Thursday, October 7, 2010

Let's End Vivisection in New Jersey

Michael Budkie, exec director of Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN) gave a brilliant presentation at the Community Church of Keyport on October 5th as part of their "Life in the Lab: Hidden Truth about Animal Experiments" speaking tour. See more on the tour: http://all-creatures.org/saen/event-eastern-tour-2010.html

Michael captivated the audience as he spoke about the types of experiments performed on animals, the funding sources, the waste, fraud, and abuse. He explained not only how vivisection harms animals, but how it translates to an incalculable cost to humans as well.

One example is how government spends about $50-60 million each year on addicting animals to drugs, which yields nothing useful to human drug addicts. Imagine how many addicts could be helped if that same $50-60 million were available to them in the form of resources, medical care, educational materials, drug rehab, etc.

Michael talked about how everyone can get more involved in this issue. You don't need to be a scientist to understand some basic principles. Human physiology is quite different from other species.

Laurie, who attend the presentation wrote the following:

"Just when you think you know what is going on behind closed doors, trust me, you do not have a clue. The amount of cruelty and neglect is incredible. Ultimately for no reason other than to make money. Michael indicated that researchers on one hand claim that non-humane primates are just like us, therefore justifying the research. Yet on the other hand they say that non-humane primates are not like us, and do not feel pain or distress, justifying the agonizing experiments. Total contradiction!!!!! After sitting and listening to this unbelievable speaker you realize that non-humane primates are just like us when it comes to pain and suffering (whether mental or physical), and yet are not like us since they do not share the same physiological makeup , therefore, rendering experiments virtually useless. So much more was discussed, and so much more must be said on this subject. If you feel as I do that this must be stopped, I am asking everyone to get involved because we can make a difference."

Laurie is right. Making the commitment to get more involved is the first step to ending these atrocities.

1. Please visit our website to learn more about the basics and how vivisection has delayed advancements in the top disease categories: http://askuswhy.com/home.htm

2. Learn more about the issues. Michael's website has a wealth of information, links, resources, reports, etc. Please visit: http://all-creatures.org/saen/

3. Read the reports online about experiments taking place near you:

4. Take information from the reports and send to the media. Here's a list of NJ media: www.usnpl.com/njnews.php

5. There is no doubt that this information is painful to read, but in addition to being upset, we urge you to take action. Protest, rally, and educate everyone else you know:
National Primate Liberation Week
(October 16th - October 24th, 2010

Please join Friends of Animals United New Jersey (http://www.faunnj.org/) and Animal Protection League of New Jersey (http://www.aplnj.org/)

When: Friday, October 22nd, 2010 (Note: It's important to leaflet when they are present.)
Time: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Where: UMDNJ Medical/Dental School, 185 S Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07101

**IMPORTANT PARKING UPDATE!!!!**
PLEASE DO NOT park in the PathMark parking lot on Bergen St, across from the UMDNJ! We've learned that from 8am to 4pm on weekdays, this parking lot is monitored by PathMark employees, vigilant for people parking there and then walking across to the UMDNJ. Activists parking there and walking across Bergen St to join the protest MAY BE ticketed/towed at the owner's expense!

THERE IS, however, metered and unmetered parking all along this section of Bergen St, close to where it intersects w/ S. Orange Ave. On this part of Bergen St, there is also a Rite Aid, an IHOP and a KFC, all with ample parking. From any of these locations, you'll walk about half a block up Bergen to where it intersects w/ S.Orange Ave, then turn left onto S.Orange Ave, where we'll be gathered about 1/2 a block down on the left hand side (roughly where S. Orange intersects with Bruce St - in front of the facility where the actual animal testing is done). Please check the following link for a clear overview of the local layout:

Option B for parking: There is an actual multi-level parking garage at the intersection of S. Orange and Bergen St, annexed to the UMDNJ facility itself. A HUGE sign for this parking garage at 160 Bergen St says P2 PARKING - that's it! This is more secure, obviously, than street parking, but there is a fee: $3.25 pays up to 2 hours/ $7.50 pays up to 12 hours in the parking garage. For those showing up after 4, $3.25 should be enough, since we'll be finishing at 6pm. If there are any additional questions about parking, please call (732) 693-9044 or email anthony@faunnj.org
What can you do immediately:   Please call, write or email your two NJ Federal Senators (see below) to express your outrage over UMDNJ’s fraudulent “research” practices and their ongoing use of animals in experiments when so many non-animal methods exist that yield medically relevant and accurate results. If you are a New Jersey resident, your hard-earned tax dollars are funding this gratuitous torture and death of sentient beings. Please do your part in helping us put a stop to it.

