We acknowledge that St. Joseph’s Health Care London has taken a very courageous step. They will end all experimentation with dogs because of public outrage related to a recently uncovered study. The research, which spanned several years, involved inducing heart attacks in dogs and puppies and subsequently euthanizing them for organ study. An exclusive story by the Investigative Journalism Bureau at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health first uncovered the specifics of the study. This shocking exposure led to international outrage which helped fuel the emerging movement for more humane treatment of animals used in medical experimentation.
The heart study at St. Joseph’s Health Care London created tremendous buzz for the study’s attention to humane issues. It would have meant subjecting dogs and puppies to three hours of torture while carrying out heart attacks on purpose. The discovery that many of these animals were euthanized at the conclusion of the experiments only deepened the public outrage. Butler, Bell and other community leaders understood that transparency is a foundational element of good science. He promised to address these issues head on with staff and the public.
Premier Ford’s Stance on Animal Testing
In an unexpected move, new Ontario Premier Doug Ford has taken a hard line against the use of animal testing. His position follows shocking new evidence from St. Joseph’s Health Care London. In doing so, he made clear his opposition against using dogs and cats in research experiments. On top of this, he revealed his plans to introduce legislation to abolish these practices.
“And just a message: If you’re doing this with dogs or cats, you gotta stop before I catch you. Simple as that. We’re going to legislate this…. You aren’t gonna be going after animals like that,” – Doug Ford
Ford emphasized the emotional toll such experiments take on animals, stating, “It’s just unacceptable. Imagine your little dog being there and they try to put him into a heart attack. The poor thing. That’s terrible and inhumane.” His alarming comments are an overall indictment of the ethical treatment of animals in Ontario’s research community.
Ford has been proactive. He directed his team to – as much as possible – cut through any active lines of research that involve dogs or cats being done in Ontario. He’s not afraid to take an aggressive approach to protect these animals. His aim is to stop any further damage cloaked in the name of scientific research.
Advocates Call for Change
Charu Chandrasekera, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods, lauded Ford’s plan. She thanked people for helping her to compel the federal government to reconsider its animal testing practices in all of Canada. She pointed to a lack of federal legislation that protects animals used in scientific experimentation. Not surprisingly, most Canadians wonder why animal welfare isn’t considered a major priority.
“We don’t have federal legislation defending animals in science. We do not have a federal animal welfare act. We don’t have a lot of things that other countries do, and people always ask me, ‘Why don’t Canadians care?’” – Charu Chandrasekera
Chandrasekera hopes that Ford’s comments could mark a new chapter for animal welfare in Canada. She remarked, “This is a defining moment for science in our country, and hopefully we can show the world that Canadians care by making a plan to phase out animal testing and adopting more and more animal-free methods.”
She stressed the critical need for alternatives to animal research. She challenged scientists to assess whether their research could be done without using animals.
“Is there an alternative method? If yes, you shouldn’t use an animal. Reduction is, ‘Do you need to use that amount of animals to conduct research?” – Pierre Verreault
Ethics and Animal Research Standards
The Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) plays a pivotal role in overseeing ethical guidelines for animal research in Canada. This organization emphasizes the “Three Rs”: Replacement, reduction, and refinement, which guide research decisions involving animal subjects.
Roy Butler, CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Care London, affirmed the institution’s commitment to ethical standards in animal research. He stated, “Animal research at Lawson is highly regulated and undertaken only when scientifically necessary and after all other alternatives have been considered.”
The recent backlash has led to a seismic shift in the perception of animal testing in Ontario. Consequently, the regulations surrounding it are changing at an equally rapid pace. St. Joseph’s Health Care London has agreed to stop doing research on dogs. This decision is indicative of the broader movement in favor of transparency and ethical accountability in the realm of scientific research.
