Where to go from here....

[Guest guest]

Dear Animal Advocates, Companions, Guardians, Vigilers, Lovers & Liberators: Now that the holidays are behind us - and I hope yours were survived happily - I am hoping we can focus on what to do next regarding our campaign to stop abuse of animals in medical experiments at UCSF. In that regard, late last year, at a meeting of the San Francisco Commission on Animal Control and Welfare, I proposed the idea of attempting to ban the use of restraint chairs (usually used for monkeys involved in experiments on brain imaging) . One commissioner showed some interest in the idea. Scott Anderson (also in attendance at the meeting), of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, showed some interest in the idea too. However, Suzanne Roy (with In

Defense of Animals) did not think it was a wise use of our (animal advocates') time and energy. Since that time, I have given some thought as to what exactly do we want to devote our time and energy in the year ahead of us. Interestingly, among the files at the office of Animal Switchboard (AS), I recently found a list of potential goals drawn up years ago as part of a campaign to counter the use of animals in lab experiments. According to Virginia Handley, she created the list (almost twenty years ago) in relation to a mobilization committee regarding animals in labs. Below is a list essentially taken from that one I found at the AS office, in addition to some current ideas of mine. Anyhow, I thought the list could assist us in trying to figure out where we want to put our efforts regarding the (ab)use of animals in medical labs at this

time. Please feel free to comment on and edit. --------------------------- LIST OF POTENTIAL GOALS TO STOP/CURTAIL ABUSE OF ANIMALS IN LABS - Improved housing to meet behavioral and social needs, including exercise; - Animal welfare representation (community member) on all animal care and grant review committees, the meetings and records of which shall be open to the public; - Prohibition on the importation of primates taken from the wild for research purposes; - Elimination of psychological experiments that cause stress; - Elimination of experiments that are redundant; - Prohibition of multiple surgeries on one animal; - Rehabilitate rather than kill

"retired" nonhuman primates used in experiments by placing them in sanctuaries; - Prohibition on the use or overuse of stereotaxic (holding) devices (e.g., the primate chair); - Punitive measures taken against those who violate minimum requirements; - Prohibition of Pound Seizure (sale of pets from animal shelters to laboratories); - Prohibition of acquisition of animals from Class B dealers for medical experiments; - Continue to emphasize/publicize the dogs (ab)used in various research projects at UCSF; - Prohibition of the use of dogs in vivisection in SF; - Push for implementation of alternatives to the use of animals: a) existing

alternatives must be used to replace animals; b) fund research to develop more alternatives; c) train scientists in the use of alternatives. ---------------E N D------------------ Bob O'Brien

Photos Got holiday prints? See all the ways to get quality prints in your hands ASAP.