The University of Georgia Cited for Critical Violations of Federal Law: PETA Statement

For Immediate Release:
May 16, 2023

Contact:
Tasgola Bruner 202-483-7382

Please see the following statement by PETA Vice President Dr. Alka Chandna regarding recent U.S. Department of Agriculture citations against the University of Georgia–Athens for critical violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act:

Ignorance, filth, and animal suffering seem to be the hallmark of laboratories at the University of Georgia–Athens (UGA). A deer contracted pneumonia and nearly starved to death before anyone at the school noticed, and a dog sustained third-degree burns because an experimenter—ignorant of how an electric current machine works—assumed the continuous stream of electricity pumping into the canine’s front leg had somehow shut itself off, according to a just-posted inspection report obtained by PETA.

Federal inspectors also found dedicated surgery areas—where supposedly aseptic procedures take place—with unidentified spatters, puddles, and streaks of black, brown, pink, red, and yellow on walls, in light fixtures, and on tiles. Inspectors also noted a “significant” amount of dirt and hair in the corners and on pipes of surgery prep areas.

UGA received nearly $76 million in taxpayer money last year, and with it comes a legal expectation that the university will comply with minimum animal welfare laws. That UGA continues to fail in this area is further proof that it should stop tormenting animals and commit to practicing modern, animal-free science.

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