Help Animals: Put Class B Dealers Out of Business
posted by: alicia graef 257 days ago
Class B dealers are basically animal brokers who acquire dogs and cats from shelters, classified ads, and even theft in some cases, for the purpose of selling them to schools and research institutions for a profit.
While Class B dealers are technically regulated by the USDA and the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), which calls for minimal care standards, there are still an unfortunate number of violations where animals have been found in unsanitary conditions with no food, water or veterinary care, among other violations.
A recent study, “Dying to Learn: Exposing the Supply and Use of Dogs and Cats in Higher Education,” was conducted by the American Anti-Vivisection Society (AAVS), using information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. The study highlighted some of the problems with Class B dealers, along with the use of animals at schools and research facilities when alternatives were available.
As I mentioned in a previous post, the study also found that students can learn just as well through alternative teaching methods that can include hands on training at shelters for vet students and simulators, that have been approved by the American College of Surgeons, for medical students.
As cause for concern regarding random-source dealers grows, Congress is considering a committee to investigate these issues, as well as federal legislation intended to put Class B dealers out of business.
Additionally, some institutions are striking out on their own to stop supporting random-source dealers. Oklahoma State University and the University of Cincinnati are two schools that have since changed their veterinary programs to teach students by working with shelters to actually help animals who can then be adopted, instead of using purpose-bred animals from Class B dealers.
The real question is, how many times can the USDA continue cite Class B dealers with violations before they come to the conclusion that they shouldn’t be in business?
TAKE ACTION!!
Read more: usda, animal welfare, AAVS, animal research, class b dealers
comments
I cannot believe this is allowed in the 21st century!!! My God, who are these evil scum?!?!?
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They shouldn't even consider giving animals out to secondary abusers... that is like putting the animals from the fat into the frying pan... This should be banned and stopped immediately.
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OK. So we put class B dealers out of business. The labs are breeding genetic freak dogs to tear up and torture.
http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v115/n1/full/5600763a.html
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I wonder if these people would like to be a "lab animal" for a weeks?
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Carol G. Dogtown, Bets Friends is a wonderful place! Its my dream to spend a week there with the animals! Even longer!
What a difference in the way different people treat our companion animals.
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Lori Childers, you are so right. Its the law makers. And they are not taking and selling fighting pit bulls to these research facilities. (Wouldn't that be funny to see these torturers have to dodge some pit bull teeth to do some "research"!!) They want the smaller friendlier dogs, that would have made someone a great pet. SO. The small friendly dogs are doomed to a life of completely unnecessary torture, and we still euthanize millions, the majority being unadoptable pits and pit mixes. All of this is messed up. Its past time to stop the use of animals in testing/torture.
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i watch dog town all the time ,they are part of an organization called best friends ,which i make alot of donations to , they actually took in vicks dogs ,the ones that were the most dangerous ,25 of them and rehabed them and actually they adopted 2 of them out already ,places like this are wonderful places for dogs and all sort of animals that nobody can do anything with ,they also are a no kill place ,you can go on their website ,www.bestfriends.org.great website
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How can we allow this to happen? Once again, the animals do not have a choice.
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There's no real excuse for supporting any kind of puppy mill operation when so many dogs need homes. Furthermore, their only reputable vet intervention should be when they need care and monitoring - not for shipping, selling or experimentation. It's abominable to mass produce puppies when so many dogs already need a good home.
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I am convinced that some people are missing a chromosone that is related to ethics and compassion. How else can people bring themselves to hand over innocent animals to a life of torture and death just to make a buck? This type of mercenary cruelty sickens me.
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