W.A.R.N.
The Washington Animal Research Network
818 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 900
Washington, DC20006
(202) 857-0540
April 5, 2019
The Honorable David Obey, Chairman
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education
House of Representatives
Washington, D.C.20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
We are writing to express our concernswith proposedlanguage in the FY 2008 Labor Health and Human Services Education Appropriations bill that would prohibit the use of NIH funds for the lawful use of random-source Class B animal dealers as designated under the Animal Welfare Act. Such language would do little to protect pets but could have negative implications for life-saving biomedical research, including studies in cardiovascular disease and surgical techniques, orthopedic research for joint replacements, prostate cancer research, drug and therapy research for pets and research into certain “orphan” genetic diseases.
This language is based upon the false assumption that dogs and cats are routinely stolen and sold to research facilities.ClassB dealers, which are licensed and regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), acquire some animals from pounds, shelters, and other legitimate sources.While most animals involved in research are purpose-bred, certain types of studies require animals that are not available from breeders or Class A dealers. Many studies require a diversified gene pool that can only be provided by Class B dealers. Some studies require the use of older or larger animals that are provided almost exclusively by Class-B dealers. Random source animals provided by Class B dealers continue to serve a valuable purpose in medical and scientific research.
It should be emphasized that the licensing and inspection of ClassB dealers is highly regulated and effectively enforced. USDA enforcement actions have dramatically increased over the last decade and have resulted in the elimination of dealers who were not in full compliance with the Animal Welfare Act regulations. As a result, there are only ten (10) dealers nationwide who provide dogs and cats to regulated research facilities. In a recent report to Congress, USDA stated that 100 percent of audited animal acquisition records in FY 2005 had been successfully traced to their original source. Research facilities and animal dealers must keep detailed records verifying the original source of all animals, certifying that mandatory holding periods were followed and documenting that providers were informed that the animals may be used for research. Also, final rules published in the Federal Register on July 14, 2004 by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) add additional protections to insure that pets don’t inadvertently end up in research facilities.
On behalf of the biomedical research community we respectfully request that you not include language prohibiting the use of NIH funds for random-source Class B animals.
Sincerely,
National Association for Biomedical Research