05/07/24 25 dogs and monkeys rescued from horrific experiments!
The largest seizure and animal rescue from laboratories in the history of Italy
- Instead of horrifying animal experimentation, investment in new technologies and scientific development is needed
The Italian organization LAV (Lega Anti Vivisezione), a member of the European Coalition to End Animal Experiments (ECEAE), of which the organization Animal Friends Croatia is also a member, reported the largest seizure and rescue of animals from laboratories in the history of Italy! 25 animals, including dogs and primates, were rescued from a research facility in Verona where serious animal abuse was discovered.
The Verona court has brought charges against officials of the multinational research company Aptuit, which conducts animal testing for international pharmaceutical companies. They are accused of neglect, abuse, and illegal killing of beagles, marmosets, and macaques, for which imprisonment of up to 18 months or a fine of up to 30,000 euros is prescribed. The state prosecutor found that the company did not even meet the minimum legally required criteria for handling animals, resulting in serious physical and psychological injuries. The animals were kept in inadequate small spaces, without even the most basic shelter, on the cold laboratory floor, in darkness, subjected to harsh conditions and painful experiments.
Inside the Aptuit company laboratory, thousands of dogs and monkeys were subjected to horrifying experiments in which they were used for toxicity testing, resulting in painful death after prolonged agony, for operations involving the insertion of electrical implants, the insertion of tubes into veins and probes into the spleen and heart... Macaques were permanently branded with identification marks on their skin, while marmosets were separated in metal cages, malnourished, with damaged or missing teeth, with scars from implant removal. The LAV organization says that the animals were rescued from this nightmare, but the traces of the experienced traumas continue to haunt them daily.
LAV states that the news of the closure of the preliminary investigation following the seizure of 25 animals comes three years after they first reported the arrival of a shipment with several beagles to the Aptuit company, leading to requests for inspection and protests by citizens. Thanks to continuous pressure, the State Prosecutor ordered an inspection of the facility, and LAV was entrusted with the care of 25 animals, which are undergoing complex rehabilitation to compensate for years of physical and psychological abuse.
The organization Animal Friends Croatia reminds us that in a similar action in 2005, beagles illegally used in experiments at the Veterinary Faculty in Zagreb were liberated and adopted, where they were subjected to bone-breaking experiments. After intensive protests and pressure from Animal Friends Croatia and citizens, 32 frightened and traumatized dogs were greeted by their adoptive parents. Some of them were broken, one without an eye, one without an anus, with various untreated ailments, and their adoptive parents had to teach them to walk on grass and not fear people in white coats. Despite these horrific facts and filed complaints, no one responsible for the procurement and conduct of experiments has been criminally held accountable to this day. The liberated beagles were brought from the Italian breeding facility Green Hill, which was closed in 2012 under accusations of animal abuse.
"As our comrades from the LAV organization have emphasized, if these very serious irregularities are found in what is considered 'excellence' in pharmaceutical research, then what is happening at this moment not only in more than 500 Italian laboratories but also in laboratories around the world? Animal experiments do not save human lives due to physiological differences between humans and animals. Instead of horrifying animal experimentation, investment in new technologies is needed. This will promote scientific development and truly help sick people," concludes Animal Friends Croatia.
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