Published: April 26, 2011
Whistle-Blowers Reveal Criminal Activity At UC Davis
Whistleblowers Reveal Criminal Activity in California, Nebraska, Alabama Research Labs; Watchdog Group Calls for Severe Penalties
Whistleblowers inside several nationally-known labs have revealed criminal activity and lax enforcement by the United States Department of Agriculture.
A whistleblower from within the University of California (Davis) has disclosed dozens of unnecessary deaths due to negligence by lab staff, according to records obtained by research watchdog group SAEN. One primate at the lab who was found dead without receiving veterinary care was only described only as: " . . . in poor body condition and was entirely covered in mud and gravel."
A second whistleblower associated with the University of Nebraska Medical Center (Omaha) has released a disputed federal report which uncovers the life of an primate who was allowed to experience at least 12 epileptic seizures without receiving treatment.
The Southern Research Institute, which was recently found guilty of violating the Animal Welfare Act by the USDA, has also been the subject of whistleblower activity which reveals a long history of animal abuse.
SAEN has received multiple documents from a whistleblower which disclose further misdeeds by SRI. Leaked documents include SRI correspondence from payment of a recent USDA fine, as well as records which disclose an older incident in which baby chicks were killed in a sterilization device. Another incident disclosed in the whistleblower documents involved the deaths of several dogs, while yet others involved the deaths of rabbits and monkeys.
"The information leaked to SAEN by these three whistleblowers involves major violations of federal which, for the most part, have gone without penalty from the USDA," said Michael A. Budkie, A.H.T., Executive Director, SAEN. "What is the point of even having a federal law to regulate laboratories, if the enforcement is so lax?"
All USDA and whistleblower records are available upon request.
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