PETA does more to help end the suffering of animals used in experiments than any other organization.

This past year, the efforts of PETA scientists resulted in the adoption of several new nonanimal tests (e.g., cell-based methods and computer modeling) by U.S. agencies, international regulators, and advisory groups—sparing tens of thousands of animals from pain and death. A PETA scientist was also selected to sit on a U.S. government advisory committee on nanotechnology, which means that PETA can now help ensure that non-animal testing methods will be considered and used to assess the harmful effects of nanomaterials.

PETA launched a campaign to reform Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees, which are supposed to oversee experiments to ensure compliance with the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA). As a result, three new training courses were created by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in order to push these committees to do a better job of protecting animals from extreme cruelty.

This past year, PETA convinced more universities and hospitals to stop harming animals in medical training. Three major U.S. medical centers ended the use of kittens and ferrets for intubation training after receiving letters from PETA; a major medical school in New York City ended the use of pigs in its surgical residency training; National Taiwan University College of Medicine canceled its pharmacology experiments on animals; and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine canceled terminal practice surgeries on healthy dogs—all because PETA pressured these schools into using better teaching methods, such as human simulators and clinical training.

At PETA’s request, NIH ordered experimenters at the University of Connecticut Health Center to return federal grant money totaling nearly $80,000 after PETA pointed out AWA violations involving cruel, painful experiments on monkeys and mice.

The largest animal-health research charity in the U.S. pulled the plug on funding experiments at Auburn University after the foundation confirmed findings from PETA’s undercover investigation of Auburn’s kidney-transplant surgeries on dogs. Our investigation documented that many of the dogs suffered for days from vomiting and diarrhea; some were in so much pain that they couldn’t even lie down. None of the dogs survived.

PETA’s quick intervention ensured that six monkeys slated for experiments at New York University were sent to a sanctuary instead, as had been originally planned.

At the Oregon National Primate Research Center, a PETA undercover investigator found monkeys kept in small barren cages, driven insane by their intense confinement and denied adequate veterinary care and pain relief. Our investigation drew national media attention to the cruelty and wastefulness of the laboratory’s hideous nicotine, obesity, and maternal-deprivation experiments.

“If only a small fraction of PETA’s concerns are investigated, we can rest more easily knowing that innocent animals are being spared pain and misery.”

—The Chronicle (Willimantic, Conn.), April 22, 2008