Animals for research

Press, 23 November 1979, Page 16

Animals for research

Sir,—As one who worked in the laboratories of 1.C.1. Tasman (then Tasman Vaccine Laboratories) during holiday periods about eight years ago, I was interested in the denial by Mr C. E. Dowling that dogs are de-barked. At that time a medical student friend of mine, who also worked there in holidays, was actively employed de-barking dogs. If this practice is not carried out now, then I am very pleased indeed. I can only speak of conditions as they then existed and certainly all animals were housed, fed (with artificial type food) and watered reasonably well. I think it is questionable that it should be a function of a society devoted to the prevention of cruelty to animals to send any animals to an area where they would be confined to a small cage, never be exercised, and never see beyond a cage or laboratory wall again.—Yours, etc., O. WILSON. November 9, 1979.

[The managing director of 1.C.1. Tasman, Ltd, Mr C. E. Dowling, replies:— “Many years ago, when larger adult dogs were required for serum production, such animals were debarked to reduce the noise level, "ihe practice was not physically harmful to the animals, but I am pleased to say that the advent of more advanced vaccine production techniques has rendered serum manufacture unnecessary. For this reason debarking is no longer necessary * nor

practised. Dogs received by 1.C.1. Tasman ' are well accommodated under conditions approved by a number of international inspection authorities and cared for by staff who are encouraged and assisted in every way to care more than adequately for their welfare.”]