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EXCLUSIVE by Lucy Johnston Health Editor |
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