PET FOOD CRUELTY EXPOSED
(cutting from Sunday Express 8th May 2001)
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EXCLUSIVE by Lucy
Johnston Health Editor
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A major sponsor of Crufts dog show has carried out horrific
experiments on animals, it can be revealed today.
Thousands of holiday weekend visitors to the
famous show at the NEC Birmingham will be shocked to learn the truth
about IAMS, a new pet food made by Proctor and Gamble.
The Sunday Express has uncovered damning evidence
of gruesome tests performed on dogs and cats during the development of
the product, which is being heavily promoted at the event. IAMS has
also been baked by the RSPCA, but after being told of our findings, the
charity vowed to sever all ties.
Last night Crufts organisers launched their own
investigation and were considering removing a stand sponsored by
Proctor and Gamble. In supermarkets and pet shops across Britain, IAMS
is being marketed as a breakthrough in animal health an nutrition.
But our investigation has revealed that hundreds
of animals suffered incredible agony in a series of tests designed to
perfect IAMS. A huge dossier of research papers exposes how scientists
deliberately induced kidney failure and other conditions in dogs and
cats. some experiments involved operations on healthy animals which
were later killed.
Last night animal activists and MPs condemned the
research.
Campaigner and TV writer Carla Lane said "Its
horrifying to think that people are buying pet food that involves so
much experimentation. You don't have to harm animals to find out what's
good for them to eat.
Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker said "Its ironic
to say the least that a company that purports to care for animals is
conducting abhorrent animal experiments behind closed doors.." Perhaps
they should list their experiments on the labels and then see how much
they would sell."
Animal Rights organisation Uncaged Campaigns, is
to stage a protest at Crufts, distributing leaflets and waving banners
highlighting the "suffering behind the science" and urging a boycott.
Director Dan Lyons said "Even the people
representing IAMS at the show are unlikely to know they are promoting a
company that inflicts pain and death on animals. Once they see the
evidence they will be as appalled as anyone else."
The protest if likely to embarrass the show's
organisers, who this year boast a star studded guest list, including
Coronation Street's Roy Barraclough (Alec Gilroy) actress Susan George
and East Emders Martin Kemp (Steve Owen) and Pam St Clements (Pat
Butcher.)
Details of the experiments are buried in obscure
scientific papers uncovered by the Sunday Express and Uncaged Campaigns.
In one experiment, 24 young dogs had their right
kidneys removed and the left partly damaged to investigate how protein
affects dogs with kidney failure. Eight dogs were killed to analyse the
kidney tissue.
Dogs which became sick were not treated because
it would ha\have undermined the test results.
In another test, the stomachs of 28 cats were
exposed so scientists could analyse the effects of feeding them fibre.
The animals were operated on for at least two hours and then killed.
The research team sterilised 24 female cats,
which were over fed until they became obese. They were then starved on
a crash diet and when they had lost at least thirty per cent of their
weight their livers were examined to investigate the link between
weight loss and liver disease. The company also sponsored research in
which 14 husky puppies were repeatedly injected with live virus
vaccines and allergy causing proteins for the first twelve weeks of
their lives. They developed permanent illnesses in the test, which was
designed to see how severely allergic they could become.
Twelve huskies, 12 poodles, and 12 Labradors were
regularly given chest wounds to see if diet could affect fur regrowth.
This was justified in the study on the grounds that "dogs are enjoyable
to touch and look at. Dogs with coat problems are simply not handled as
much".
Dr Dan Cary, director of technical communications
for IAMS, said his company about the welfare of animals. He justified
the studies as being carried out to save pets from illnesses and
improve physical well-being.
He said "Our mission is to enhance the health of
dogs and cats. All our studies have to be valid science and we have to
be sure they are never repeated, as it is wasteful of animal time."///
cutting ends.
Thinking cap time!!
Count the number of animals mentioned in the
above article..............
Where did the Proctor and Gamble scientists
acquire such a quantity of animals?
Did they get the dogs and kittens from breeders?
Did they get them from rescue centres? The lady
secretary of one animal rescue told me that she was offered four times
the value of dogs she had in by this type of company.
Once upon a time we at this kennels were agents
for dog food called Eukanuba which was at the time the most expensive
dog food available. We were greatly disturbed on reading the literature
that the animal faeces would be compacted and therefore less
objectionable for owners of the animals.My partner was always deeply
concerned about this aspect of the food as it seemed so unnatural and
we all know that bulk is said to be important in the prevention of
bowel cancer etc. On consideration we stopped feeding the Eukanuba to
our dogs and puppies.he puppies had done really well on the food but we
were thinking of the long term problems it might engender.
I am curious to see that the RSPCA were backing
this firm before the information discovered by The Express and Caged
Campaigns came to light.
Do you remember the other experiments on Welsh
mountain ponies which caused a furore
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