean Dodds,(hemopet@hotmail.com) and Researcher, Ronald Schultz, D.V.M. (shultzr@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu) with your feelings about live animal research, and implore them to find a way to do their necessary work using non- animal methodology.

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