Aug05
Vivisector of the Month!
Posted at 09:48 AM | Permalink
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Comments (44)
It's time once again for my PETA Files feature: our Vivisector of the Month contest. Every month, I read up on two of our nation's most vile vivisectors and let you, our dear readers, decide on who is the worst by voting.
Before we begin, I would like to congratulate Michael Weed at Johns Hopkins, who won last month's contest by a landslide. May he forever be recognized for his brilliant work creating a primate crack house—complete with residents infected with the simian form of HIV. Bravo!
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New Haven, Connecticut, local and Yale professor Marina Picciotto spends her days hidden away in a university laboratory, drugging and tormenting monkeys, mice, and rats—often with the aid of your federal tax dollars! Her chemicals of choice include nicotine, cocaine, morphine, and alcohol—all of which she either feeds or injects into animals before scoring them on bizarre "behavioral assessments," sometimes with the stated goal of making them suffer.
In one study, Picciotto measured despair in mice by making them swim in pools of water with no resting platform or by hanging them from their tails with tape. For each group, despair was measured by how little they were still willing to struggle for self-preservation. In another study, she bored holes into rats' skulls so that she could directly inject chemicals into their brains; she then decapitated the animals and froze their heads. In yet another study, this time on learned helplessness, she exposed mice to 360 inescapable shocks.
Her most stunning experiment involved giving monkeys Kool-Aid mixed with liquid nicotine as a sole source of fluid, with the amount of nicotine ingested by one monkey nearly reaching the equivalent of smoking 17 packs of cigarettes per day. Picciotto conducted this experiment to determine how long one should wait after ingesting nicotine before brain imaging is done, despite the fact that researchers went on to take brain images of human smokers in another experiment that could have provided information without caging and drugging monkeys.
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, resident and Wake Forest assistant professor Allyson Bennett is known for her egregious cruelty to monkeys, but she has also dabbled in torturing rats and mice, making her a great match for Picciotto. Lucky for Bennett, Wake Forest now houses nearly 1,500 monkeys and receives loads of federal funding, so she's unlikely to run out of victims to torment or cash flow to drive her operations.
A queen of seemingly pointless research, Bennett has deprived rats of food for up to two days to observe their consequent behavior in an arena of both food and nonfood objects. To her surprise, food deprivation led animals to come in increased contact with food, despite also inspecting nonfood items out of curiosity. This genius study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and conducted at an NIH Animal Center.
In another study, she took baby monkeys away from their mothers and forced them to grow up without parents—causing them emotional distress just so that she could see how this affected right- or left-hand preference. She's even broken new ground in the research world by investigating whether or not adolescent binge-drinking might be bad for you—if you happen to be a monkey, that is.
Will it be Miss Mouse Depression or the Mistress of Starvation? Leave a comment to let me know!
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Comments
Mistress of starvation is the winner for me! I'm disgusted with her actions of taking baby monkeys away from there mothers- just cruel...!
Posted by: Jennifer Purcell-Jones | August 5, 2008 11:32 AM
What in gods name is going on on planet earth...these so called professors etc are no more human or humane than a person who deliberately starves or tortures an animal, only difference with these scumbags is they "have a label" attached to their name.
CUT OFF THE TAX DOLLARS
TAKE THEM TO THESE TORTURE CHAMBERS AND INFLICT PAIN TO THE HIGHEST DEGREE ON THESE
EVIL DOERS.
GOD HELP THOSE INNOCENT ANIMALS
Posted by: r | August 5, 2008 11:37 AM
Oh right i have to vote...
Lets see both evil both inhumane, IT's A TIE
Posted by: r | August 5, 2008 11:41 AM
I believe its a even, they are both pretty pathetic
Posted by: rachel | August 5, 2008 12:32 PM
Marina Picciotto
i have to vote for her-- she cant even PRETEND she is doing anything other than making animals suffer. and the fact that suffering is the POINT of her so called experiments....
.... i just dont have the words for this.
i cannot even imagine seeing an animal suffer and not rushing to help. i dont even know what is so wrong with someone that they want to intentionally cause pain.
oh!! i have an idea! give me some federal funding and the vivisectors, and we can let the animals run experiments on them.
