FROM: Randy S. Ortega

Dear Dr. Faulkner,

Thank you for always listening to me when I have an issue that affects the University of Texas...or the inhabitants thereof. I am writing to inform you about a Beagle that has been housed at the University's Animal Resource Center. This situation was made aware to me by a demonstration that occurred Tuesday, December 5, during Student Government Office Hours on the West Mall.

Students Against Cruelty to Animals have discovered the University ARC has some type of partnership with CEDRA Pharmaceutical Company of Austin. According to Will Potter and Kamber Sherrod, spokespersons for S.A.C.A., Beagles are being housed for the purpose of euthanizing and extracting the liver and kidney to obtain cell cultures. A petition was signed by many concerned students. The contention I have with the situation is not medical research but, according to SACA literature, the cell cultures can be obtained without killing. In fact, Texas A & M apparently does similar testing, but the dogs are rehabilitated and released to a suitable home.

However, there would be less profit all around for the parties involved if the rehabilitation procedure was adopted by CEDRA. I visited Stampy the Beagle at the ARC and found the facility clean, the director a good man who was open to questions, and Stampy well fed and watered. However, no innocent creature should be confined in a prison cell. As an owner of three dogs who roam free in a fenced two acres in a wooded sector of our property, my first impulse was to ask to take Stampy home with me then and there.

That evening I sponsored and passed Assembly Resolution 21 which calls for the rescue of Stampy. Co-sponsors of the resolution are Vice President Matt Hammond, Fine Arts Representative Hollye Sears, and External Financial Director Shawn Abboud. I am sure you can relate to this, being a dog owner yourself. In fact, the dog was colored like and had the disposition of Penny. Think of Penny in this situation, for a split second I envisioned my dogs Kirby, Ranger, and Lady confined in the facility.

I hope a Veterinarian exam on Stampy can be performed in order to prove if he is diseased or no, which if no, euthanizing him may possibly violate an Austin ordinance. I am scheduled to receive a call from one of the directors at the Town Lake Animal Facility's Animal Cruelty division. I would like to sit down with interested parties in some type of emergency meeting to stop an unnecessary euthanizing. In addition, I think Stampy's defense should be heard at the next ARC board meeting scheduled at "sometime" on Tuesday December 12.

Please intervene if you are troubled by this.

Direct questions to either myself 512/695-0975 or to Will Potter, SACA spokesman at 512/453-3841.

Sincerely,

Randy S. Ortega

Liberal Arts Representative, 2000-2001