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February 13, 2000 Members of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee: Last semester there were substantial developments on this campus. A corporation ended their contract with the University, which resulted in the release of the remaining Beagle, nicknamed Stampy. Stampy is rapidly adjusting to life outside the Animal Resources Center. We thank University and ARC officials for working with us on this issue. Seeing Stampy in his new surroundings, enjoying his new life, has motivated us to submit this proposal to the committee. Stampy has been saved, and for that we are grateful. However, there are no guarantees that there will not be another Stampy in semesters to come. We ask the committee to build on the momentum of last semester. We write today asking for a Committee decision to exclude experimentation on canines from the ARC. At a prior committee meeting, some members voiced concern that such a proposal could prohibit, for example, the use of dogs in researching the benefits of companion animals living with elderly people. In such a case, the dogs would not need to be housed in the ARC, experimented on in the ARC or euthanized in the ARC. Housing the animals in a friendly home for observation is exactly the kind of research we support. Prohibiting the use of dogs from research at the ARC would not place a burden on researchers. As we understand it, dogs make up a small portion of research conducted at the ARC. This proposal would encourage the few researchers affected by the proposal to pursue alternative methods. The growing trend is for Universities to reduce the use of animals for research and teaching. Dartmouth Medical School, Stanford University and Yale University have removed all animal testing lab requirements from their curriculum. The University of Texas could send a powerful message by aligning itself with this trend. Because of our campaign, we have received support from Student Government, UT alumni, various student organizations, hundreds of student signatures and letters of support from national organizations. Students are now more aware of animal research at UT, and they are concerned about the University's research involving dogs. Their concerns should be accounted for. Sincerely, Contact: |