Posted by: rachel | August 5, 2008 12:39 PM
Marina Picciotto, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry
Tel: 203-737-2041 Fax: (203) 737-2043
Email: marina.picciotto@yale.edu
Posted by: Amber | August 5, 2008 01:03 PM
Torture chambers at Wake Forest where mad-woman Bennett conducts her evils wants to encourage family and friends to come out and enjoy a day with the primates and tell them torturing monkeys is okay!!! "Look they have toys to play with that look and feel just like their own mothers would" Although her "brainwashing" tecniques would warrant #1, my vote is with Marina "Pea-brain" Picciotto!! Thanks for letting us know you two have no souls!!
Posted by: Carla | August 5, 2008 01:21 PM
Vivisection is one of the most horrible crimes on this planet together with child abuse and racism!
Posted by: Eye Witness | August 5, 2008 03:22 PM
Is there anyone on here that lives in the W-S, NC area? I'm trying to organize some caring individuals to do some work around Wake...if interested, please email me at TriadCollective at gmail.com
Posted by: W-S | August 5, 2008 04:01 PM
As a trauma surgeon myself, i just do not understand why stuff like this is still happening! Not once in my job have i ever turned to the results of ANY animal "experiment" to help treat a human being! Keep up the good work PETA in showing what these people actually do, torture innocent beings and waste tax-payer dollars.
Posted by: alexandra | August 5, 2008 05:17 PM
AL...
Posted by: Siobhan M. | August 5, 2008 06:02 PM
It's better than getting a real job. Besides they like torturing things to compensate for their own pathetic little existences.
Tough choice as always, but I vote for the sub-human Marina Picciotto.
Posted by: Mike Quinoa | August 5, 2008 06:44 PM
sorry i refuse to vote, since these educated nutballs make their living torturing defenseless animals to death with idiotic and insane experiments. These supremely insecure and selfish individuals wouldn't know real science if it bit them on the rear.
Posted by: vegancoin | August 5, 2008 07:42 PM
that's hard...they are both animal tormenters and they should have their dirty little operations exposed to the people who can really drive it into their brains that what they are doing is hideous cruelty.
but my vote has to go to....
both of them because they are evil.
those poor animals...i feel so bad for them!!
Posted by: erika | August 5, 2008 08:12 PM
Both are horrible. But I am pretty sure that I would rather be a monkey for Allyson Bennett. I think I'd go for the no mom and drink a lot than have my brain drilled into and my head chopped off. I can't understand how these people are given loads of money to keep preforming these forms of torture than be considered a sociopaths and thrown into insane asylunms. I seriously wonder how they sleep at night.
Posted by: Kaitie | August 5, 2008 09:16 PM
I AM EQUALLY APPALLED BY BOTH "THING", JUST CAN'T CALL THEM WOMEN. IT ALWAYS BOTHERS ME WHY THINGS LIKE THIS ARE NOT ON THE NIGHTLY NEWS. EVERYONES COMPLAINING ABOUT TAXES; WELL WHY THE HELL ARE THESE ATROCITIES NOT ON THE NEWS. IF SOME "PEOPLE" DON'T CARE ABOUT THE ANIMALS, THEY'LL CERTAINLY BE SCREAMING ABOUT THEIR TAX MONEY BEING WASTED.
WHAT DOES THE WINNER GET, A BOTTLE OF CHAMPAGNE CRACKED ON THE HEAD? THE I SAY "CROWN" THEM BOTH.
Posted by: junemarie | August 6, 2008 12:37 AM
i have to go with picciotto. although they are both heartless witches probably on loads of money... for what!!! i don't see any need for any of this research!!!
Posted by: nicole | August 6, 2008 05:11 AM
I think they both are vile. I thought right or left hand preference was something determined in your genetics? I'd say it's a tie. The "work" they do is pointless and obviously is just some way for them to work out their obvious sadism. Disgusting.
Posted by: KatVegan | August 6, 2008 07:57 AM
Marina Picciotto.
Though they are both heartless, inhumane freaks. How anyone can purposely cause harm to any living thing is beyond my comprehension.
Posted by: Leigh | August 6, 2008 09:32 AM
Marina Picciotto
Just plain torture.
Posted by: Laura | August 6, 2008 10:33 AM
Beleive it or not I cant choose between either of them. Both individuals repulse me beyond measure and to judge either as more effective than the other simply makes the other seem less evil, which of course she is not. Wouldn't it be lovely to live in a world one day when everybody thought animal testing and cruelty is abhorent and the likes of organisations such as PETA were just not needed. They are vile, evil people and i'm so totally ashamed that we all do so little to change the way it works.
Posted by: Sarah Ronald | August 6, 2008 10:53 AM
I also feel that it is a very close tie.
