Apr30
University Must Return $1.4 Million
Posted at 04:31 PM | Permalink
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Comments (15)
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The massive refund came to light after PETA filed a Freedom of Information Act request and uncovered documents indicating that U-M had violated federal regulations and guidelines on numerous occasions, including allowing animals to die from starvation and dehydration, performing unauthorized surgeries, and "inadvertently" throwing dozens of animals into a trash compactor.
One U-M experimenter injected a rabbit with an unauthorized anesthetic, which meant that the rabbit had to be euthanized after suffering necrosis of ear tissue and trauma to the eye. In another incident, half a dozen animals died when the chamber in which their cages had been placed caught fire. Some of the animals died of smoke inhalation, while others drowned as their cages filled with water from the sprinkler system.
Most importantly costly, as it turned out, U-M was charging the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the care of animals who were no longer enrolled in approved experiments. In a March 2007 internal investigation ordered by NIH, U-M determined that over a period of six months, there were 33 incidents in which experimenters continued to test on animals even though the experiments did not have the required approval from the oversight committee.
Unfortunately, this is what happens when the folks who are supposed to implement universities' so-called "animal care and use programs" just … well … don't, and when big, bloated bureaucracies like NIH—which gave U-M $423.2 million in 2008 alone—throw money at guys in white lab coats without bothering to check and see what they're actually doing with it.
We're now calling on NIH revoke the University of Michigan's "assurance," which allows U-M to receive federal funding to perform experiments on animals. Hey, it never hurts to ask, right?
Posted by Alisa Mullins
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Comments
You know we live in a fallen world when famous Universities encourage students to torture, maim and kill animals for ineffectual purposes.
Posted by: Brien Comerford | April 30, 2009 08:19 PM
I cant believe in the united States we have such cruel heartless people who get paid millions of dollars and they torture beautiful animals!! Its ungodly! How would they like it if it were them! I am an Esthetitian (skin care ), and I know these experiments are sensless most of the products made now are herbal and organic for skin and hair I have worked in the skin care industry for 19 years and I know for a fact we dont need to test on animals! I will stand up for animals till the day I die I love them God gave them to us and it wasnt to beat them and torture them! Even in the old testament in Proverbs it tells about a good man taking care of his beast.
Posted by: sheri | May 1, 2009 02:09 AM
If there was no money involved we would not hear about this story. There seems to be little or no regulations regarding animal testing, you just have to read the story about the Korean scientist who created a glow in the dark beagle dog, how many dogs did he torture and kill before he got his result and you have to ask, why on earth was he allowed to do this.
Posted by: Jaquie | May 1, 2009 06:56 AM
I live in the Ann Arbor area. The University of Michigan certainly holds high credibility in academics and it's a shame that they insist on continuing these practices. It's an embarrassment.
Posted by: Chris | May 1, 2009 09:31 AM
The university system is FILLED with cheats and liars like these researchers who are breaking laws and stealing money.
I wish that there were more STUDENTS with ethics who were whistleblowers.
No matter how many degrees they have, too many university people are white collar criminals.
Posted by: kelly | May 1, 2009 12:07 PM
That's disgusting.
Not that I'd ever go there anyways, it's just another reason not to. I can't think of a better way to NOT get the best and brightest students from around the world than promoting unethical, unnecassary animals crulety ie "testing" and/or "disection".
Posted by: Meg | May 1, 2009 01:39 PM
appalling.
Posted by: jess | May 1, 2009 02:07 PM
Poor lovely, innocent tortured animals!!! RIP! :(
Posted by: AAG | May 1, 2009 02:54 PM
Thanks Peta for raising our college tuition cost. I am sure the thousands of college students struggling to pay for school will be happy to know what you have done.
Posted by: Grant | May 1, 2009 03:44 PM
These is one of the best news that one can expect to hear, an university being held accountable for their misuse of funds and torture to animals.
Posted by: Margarita | May 1, 2009 07:47 PM
Shame on you AAG. I must add very selfish! You'd prefer to see cruel animal treatment in order to protect your pocket.
You're just as bad as the rest of these guys at U-M.
Posted by: Diane | May 2, 2009 07:45 AM
Good work PETA.
Hit them where it hurts; in the pocketbook.
Money is the only thing the greedy understand.
Posted by: Saucy | May 2, 2009 08:15 AM
Great spade work, PETA. You gotta love the FOIA.
Grant,
Why would this raise your tuition?
Posted by: Mike Quinoa | May 4, 2009 03:31 PM
(stifles giggle)Diane, it wasn't AAG, it was Grant that was being a butt here. Whoever posted, their name goes below their post. Yet, I agree with you! And as Mike Quinoa said, how WOULD this raise your tuition? Because government lost trust in universities, so they'll stop funding them, by making you pay more? wel, that's a logical explination, but, thankfully, it shouldn't happen. I hope the University of Minnesota doesn't pull any stunts like this, because I want to go there, and they better be trustworthy...(paranoiud eye-shift)
Posted by: Vegetariansmakebetterlovers | May 26, 2009 04:31 PM
It is so disturbing to know that some human beings can find so much pleasure in pain. To inflict such torture on defenseless, trusting and
innocent creatures. Even to make certain their cries of agony can be silenced by cutting their vocal cords. I can only imagine the agony that they endure day after day. The only relief can come from death. We can only keep being their voices and never turn our backs, we have to do whatever it takes to free all god's precious creatures.
Posted by: marjee diambrose | June 11, 2009 10:11 PM