HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS USED IN RESEARCH 301 
EXAMPLE 1. SITUATION AT A LOCAL TEACHING HOSPITAL 
This institution undertook to do some heart research. The animal quarters 
used were visited by committee members following complaints by other hos- 
pital personnel and citizens who had become aware of the conditions under which 
the animals were kept. 
Findings 
The dogs were housed in an old one-car garage. Ventilation was obtained 
through the garage door and a small single door. When these were closed 
there was no light or ventilation. The garage was cold in winter and hot in 
summer. Badly worn cages, discarded by a local veterinarian held the dogs. 
Some were too small so that a large dog could not stand at full height. The 
cages were filthy ; feces and vomit from the sick dogs littered the floor of the 
cages. One cage was bordered with moldy bread which the dog would not eat. 
On the door of the cage was a sign “no meat.” Convalescent dogs lay in these 
filthy cages. There was no attendant on hand and no one appeared during 
the visit. It developed that care of these dogs was incidental to the janitor 
work of one of the cleaners. An operating tray stood in the middle of this small 
room with surgical apparatus nearby indicating that the surgery took place 
within sight and smell of dogs. The findings were presented to the hospital 
administrator and the chief pathologist who was called in by the administrator. 
The latter, a very humane man, welcomed the formal complaint for he had been 
trying to improve conditions. He stated that he felt, “If the humane society 
knew about the conditions under which these dogs were used, they would close us 
up in a minute.” It was explained that Florida laws expressly exempt animals 
used for medical research from any legal protection ; that the welfare of these 
animals is entirely dependent upon the consciences of the people who use them. 
Following this adverse report, made to the hospital board by the pathologist, 
this board had plans prepared for a new and properly planned laboratory that 
would also house dogs comfortably and properly. An appeal was made to the 
National Institutes of Health for funds to supplement those which could be 
raised locally. However, the National Institutes of Health representatives, in- 
vestigated the situation and turned down the request. While here they stated 
that they had seen animal quarters much worse than these, where research was 
done. 
At this point the heart research work was canceled on the pathologist’s 
recommendation, because of the inhumane housing of the animals, and improper 
surgical arrangements. 
Corrections Made 
Subsequently, laboratory space was found near the hospital. It was fitted up 
with a heart-lung machine, the gift of a local health organization. A trained 
technician was employed. Instead of many dogs being incarcerated waiting to 
be used or convalescing, one dog is brought to the laboratory when needed. This 
dog is usually a whippet, retired from the racetrack and marked for destruction. 
The dog is anesthetized, used humanely and, if to be allowed to regain conscious- 
ness, he is taken to the hospital of a cooperating veterinarian for convalescent 
care. 
National standards for the housing and use of animals would have prevented 
the unfortunate method of starting this important research work in such un- 
scientific quarters. Such standards would doubtless have caused a considered 
plan to be developed that would have been fair to both animals and researchers 
even though Government money might not be involved. 
EXAMPLE 2. THE ANIMAL QUARTERS OF THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION AT 
ROCHESTER, N.Y. 
This visit was made in July 1960. My guide, one of the scientists, escorted me 
graciously through the building. After the tour which demonstrated many 
disturbing conditions, I asked him if he would have designed animal quarters 
like these. He answered with some vehemence, “No, indeed.” 
Findings 
The building occupies a triangular piece of property, bounded by a cemetery 
and streets which prevent extension on the ground level. The quarters for the 
dogs are long corridors with two-tiered cages on each side and a passageway 
between the cages. The cages appear about 30 inches square. In the cages in 
