Laboratory Animal Week Protest Press Release -

[Guest guest]

FYI – please help us here in Ireland to stop animal experiments!

 

John Carmody

Animal Rights Action Network

www.ARAN.ie

 

 

 

 

 

 

78% RISE in Dogs Dying in Irish Laboratories

 

PRESS RELEASE

To mark World Laboratory Animal Week (20-27th April)

 

 

 

A commercial animal testing company in the Republic of Ireland greatly increased the number of dogs it used for poisoning tests and developing commercial products in 2006, according to the latest statistics released by the Department of Health (which issues licences to companies and universities to conduct experiments on animals).

 

In Ireland, the number of dogs subjected to a miserable, short life in barren laboratory conditions had been dropping since 2002. It is therefore grave news that the total number of dogs used in experiments in Irish laboratories increased by a staggering 78% in 2006.

 

It is of particular concern that only 115 of the dogs experimented on by Universities, Colleges and Commercial companies based in Ireland were used to comply with regulations. Therefore, the other 182 dogs suffered and died FOR NO REASON REQUIRED BY IRISH OR EU LAW. These dogs die because profit-making companies pay for experiments to be done to help their businesses. In 2006 commercial contract testing companies in Ireland used a total of 8,633 animals in experiments, including, 289 dogs, 169 cats, 168 horses and donkeys, and 260 cattle. An increase of 37% on the number used in 2005.

 

A spokesperson for the Irish Anti-Vivisection Society says: “It is unacceptable for the Department of Health to give a licence to companies who make money out of causing suffering and fatal harm to animals. Contract testing companies keep their work secret because they know how strongly the public disapproves of animal testing. Unfortunately, the lack of information available from the Department of Health aids this secrecy about experiments and animal welfare in laboratories.

 

Furthermore, it is the view of the IAVS that animal testing is an outmoded and unreliable way of assessing whether a substance is safe for human consumption or harmless in the environment. Safety testing chemicals on animals has been publicly criticised by important scientific bodies such as the US Academy of Science who advocates the use of human cell systems instead.â€

 

The total number of animals used in Irish laboratories in 2006 was 73,794 – almost double the number used in 2005.

 

297 DOGS - increased

169 CATS - increased

60 HAMSTERS - increased

25 GUINEA PIGS - increased

4 FERRETS - increased

4,689 CATTLE - increased

36,151 FISH - increased

61 other mammals - increased

21,152 MICE - increased

10,314 RATS - increased

69 BIRDS

101 RABBITS

182 HORSES &

DONKEYS

331 SHEEP

189 PIGS

Total 73, 794

 

 

FOR RADIO INTERVIEWS

PLEASE CONTACT JOHN CARMODY, ARAN ON 087 627 5579

 

www.irishantivivisection.org,

www.aran.ie

 

IAVS & ARAN

join forces for

 

WORLD LABORATORY ANIMAL WEEK

 

PROTEST AGAINST DOGS IN IRISH LABORATORIES

 

Central Bank, Dame Street

SATURDAY

26th April 2008

2pm – 4pm

 

 

PLEASE COME ALONG TO INFORM PEOPLE ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF

ANIMALS HIDDEN IN IRISH LABORATORIES.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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