Jul09
UConn Lab Fined for Torture
Posted at 05:25 PM | Permalink
| 
Comments (9)
The $5,532 fine that the USDA hit the University of Connecticut Health Center with this week for seven violations of the Animal Welfare Act is a very big deal, and a sign that if enough people care enough to do something about an injustice, even the worst bureaucracies in the world can be forced to act.
The person who cared enough to do something in this case was my personal hero (and new colleague) Justin Goodman, a UConn student who learned that experimenter David Waitzman had received more than $1.7 million in federal funds for brain experiments in which he bolted restraint devices to monkeys' heads, drilled holes in their skulls, attached electrodes to their brains, and fastened small wire coils directly to their eyeballs. Justin submitted numerous Freedom of Information Act requests and alerted the USDA to specific problems with the procedures, resulting in 21 citations, including causing unnecessary trauma to animals, failing to properly sedate them, and failing to painlessly euthanize animals in severe distress.
Justin Goodman protests UConn primate experiments
Because of this work, in addition to two years of relentless campaigning by Justin and other local activists, Waitzman terminated his experiments in August 2006, and the university is finally being held accountable for their role in allowing his nasty little procedures to take place. Here's what Justin had to say about the victory:
"It shouldn't require pressure from student activists to force the USDA and UCHC to do their jobs. Waitzman has been torturing monkeys long enough, and it's high time for him to be fired and for his torture chamber to be shut down for good."
Congratulations to Justin for your amazing work.
And finally, if you have a moment, please send an email to UConn asking them to permanently ban primate experiments using the form here.
TAGGED:
David Waitzman
Comments
Wow, Justin, you're the best!
Another victory for animals! Now that puts a smile on my face!!!
Posted by: Ana | July 9, 2007 06:38 PM
To Justin I would like to say:
"We're not worthy!!!"
You are my hero. Keep up the awesome work.
Posted by: Janet Fitzgerald | July 9, 2007 07:47 PM
Nice job, Justin Goodman. You are AWESOME. Being that I was involved in primate experiment protesting at the University of CO, I am familiar with the incredible crap you have to go through to get ANYTHING done at all.
Posted by: Canaduck | July 9, 2007 07:58 PM
Dear Justin Goodman,
you did something really great - indeed! This is not something common or ordinary but a heroic action for which a respectable courage was essential! Please know that you are my hero and that I shall include you in may prayers upto my last breath!
Posted by: Running Wild | July 10, 2007 11:09 AM
justin, you truly are a wonderful human being!! thanks to you and to everyone else who does there part for the animals, you all rock!!
Posted by: kris shulfer | July 10, 2007 11:16 AM
Dearest Justin,
I have now put you on my list of "HEROES.
You are truly a beautiful and
loving person.
Judith
The Buddhist
Posted by: Judith, Freedom Fighter | July 10, 2007 04:01 PM
Hey Justin, the fact that you never gave up on those animals, against all odds, is incredibly inspiring. Your intolerance to such cruelty and the compassion you have shown is truly the stuff of heroes.
Posted by: Maureen | July 10, 2007 07:46 PM
Congratulations Justin. You are amazing. I will try to be more like you.
Posted by: Wendy | July 11, 2007 02:00 PM
FANTASTIC work, Justin! Something for you to be VERY proud of for the rest of your life!
Any tortures done to animals verifies my beliefs that humans are NOT the most intelligent species. Mad "scientists" like Waitzman resort to sub-human standards and more barbaric behavior than animals in the wild who act only out of instinct. He is someone to be feared among society and so unlike the gentle animals he experimented on.
For the sake of the animals and a civilized society, THANK YOU SO MUCH, JUSTIN!
Posted by: Ariel | July 14, 2007 07:48 AM