by Joanna Hay

Created on: June 23, 2009   Last Updated: June 24, 2009

No one can be expected to have total control of their pet at all times. Even good pet owners are sometimes going to have pets escape and possibly be picked up by animal control. Most people will notice that their pet is missing and rush straight to the phone to call every animal control, shelter, and vet clinic in state looking for their dog. Usually this will mean that the dog is soon found and reunited with their loving family. But what if the animal has traveled too far to be found, or if his owners are not looking for him? What is the animal control facility supposed to do then?

The sad fact is that the vast majority of dogs at animal control are never claimed. The usual protocol is to keep the dog for a certain number of days and if it is not claimed by its owner or adopted by someone else, the dog is euthanized. The other option is for the animal to be sold to a research facility where it will be used for the sake of science.

No one likes to think of their pet in a research program because the media has told us that these dogs are tortured and killed. In reality, research institutions are bound by very strict guidelines that require the humane treatment of all test animals. Researchers are required to turn in a detailed report of how the animals will be used before the study begins. This report is subjected to review by an animal welfare committee and the study is not allowed to begin until they are satisfied. Once the study is underway, most facilities have a veterinarian on staff whose is responsible for maintaining the welfare of all animals and has the authority to pull any animal from the study if it is suffering.

It is true that many of these research animals will be humanely euthanized at the end of a study, but they were slated to be euthanized by the animal shelter anyway. By refusing to allow research institutions to acquire dogs in this way, opponents are actually resulting in the death of more dogs. The research does not stop because shelter dogs are not available. The institution is simply forced to raise entire kennels of dogs for the sole purpose of populating their research projects.

During my college years, I was exposed to animal research institutions and even worked with the animals used for research. They are humanely treated and respected by researchers and staff because everyone knows they are giving their lives so that others might live. Isn't that a better legacy than a pointless death at animal control?

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