Keeping Companion Animals Out of Labs

Committed to closing the abuse-ridden pipeline that supplies dogs and cats to laboratories, Reps. Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) have reintroduced the Pet Safety and Protection Act (H.R. 2224). This legislation would prohibit the use of random source Class B dealers as suppliers of dogs and cats for use in experimentation. Dealers within this system, which Rep. Doyle labeled “an unmitigated disaster,” are notorious for violating the Animal Welfare Act’s standards for acquisition and animal care. While few such dealers remain—and several of them are under investigation—Rep. Smith noted that “closing them down once and for all will give people greater confidence in our research programs and go a long way toward reducing animal cruelty.”