Support the Federal Pet Safety and Protection Act

Often, animals are used for research experiments. It might be testing for a new drug before being used by humans, or it could be more painful operations testing surgical procedures and animal responses. Nevertheless, has anyone stopped and asked where these research laboratories receive their animals? They have several methods. One such method is that of a class "B" dealer, who obtains animals from other people, then sells them for a profit to research labs. This poses several problems. These class "B" dealers have been known to collect animals from " free to good home" ads, and etc., or even steal people's pets. Current legislation allows this activity to continue. However, the Federal Pet Safety and Protection Act (S. 714/H.R. 1280) is trying to be passed to prevent this activity. Currently, the House has passed it, however it is still due for votes by the Senate. In order for it to be passed, it will need support. The following gives the background information needed to understand the full extent of the problem:

• What is being done to people's pets?

People's pets are being used in laboratory research. According to the ASPCA, "Class B Dealers, licensed under the federal Animal Welfare Act, collect dogs and cats from random sources and sell them to the research industry." Random sources includes pets. Sometimes, they will respond to "free to good home" ads in order to make a profit off of someone's good intentions to find a good home for their pets. Also, Class B Dealers obtain animals by stealing people's outdoor pets. Another illegal action they will take just to make a profit; is the falsifying of records in order to make the origin of the animal unknown. Lying, stealing, and fraud are all actions deemed as illegal or shady by society. Not only are these animals ripped from their loving homes, but they endure great distress in research laboratories, which may lead to their deaths depending on the types of research conducted. These unethical behaviors must be prevented in order to protect pets.

• What is being done to prevent this activity?

As mentioned before, the Federal Pet Safety and Protection Act is in the process of being passed. According to the ASPCA, the following outlines the details of who will be able to sell animals to research laboratories:

1. Dealers who have bred and raised the animals.
2. Publicly owned pounds or shelters that obtained the animals from their legal owners.
3. Persons donating a dog or cat who they have bred and raised, or owned for at least one year.

The point of the act is to prevent Class B Dealers from wrongfully obtaining people's pets and selling them to these research groups. It will not prevent the use of animals in research. However, it will protect pet owners from losing a loved pet or unknowingly selling a pet into a horrific life of experimenting. In order for this bill to pass, it will require support. Write to the senate by completing a filled out form for the support of the act at: https://secure2.convio.net/aspca/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=2157.

• Why does it matter?

As a U.S. citizen, it is our duty to ensure our own rights are protected. Obviously, the allowance of such activity is a violation of a pet owner's rights. They should be able to let their dog, cat, or other pet run freely outdoors without the fear of it being stolen, then sold to a research lab for a profit. You do not have to be a pet owner to support this act. It merely takes an individual concerned with illegal and unethical activities to support it.