A terrifying recording of experiments conducted on monkeys, dogs, cats
was published by Cruelty Free International and Soko Tierschutz
(organizations fighting for animal rights). The experiments took place
at the Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory near Hamburg. The
recording shows "a terrible mixture of suffering and cruelty," say
activists Soko Tierschutz. The case was described by "The Guardian" and
"Daily Mail".
The disclosed video was shot from a hidden camera by Friedrich Mullen,
an activist from Soko Tierschutz, who worked in the laboratory for
several months. His organization emphasizes that the practices in the
Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory at Mienenbuttel near Hamburg are
not only a "terrible mixture of suffering and cruelty," but also
violate German and EU regulations.
Furthermore, animal rights activists believe that pharmaceutical and
industrial companies around the world could benefit from this research.
Macaques with harnesses at the necks, restrained, forced to stand in an
uncomfortable position for a long time. Some try to pull tight collars
from the neck. Monkeys enclosed in cages of less than a cubic meter,
desperately jumping or spinning around. Beagle lying in a narrow box on
a bloody floor. These are just some of the pictures that Friedrich
Mullen immortalized in the film.
On one shot, a lab worker with metal pliers grabs the macaque by the
neck. On another, a technician, holding a terrified monkey by the tail
and a rod attached to the collar, places it in a metal support.
Mullen claims that animals have been treated roughly and that the
people who 'deal' with them are not trained animal keepers. - The dogs
taken for testing even wagged their tails - in this way they
desperately wanted to make contact with people - he reports.
In the laboratory, toxicity tests were carried out for pharmaceutical,
industrial and agrochemical companies. As Cruelty Free International
(one of the largest animal protection organizations in the world)
reminds: "Toxicity testing involves the poisoning of animals to
determine the harmful dose of chemicals.
This attempts to determine the possible" safe "dose for humans."
"Animals were injected or forced to eat and inhale increasing amounts
of chemicals to measure toxic effects such as vomiting, internal
bleeding, respiratory failure, fever, lethargy, skin problems, organ
failure and even death. No analgesics or painkillers were provided." -
quotes the Daily Mail.
Friedrich Mullen described how the experiments on dogs and cats were
carried out. Beagles were forced into the throats of the tube through
which drugs were administered. Cats were given up to 13 injections a
day, after which they were left suffering.
The footage caused an angry reaction from activists who said that the
suffering of animals kept in a German laboratory was clearly not
limited to the minimum, as required by law in many countries.
Kate Willett of the Humane Society International described the
practices of the Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory at Mienenbuttel
as "barbaric" and possibly illegal, and found the conditions in which
the animals were kept "terrifying". Willett also questioned the
credibility of the study. In her opinion, the data collected based on
experiments can be "practically useless" because the animal's responses
were changed by the stress they were experiencing. "It is time for this
type of research to go to the trash of history.
There are new methods of testing without the participation of animals
(...) Such abuse in the name of science in the 21st century is
unforgivable" - she emphasized.
"Our investigation revealed the terrifying suffering of animals,
inadequate care, bad practices and violations of European and German
law," said Michelle Thew, director of Cruelty Free International. The
organization calls for the closure of the Pharmacology and Toxicology
Laboratory near Hamburg, as well as for controls regarding the
treatment of animals in toxicity testing facilities across Europe.