Animal Rights Group Lodges Second Complaint Against UTMB

GALVESTON, TX -- The University of Texas Medical Branch is facing sharp criticism from an animal rights group, who filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture alleging UTMB researchers published a study that contained information about animal abuse.

Stop Animal Exploitation Now! filed its complaint based on an April 5 article published in Translational Medicine, which indicated animals were allowed to suffer instead of being humanely put down.

The allegations sparked a war of words, with UTMB spokesman Raul Reyes calling the allegations false, and SAEN! spokesman Michael Budkie calling for a more thorough investigation of UTMB by the journal to ensure federal laws weren’t violated.

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It’s the second complaint SAEN! has filed against UTMB in less than a year.

Last year, UTMB was fined $33,000 when the USDA ruled that guinea pigs were mishandled during research.

However, in March the Office of Laboratory and Animal Welfare found UTMB was in compliance with animal-welfare laws and regulations.

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