Recent findings by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) have shed light on the shocking state of animal welfare in some taxpayer-funded laboratories across the United States. PETA scientists have identified five academic institutions as the most frequent violators of federal animal welfare guidelines, with a total of 295 violations among them. These institutions are the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Baylor College of Medicine, and the universities of Pittsburgh, Washington, and Minnesota.

The federal government has established minimum standards for animal care in laboratories, which include providing animals with food and water and avoiding inhumane treatment. However, the Flagrant Five academic institutions have demonstrated a shocking inability to meet even these basic requirements. This failure raises questions about their commitment to animal welfare and their competence in conducting research ethically.

With numbers this large it’s crucial to remember that each violation represents an act of suffering inflicted upon defenseless sentient beings. The violations range from neglect to outright cruelty, and they cannot be ignored. Below are the Flagrant Five and PETA’s findings:

1. University of Wisconsin–Madison: The institution with the highest number of violations, 72 in total. An infant monkey died after being left without water overnight, and numerous mice suffered agonizing deaths due to staff neglect. This is a grim record for a school that received $365 million from NIH in 2022.
2. Baylor College of Medicine: With 63 violations, Baylor College has a dark history, including two mice being scalded to death during cage washing and another mouse euthanized due to surgery-related burns. Despite these violations, Baylor received $365 million from NIH in 2022.
3. University of Pittsburgh: Responsible for 59 violations, including an incident where a monkey had to undergo partial toe amputation after escaping. In more than 30 separate incidents, mice died painful deaths due to neglect. The university received $675 million from NIH in 2022.
4. University of Washington: This institution had 53 separate violations, with a disturbing incident at its Arizona facility where a juvenile monkey escaped and had its arm amputated due to injuries. Additionally, 19 mice died of starvation. The University of Washington received $592 million from NIH in 2022.
5. University of Minnesota: With 48 violations, including a monkey being burned during surgery and mice found without food, this university received $433 million from NIH in 2022.

Despite receiving billions of dollars in taxpayer funding, these institutions have shown a consistent pattern of neglect and cruelty towards animals used in research. This calls into question the effectiveness of government oversight and the allocation of taxpayer funds. If these standards are not met, it is essential that funding be reevaluated and redirected toward research methods that do not involve animal testing.

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