Little Time Left to Save 8 Horses and 60 Goats From a Vet School Slaughter

Eight healthy horses and 60 goats are reportedly slated to be killed after pointless practice surgeries at the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. WE HAVE LITTLE TIME to save their lives, and PETA is urging your IMMEDIATE help.

PETA has joined with veterinarians, veterinary students, and alumni by sending a letter calling on the university to cancel its plans to kill the adoptable animals in an antiquated Junior Surgery laboratory, where veterinary students cut into the animals to practice complicated abdominal surgeries. All of these animals are slated to be killed after the procedures.

Compassionate veterinarian group Our Honor, which took on the issue after veterinary students raised concerns, says sanctuaries and alternative placements are ready to accept all the animals. The university appears committed to killing them anyway.

The university’s animal use policy states that only animals destined for slaughter may be used in the Junior Surgery laboratory. But these eight horses are healthy and adoptable. They were transferred from a U.S. Department of Agriculture research program, raising questions about whether the school’s animal care committee—the last line of defense for animals in laboratories—was given proper information.

Many veterinary schools have replaced terminal laboratories with clinical-based surgical training programs, where students perform necessary procedures for animal guardians under supervision. These programs often partner with rural communities lacking access to veterinary services. PETA urges the university to adopt these and other widely available humane simulation methods.

Don’t Delay, Act TODAY!

Please TAKE ACTION immediately by sending polite comments to Washington State University officials, urging them to save these animals and let them live out their lives in peace.

You can do so by copying and pasting this block of e-mail addresses in the “To” field of your e-mail:

[email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

Please feel free to use these talking points (but remember that using your own words is always more effective):

• Eight healthy, adoptable horses and 60 goats are reportedly about to be killed after practice surgeries at WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, even though sanctuaries and alternative placements are ready to take them now.
• The horses were not destined for slaughter, as the university’s approved protocol claims they came from a USDA program and were eligible for adoption.
• Many veterinary schools train students without killing healthy animals, using clinical programs and humane simulation methods that WSU could adopt immediately.
• WSU should immediately spare these animals’ lives and allow them to be sent to sanctuary instead of killing them for an outdated training course.