Webinar shows potential for homing animals after use in laboratories
We highlighted ways to help more animals find loving forever homes or peaceful sanctuary after their use in U.S. laboratories, in a webinar hosted by the American Bar Association.
The webinar, 'After the Lab: Legal Solutions to the Laboratory Animal Rehoming Problem’, explored ways to help researchers and sanctuaries overcome barriers to homing animals previously used in laboratories.
It was watched by support staff for Congressmembers, as well as attorneys, scientists, policy advocates and law students.
Alongside our Head of Public Affairs – North America, Monica Engebretson, speakers at the event included Rebecca Critser, a member of the Toxicology Research Policy team at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Jessica Chapman, of the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
Monica’s presentation summarized the challenges raised by sanctuaries and rescue organizations, which she had focused on in two previous ABA webinar sessions last year, and gave an overview of state and federal laws and policies which impact the release of animals used in laboratories. She pointed out specific shortcomings in National Institutes of Health policies that could be limiting the number of animals who are provided an opportunity to have a life beyond the laboratory.
Monica explained that, while the NIH says it supports the adoption of research animals after studies conclude, animals purchased using NIH funds are considered as ‘supplies’ rather than sentient beings, and its current policy, (Section 7.9 of the NIH Grants Policy Statement), does not allow grant funds to be used for homing efforts. She noted that if federal funds can be used for the care of animals during research, they should also support humane outcomes afterward, in line with NIH’s stated commitment to animal welfare.
Monica said, “The ‘Release’ of animals after experiments should be the fourth R in what is usually referred to as the ‘3Rs’ of ending animal testing - Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement. Dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs, in particular, all make wonderful companion animals. Currently, 16 states have passed laws on the adoption of dogs and cats after use in laboratories, but in many cases even these states need to improve the law to ensure that they have the intended impact of maximizing the number of animals who released into a loving forever home."
The American Bar Association represents the legal profession in the United States and is the largest voluntary professional association in the world. The first two ABA webinars can be watched on the ABA Tips YouTube page, here and here.