Dying to learn: the supply and use of companion animals in U.S. colleges and universities

Laura Ducceschi

doi:10.14573/altex.2010.4.304

Abstract

Americans consider dogs and cats as household pets, but many are harmed and killed for teaching and training purposes, despite the availability of alternatives. A review of 92 U.S. public college and university Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) 2005-2007 records indicates that 52% are using live and dead dogs and cats, and 26% are using live dogs and cats in harmful teaching exercises in undergraduate life science, veterinary, and medical education. In specific cases, IACUCs are failing to minimize animal use and suffering in education as required by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). Sources of dogs and cats for education include Class A and Class B dealers, and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2005-2007 inspections reveal repeated violations and inhumane treatment. Regardless, dealers continue to sell thousands of dogs and cats, many whom were former pets, annually to universities for use in education. A growing number of universities, however, are changing their policies and replacing harmful animal use with pedagogically sound alternatives.

Highlights

Since Animalearn’s inception in 1990, educators and students have inquired as to the origins of animals being used for educational purposes in the United States
They are often surprised to learn that dogs and cats are used but are harmed and even killed for educational purposes in undergraduate, veterinary, and medical education
The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) establishes the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) as a self-regulating entity that must exist to oversee and evaluate all aspects of an institution’s animal care and use program, if they use animals covered under the AWA for research or instructional purposes

Summary

Introduction

Since Animalearn’s inception in 1990, educators and students have inquired as to the origins of animals being used for educational purposes in the United States They are often surprised to learn that dogs and cats are used but are harmed and even killed for educational purposes in undergraduate, veterinary, and medical education. Under the AWA, cats and dogs, as well as other animals, are afforded basic legal protections related to their care and use To further this purpose, Congress provided that investigators who wish to use animals for research or teaching purposes must first consider alternatives to any procedure likely to produce pain or distress in an animal and eliminate the unnecessary duplication of experiments on animals. The AWA establishes the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) as a self-regulating entity that must exist to oversee and evaluate all aspects of an institution’s animal care and use program, if they use animals covered under the AWA for research or instructional purposes

Results

Discussion

Conclusion