U.S. Coast Guard to End Use of Animals in Trauma Training

May 18, 2017

Following pressure from PETA and U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), the U.S. Coast Guard has become the first branch of the military to suspend the shooting, stabbing, and killing of animals in trauma training drills while it studies available human simulators and other non-animal training methods that could be used instead. The Coast Guard confirmed that the moratorium came into effect after a PETA exposé prompted an official review by the agency. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul F. Zukunft reported to the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee that the use of animals in the agency’s trauma training drills known as “live tissue training” is “abhorrent” and that the Coast Guard “will move to a simulation [training model].”