Programs & Campaigns

A Voice for All Animals

March 29, 2005

The Boston Globe

To the Editor:

“Cruelty charges dropped against Charles River Labs” (March 29) reminded me of a similar situation. In 1983, psychologist Dr. Edward Taub escaped an animal cruelty conviction in Maryland for abhorrent laboratory conditions where monkeys were paralyzed. Like Charles River Labs (CRL) Taub beat the rap. Taub’s federally funded research did not fall within the jurisdiction of state law. As a psychologist, I feel insult was added to injury when the American Psychological Association honored Taub with a 2004 Distinguished Scientific Award.

Now the multi-billion dollar corporation CRL and its legal dream-team escaped accountability because of a technicality that exempts veterinary practices from animal cruelty charges. Thus, we will never know if CRL would have been found guilty of alleged negligence toward chimpanzees, or not.

Researchers “get away with murder” every day because society has deemed them above the law. In a democracy no one should be above the law. Veterinarians should not; and federally funded researchers should not. Our taxpayer dollars continue to fund research of the most abominable nature in facilities of the most horrific conditions. Despite the legal outcome of the criminal investigations, CRL must be held accountable. Case closed.

Sincerely,

Theodora Capaldo, EdD
President
New England Anti-Vivisection Society