How Shelter Pets are Brokered for Experimentation: Understanding Pound Seizure

When Phillips, who had once worked as a volunteer at an animal shelter, learned of the practice of pound seizure, she turned a "betrayal of trust" into action. As vice president of No Paws Left Behind and director of public policy at the American Humane Association, the former prosecutor has made it her mission to expose and fight the practice of shelter's giving or selling cats and dogs to research facilities, universities, or Class B Dealers (animal brokers licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture). Extensive research and expert opinion result is a thorough history of a little known practice "often intertwined with the legitimacy of medical research." Phillips outlines some of the ways in which seized animals can be used for research, including "the testing of medical techniques (surgical techniques or medical tools), pharmaceutical testing (human and animal drugs), blood banking for other animals, cosmetic, industrial, and biochemical." Though many organizations are phasing out the use of such testing, these sections are still disturbing. Taking readers methodically through the facts of the issue, Phillips hopes to not only create awareness but also advocacy, and provides a bounty of practical resources for anyone who wants to take action. (Aug.)