Billboard Campaign Prompts NJ Hospital To Stop Using Live Animals For Medical Training
MORRISTOWN, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - A recent billboard campaign to stop Morristown Medical Center from using live animals for medical training led to some good news for man's best friend.
The billboard, which stands at the Morristown NJ Transit station, reads "Don't kill man's best friend for medical testing." It was paid for by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine after the group found that the program run by Morristown Medical Center was one of the last in the country to use live dogs.
The medical center says the testing does not take place at the hospital itself but will not disclose where the off site lab was located.
Some Morris County residents were stunned, completely unaware that this was going on right in their backyard.
"It's quite alarming," said commuter Daniel Costew.
"I think that's appalling," added Morristown resident Marc Weinstein.
"It's egregiously inhumane to capture, contain, and to perform invasive procedures on dogs and to kill them," said the Committee's Dr. John Pippin.
As CBS2's Meg Baker reported, the practice may even present legal issues.
According to New Jersey's animal cruelty statutes, it's unlawful to purposely and knowingly torture, maim, or needlessly mutilate creatures.
There is an exception for some science experiments, but that does not include routine procedures such as heart surgeries. Additionally, the Federal Animal Welfare Act ensures animals are taken care of properly when used in these types of procedures.
Pippin says the practice itself is outdated and that most training programs use cadavers.
"We still don't know where the dogs are coming from. They could be purchasing from animal dealers, they could obtain them from shelters," he added.
After previously defending the use of live animal testing, Morristown Medial Center today announced it will stop the four hour training lab using live dogs.
