PETA asks military to end testing on animals

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PETA asks military to end testing on animals

 

JAYMES SONG | July 29, 2008 05:19 AM EST | AP

 

HONOLULU †" Animal-rights activists want the U.S. to stop using animals

as subjects to help train its military, calling the medical and trauma

exercises cruel and a disservice to the troops.

 

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter Monday

to Defense Secretary Robert Gates asking him to replace the use of

animals with non-animal methods such as human simulators.

 

In the letter, PETA said the military inflects gunshot, burn and

chemical wounds on monkeys, pigs and goats for training.

 

" This outmoded practice is not only cruel, but is a disservice to the

men and women who risk their lives in defense of our country and who

deserve the most effective trauma training methods available, " wrote

Kathy Guillermo, director of the PETA's Laboratory Investigations

Department.

 

The Pentagon did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

 

PETA's letter comes 10 days after the group failed to prevent the Army

from shooting live pigs and treating their gunshot wounds in a medical

trauma exercise at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii.

 

The Army said the training is critical to teach soldiers how to manage

critically injured patients within the first few hours of their

injuries when there are no medics, doctors or facilities nearby.

 

PETA believes the military's Combat Trauma Patient Simulation system,

which is being used at other bases such as Camp Pendleton in

California and Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, is a more advanced and

humane option.

 

PETA noted the Department of Defense's animal welfare policy that

states, " Alternative methods to the use of animals must be considered

and used if such alternatives produce scientifically valid or

equivalent results to attain the research, education, training, and

testing objectives. "