OCC's Compassionate and Scientifically Sound Decision Follows PETA Request

For Immediate Release:
November 17, 2009

Contact:
Justin Goodman 757-622-7382

Des Plaines, Ill. -- After evaluating PETA's information about modern, non-animal alternatives to cutting into live rats and salamanders in its anatomy and physiology course, Oakton Community College (OCC) Vice President of Academic Affairs Tom Hamel announced the following in a letter: "Effective June 1, 2009, Oakton Community College has ceased using live animals to support any instruction or educational activities. ... [T]he college purchased animations and a software license in order to meet the learning objectives of its curricula."

"Hundreds of rats and salamanders will now be spared the fear and pain that resulted from these experiments, and students will receive a lesson in both science and compassion," says PETA Vice President of Laboratory Investigations Kathy Guillermo. "Kudos to Oakton Community College for replacing crude and cruel animal laboratories with modern and humane teaching methods."

PETA learned from an OCC student that dozens of rats every year were sealed in buckets containing ether. After they were placed in the buckets, the rats squealed with fear. Once the rats were unconscious--but still alive--students cut into the animals to expose their internal organs. The rats were then killed. In another deadly experiment, students cut open live salamanders.

PETA's letter to OCC is available upon request. For more information, please visit PETA's website StopAnimalTests.com.