Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s threat to researchers includes a special admonition to those testing on dogs. He implored them to “not do this thing and stop before I catch you. This public statement addresses this growing public concern over the use of animals in research. More significantly, it represents a broader change in the U.S. government’s attitude toward animal welfare. The government of Ontario has introduced new legislation to protect animals and reinvigorate animal protections. This initiative takes dead aim at invasive medical research on dogs and cats.
The proposed legislation is part of a broader omnibus bill that primarily addresses public safety issues, including measures to combat impaired driving. To make sure that we are no longer doing “invasive medical research” on cats and dogs. Advocacy advocates warn that this law doesn’t end all negative practices of animal research. The legislation provides for limited exceptions where research directly benefits veterinary care, meaning at least some animal testing will still go on.
Key Provisions of the Proposed Legislation
Of course, we all prefer a world where animal welfare is safeguarded without the need for enforcement actions. NSTC policy prohibits the breeding of animals solely for the purpose of sale to a commercial enterprise for use in biomedical research. Additionally, any research proposals involving animals must be overseen by an animal care committee that includes at least one veterinarian. This new requirement is meant to strengthen ethical research practices in any research that is performed.
As with all big advancements, the jury is still out on whether this bad legislation will work as intended. Angela Fernandez, director of the animal law program at the University of Toronto, underscored a profound point. Yet she noted, the legislation still enables currently operating facilities to greenlight new research ventures.
“This legislation doesn’t prevent those facilities from continuing to approve these projects,” – Angela Fernandez
Fernandez highlighted that it is illegal to breed cats and dogs for the purpose of advancing animal research. Researchers continue to maintain a vetocracy that creates a chilling effect on research.
Public Response and Ongoing Concerns
The changes they have proposed would go a long way toward addressing the public outrage. Claim to stop St. Joseph’s Health Care London from using dogs for medical research. After intense public outcry, St. Joseph’s reversed course and said it would stop conducting heart studies using dogs. The resulting uproar symbolized a rising tide of anger from citizens about how animals are used in laboratories.
Drew Woodley, director of government relations at the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society, expressed his excitement about the recent progress. He praised the effect of new law on improving their processes. Woodley felt positive that the amendments would build on these changes by providing new and important protections for animals used in research.
“We don’t want them to use animals that have already had difficult lives,” – Drew Woodley
Woodley is enthusiastic about the need for further measures. He proposes to end the use of unneeded pets from municipal pounds for medical research, something not covered by the proposed legislation as it stands.
Future Directions for Animal Research
The conversation about animal research is evolving quickly. It is critical, now more than ever, for researchers to focus on alternatives to animal testing. The new legislation requires researchers to check for alternatives before conducting any studies on living beings.
As large as the leap forward indicated by the proposed legislation would be, many experts are still doubtful about what it means in practice. Fernandez further warned that this is not a full-out ban on animal testing.
“It’s not really a ban on animal research,” – Angela Fernandez
As the debate progresses, advocates from all sectors will continue to advocate for stricter regulations to govern animal testing practices and hold companies accountable. This change in tone and content marks an increasing awareness of animal welfare concerns in both the scientific community and society at large.