Please call, write and/or e-mail:

The Honorable Frank R. Lautenberg
One Gateway Center, 23rd Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
Voice: 973-639-8700
Fax: 973-639-8723

The Honorable Robert Menendez (Newark Office)
One Gateway Center, 11th Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
Voice: 973-645-3030
Fax:  973-645-0502

The following excerpts come directly from official USDA Inspection Reports of a UMDNJ facility where invasive animal research is routinely conducted, at 185 South Orange Avenue in Newark, N.J. These Inspection Reports come directly from the USDA’s APHIS search engine, and can therefore be independently verified by any interested party using the Internet, and accessing the following:  


Relevant terms for APHIS search engine:
Name:‘Dentistry’ State: ‘NJ’ Customer type: ‘RESEARCH FACILITY’

*A Partial Chronology of Lethal Incompetence & Cynical Indifference at the UMDNJ*
 (Provided by Friends of Animals United New Jersey)

Aug 10, 2007:
Violation of APHIS Regulation 2.31 (e)(4), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), which reads ~ "Procedures designed to assure that discomfort and pain to animals will be limited to that which is unavoidable for the conduct of scientifically valuable research, including provision for the use of analgesic, anesthetic, and tranquilizing drugs where indicated and appropriate to minimize discomfort and pain to animals."

Post inspection, Veterinary Medical Officer & APHIS Animal Care Inspector #5019, Michael J Smith reported:
"I saw two pigs that had recent surgeries prior to my inspection. One pig was in a lateral recumbency, and reluctant to move, and the other was sitting and also reluctant to move. Pigs in other areas of the facility were very active and approaching the front of the enclosure as I toured the room. Records reviewed indicated analgesia was administered in the morning. Protocol 07004 did not describe the frequency of analgesic administration, but I was told it was provided twice per day, which is in the 8 hr work day. The two pigs that I saw went as long as 15 hrs between analgesic administrations. The protocol must describe procedures to assure that discomfort and pain to animals will be relieved."

June 9, 2010:
Violation of APHIS Regulation 2.33 (b) (3), Attending Veterinarian and Adequate Veterinary Care, which reads ~ "Each research facility shall establish and maintain programs of adequate veterinary care that include: That a mechanism of direct and frequent communication is required so that timely and accurate information on problems of animal health, behavior, and well-being is conveyed to the attending veterinarian."

Post inspection, Veterinary Medical Officer and USDA APHIS Animal Care Inspector #1008, John Lopinto, DVM, reported:
"On Mar 9, 2010, canine 755214 underwent a procedure for protocol 09091D0912. The protocol was approved for a clamping of the right renal artery and a wrapping of the left kidney. Medical records indicate the left renal artery was clamped. There was no documentation of what was done to the right kidney. Record showed minimal blood loss. Following an IACUC review, the investigator later submitted a letter indicating that during the surgery, he removed the right kidney due to excessive bleeding. He also wrapped the left kidney. None of this was documented in the medical record of the animal, and for 3 days following the procedure, the investigative staff said nothing to the veterinary staff about what had occurred. Eventually the animal died. The veterinarian must be kept informed of all occurrences, in particular, emergency procedures performed by the investigator or his staff, so that proper veterinary care can be administered. This affected 1 animal."

June 9, 2010:
Violation of APHIS Regulation 2.33 (b) (5), Attending Veterinarian and Adequate Veterinary Care, which reads ~ "Each research facility shall establish and maintain a program of adequate veterinary care that includes: Adequate pre-procedural and post-procedural care in accordance with current established veterinary medical and nursing procedures."

Post inspection, Veterinary Medical Officer and USDA APHIS Animal Care Inspector #1008, John Lopinto, DVM, reported:
"Protocol D7-07107 involves surgery in hamsters. The protocol indicates that buprenorphine will be administered upon recovery and the morning after surgery. In reviewing medical records, there is no indication that the hamsters 1676188 and 1610920 received the administration of post-op analgesia the day after surgery. Medical records also failed to show any monitoring of the animals during surgery. In order to ensure proper veterinary care, and to avoid unnecessary pain, it is necessary to document the monitoring of animals during its procedures and document the administration of its post-op analgesics. This affected 2 animals."

The list goes on. Negligent violation after negligent violation, invariably resulting in suffering, mutilation and death for animals trapped in the UMDNJ’s research laboratories. If this chronology of shameful, irresponsible violations is any indication, there will be no end to it, unless thoughtful, compassionate individual citizens stand up and speak out to bring this atrocious, transparent lack of concern for the lives of sentient animals used at the UMDNJ to the attention of our representatives in government.

NO ONE benefits from the torture and death which result from UMDNJ researchers.

Many thanks to Friends Of Animals United New Jersey (FAUN) for providing the inspection reports.
Friends Of Animals United New Jersey (FAUN)
PO Box 732
Red Bank, NJ 07701

1 comment:

  1. thanks so much for posting this Animal Protection League! This is Anthony Botti. Unfortunately, the parking guidelines have to be modified somewhat. Just yesterday an activist informed us that she was towed away from the PathMark parking lot a few years ago; PathMark surveillance observed her going to the UMDNJ across the street, she was ticketed and towed. Today I went back to Newark and reevaluated the situation. Please, at your earliet convenience, cut and paste the new parking guidelines, which you'll find in bold red letters on the following link from our Meetup Calendar.

    http://www.meetup.com/FAUNNJ/calendar/14886144/?from=list&offset=0

    sorry for any confusion, thanks so much for modifying the information, and don't hesitate to call me if there are any questions..

    blessed be all animals
    Anthony Botti
    732-693-9044

    ReplyDelete