Close, with the narrow winner being Alyson, taking babies from their mothers Alyson? You need to be severely morally deficient to NOT know that this is wrong.
I would like to add a plea to both women, and to all researchers: CHANGE, we WILL forgive you.
I do not wish any ill-will on you, but I hope that you realize that you CAN change. I personally have met at least two people who once did animal research and who now have stopped.
Redemption is available to everyone. It is not too late to use your talents to really help mankind.
I would like to believe that you are not psychopaths but that you genuinely feel that your research is valid.
It isn't.
We already know that separation from one's mother, starving, and drug abuse have negative impacts on us.
and on monkeys, and rats and mice.
And even "legitimate" animal studies are dangerous because humans react differently to drugs and disease than members of other species. It is bad science.
Honestly, I don't like either of you women, but I give you my word that if you change, I (and others like me) will embrace you and forgive you your crimes.
Please. For now, what you are doing is legal (unfortunately) but the world is changing quickly, and do you want your grandchildren to remember you as monsters?
In the last days of slavery there were those who chose to defend the cruel practice rather than change, and now their descendants have to pay the price with shame.
if you want to know HOW to change please contact PeTA
Posted by: Antoine | August 6, 2008 11:01 AM
Two sickos with a phd in torture! My vote goes to Marina.
Posted by: Maureen | August 6, 2008 12:34 PM
Marina Picciotto
Although it is a close one, for sure. Marina should have some tests done on her to find out how she ended up so messed up. I can't believe that she is so desensitized that she doesn't realize what she's doing. She's not right in the head and WE are paying for her to act out her own torture show.
Posted by: trista | August 6, 2008 05:06 PM
State Sanction Torture...Just like Nazi Germany. Those who ran the Death Camps were also higly educated doctors and psychietrist yet they were amoral,sadistic killers. These two women are no different.
Posted by: Patricia | August 6, 2008 07:38 PM
It's a hard pick but I think I'll choose Marina as she deliberately tries to make animals suffer - I think many vivisectors are sadistic but at least this one admits it.
I pray there is an afterlife where these sadists get their just desserts, as in this messed up world such people receive recognition and admiration as "academics."
Posted by: Tricia | August 7, 2008 01:40 AM
Well...
Its sucha tough one!
For here we seem to have two completely mentally unstable psychopaths- both equally fond of torture, despair and whose passion is to inflict gruesome pain on small beings unable to defend themself against the two contenders cruel needs..
(How they are actually able to live amongst us others and not locked up as they should be is a mystery to me! Wow, its crazy that we have actually have people like this in society and that they can breed!)
Imagine: once they were two little girls, now they make animals bleed and scream and die for work (and play)
But if I have to pick one of them... its hard.. hmmmmm.. Well, I'll vote for the second bitch.
Oh, and I believe in karma.
Posted by: Linda Davilia | August 7, 2008 07:27 AM
the first lady seems worse (if that's possible).
both are pathetic. i understand we need research to understand things. but i have yet to see a monkey smoke. so why would we test nicotine on them when i see thousands of humans who smoke, drink, do any drug they can get their hands on, have sex with out condoms and probably worse. there are a slew of idiots out there who waste their life away that would probably love a little money for their time. no drilling necessary.
Posted by: bbr | August 7, 2008 12:31 PM
Both of these horrific monsters should be thrown in a pool that has no escape route, and see how they like the feeling of drowning. They should both be drugged and have implants put in to their heads to try and read their thoughts. Can you imagine the shock they would feel, waking up out of a slumber and realizing what had been done to them. "Just like these animals feel". Day after day.
And rip their children away from them and explain to them that it is all in the name of Science.
My vote goes to Marina Picciotto.
Peace for all animals!
Most of my heroes wear masks!
Posted by: Judith FFFA | August 7, 2008 04:14 PM
Marina Picciotto. She is totally out of control, and very cruel.
Posted by: Pamela L. | August 7, 2008 04:25 PM
Dear Ms. Marina Picciotto ...
You know, all the things that you do to the animals in your experimentations?
I MOST SINCERELY DO WANT TO DO THE SAME TO YOU.
You work for Yale University??
YOU PUT YALE'S NAME AND REPUTATION DOWN THE DRAIN!! SHAME ON YOU!! MURDERER!!
Posted by: Junko M | August 8, 2008 07:37 AM
Forgot to vote, sorry.
My vote goes to the monkey Bennet woman. This bitch really takes the cake.
