Protesters rally at state capitol to end experimentation on dogs
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)– Dogs and dog owners rallied on the steps of the capitol Thursday to support a bill that will end experimenting on dogs.
The rally was in support of Queenie’s Law (HB 4849), which was prompted by research conducted at Wayne State University. The bill will put an end to any ‘public body’ from using dogs for animal experimentation.
Ryan Merkley, Director of Research Advocacy for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, says the research being conducted results in all dogs dying.
“These are experiments in which dogs are knowingly subjected to pain and distress. At Wayne State, which was the inspiration behind this bill, all of the dogs die. Some of them are found dead in their cages. Some of them suffer from painful internal bleeding.”
“It’s done for heart failure and hypertension research that over the last 33 years has yielded no benefit to patients,” said Merkley.
Julie Baker, Director of the Richland Animal Recuse, says the rally stands to protect dogs and urges people to call the legislators to protect the dogs of Michigan.
“We are here to protect dogs from unnecessary research and protect dogs in the State of Michigan. We rescue dogs that could end up in situations like that, we want to keep them protected.”
Merkley says help from House Speaker Joe Tate will be needed to move this bill forward.
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