VCU Responds Humane Society Allegations

That statement says, “Virginia Commonwealth University uses animals in research in compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, published by the National Research Council.  VCU self-reports non-compliance involving animal use to the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, of the U.S. Public Health Service, and the United States Department of Agriculture.  Equally important, the University said, all reports include specific corrective actions that are implemented to prevent re-occurrence.  The VCU Laboratory Animal Research Program has been accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International, for more than four decades.  To earn and maintain that accreditation, VCU must demonstrate that it exceeds federal requirements to achieve excellence in animal care and use.”  That’s the end of the statement. 

The Humane Society had requested that VCU commit to an animal treatment policy that would not subject animals to severe pain or stress.  Only three colleges or universities in Virginia have a similar policy, and only fifty-five nationally, and none of them are research facilities.  The Society admitted that its claims were supported by incidents reported promptly by VCU.

John Ogle, WCVE News.