For someone who looks SO charming, she sure sure does ugly deeds.
And she looks completely healthy while doing these horrible things to animals.
IF SHE IS SLEEPING WELL AT NIGHTS WHILE SHE IS DOING SUCH HORRIBLE WORK DURING DAY-TIME, IT REALLY SHOWS JUST WHAT KIND OF A HUMANBEING SHE IS!!
Posted by: Junko M | August 8, 2008 07:49 AM
I hate myself now.
I was mixing up Bennet the cold-hearted bitch with the TRUE MANIAC bitch Picciotto.
Therefore, this is my apology and request to revise my vote: PICCIOTTO woman takes the cake, with flying colors.
I am also sorry for my earlier language. I was just way too enraged to stay level-headed.
Posted by: Junko M | August 8, 2008 07:53 AM
Are these people bored?
Are they arrogant enough to think they'll be famous if they state the obvious?
WHO the !@#$ would fund this !@#$?
COME ON people! Open your eyes!
Stop torturing animals for NOTHING!
This didnt cure Cancer. This didnt cure Aids. This does cure the common cold.
THIS DID NOTHING!
..sorry... just bothers me that this isnt televised everday and put in front of people's faces so they can see what goes on behind closed doors.
Posted by: wncbrooks | August 8, 2008 09:46 AM
Mariana... you win.
You cruel heartless joke.
Posted by: wncbrooks | August 8, 2008 09:48 AM
Definitely Marina Picciotto. If one were to 100% scientifically study the invalidity of animal-experimentation they would realize without arguement that the MOST asinine and illogical experiments are those that involve chemical addiction. With all the brilliant minds at Yale who can easily figure this out with minimum study it CLEARLY shows this is a perfect example of the MONEY/PROFIT factor being the ONLY motive here. These "researchers" 99.99% of the time refuse to present their "lifesaving" work in an open public forum for constructive scientific critique. If one were truely involved in helping others it would be an automatic, reflexive, intrinsically motivated response to have their work examined for basic validity. THEY ALMOST ALWAYS REFUSE THIS DISCUSSION EVEN WHEN THE ETHICS PORTION IS COMPLETELY DELETED. The reason is simple: scientific fraud would be easily revealed.
Posted by: gerry | August 8, 2008 10:50 AM
The reason this people do this is us the taxpayers fund all these experiments. We need to elect different representatives, mayors, governors, senators, and presidents. We need people in congress that care about animals. We also need to complain to our government now and let them know if they don't stop these cruel, disgusting and sadistic experiments we won't vote for them again.
Posted by: Wanda Perry | August 8, 2008 05:38 PM
Looks like it will be standing room only in HELL
Posted by: Teri | August 8, 2008 07:50 PM
Great scientific minds at work here-redoing age-old research! How hardened do you have to be to look in the eyes of an innocent and inflict such cruelty? Both are uncreative, callous women but my vote goes to Picciotto.
Posted by: lynda downie | August 9, 2008 01:08 AM
Has got to be both of them !
I wonder what 'job' they would be doing if they were not torturing animals? Frightening !!!!
Posted by: Hazel | August 9, 2008 09:03 PM
Confusing. I have a bio degree. I've done some experiments. While these seem excessive, I think that a lot of torture happens with our own species. I hate hearing about these ridiculous life-saving techniques forced on infants with disorders that would normally surrender them to natural selection. Our population is too high. If there were less people, there would be less of a drive for this type of research.
Posted by: MonkeyGrl | August 11, 2008 12:23 PM
MonkeyGirl there is no excuse for torturing animals behind locked "research" doors and doing worthless redundant experiments, all in the name of science. The truth is this is junkscience, the results of animal experiments cannot be applied and transferred to humans.
Posted by: vegancoin | August 15, 2008 04:25 PM
We actually can't believe it. these people should be stopped!!! not voted for as the worst one and joked about. this is extremely serious and i think that the idea of voting is stupid and childish
Posted by: Furturnative | August 23, 2008 02:26 PM
PETA uses everything at its disposal to educate people about and oppose vivisection -(undercover investigations, protests, demonstrations, leafletting, dialog, etc)
And I think it's good and necessary to sometimes take a more lighthearted approach. Sattire and humour are often the most effective way to highlight serious issues.
It may not appeal to everyone, but I find 'vivisector of the month' a valuable, well-written feature on this blog.
Posted by: lynda downie | August 26, 2008 02:37 AM