Following a USA Today cover story about White Coat Waste Project’s campaign to end the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) dog experimentation–and VA’s questionable decision to continue several wasteful and cruel projects–influential figures are speaking out to criticize the VA’s waste abuse.
Former VA Secretary David Shulkin tweeted out that he opposes VA’s dog testing:
Thank You @AMVETSHQ @SGillums for your #leadership on this important issue. As #SecVA and to this day-I remain opposed towards any new #dog research #ScienceOverPolitics @VFWHQ @DAVHQ @legionindc @VAChair @USATODAY https://t.co/FeoAkdject
— David J. Shulkin, MD (@DavidShulkin) November 2, 2018
AMVETS chief and paralyzed Marine Corps veteran Sherman Gillums compared VA dog testing to Michael Vick’s abuse of dogs:
.@USATODAY: VA: Fatal dog experiments moving ahead despite criticism from Congress, #veterans groupshttps://t.co/UdVoPgv9mw pic.twitter.com/5FtiyqlnSW
— AMVETS (@AMVETSHQ) November 2, 2018
And Congress members from both parties are calling for reforms:
The VA has not executed what we wanted as intent, which is to bring this to an end in its entirety. We will keep up the pressure until these invasive, painful and deadly experiments on dogs stop completely.https://t.co/TCUjjjGFXW
— Rep. Brian Mast (@RepBrianMast) November 2, 2018
I’m calling for an immediate investigation into the Veterans Affairs Dept. for resuming cruel and inhumane experiments on dogs. It’s time to end this canine house of horrors where the spinal cords of dogs are severed to test their cough reflex. https://t.co/FYWOkBzRHE
— Rep. Vern Buchanan (@VernBuchanan) November 2, 2018
#ICYMI in today’s @USATODAY. I’ll continue to fight against these ineffective and invasive experiments on dogs by the VA. The recent news on approval of new testing the same day Sec. Shulkin was fired does not match up with my convo with him that day. https://t.co/LeqXINS0pM
— Dina Titus (@repdinatitus) November 2, 2018
Troubling report about the VA continuing some highly questionable and cruel dog testing. Proud to cosponsor the PUPPERS Act to stop this waste and abuse. https://t.co/d8Detculo1
— Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva) November 2, 2018
Troubling report about the VA continuing some highly questionable and cruel dog testing. Proud to cosponsor the PUPPERS Act to stop this waste and abuse. https://t.co/UO6OtEQ6jV
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) November 2, 2018
This is why I’m supporting the bipartisan PUPPERS Act. We’ve made good progress toward reducing VA dog testing, but clearly more works needs to be done. https://t.co/hdu96UZH8s
— Rep. Carlos Curbelo (@RepCurbelo) November 3, 2018
Take a moment to write your Congress members and urge them to support the bipartisan PUPPERS Act to permanently cut federal funding for all painful dog experiments at the VA.
Stop testing on dogs! So little comes from so much purposeful suffering.
Stop illegal painful unnecessary experiments on dogs.
Stop these useless, painful and deadly experiments on dogs!
What in the hell are people thinking!! This is abhorrent, immoral, and beyond cruel! Whatever needs to be done to make it stop need to be done NOW! What kind of person would be ok with this …a psychopath maybe! And I certainly hope our hard earned tax dollars are not going towards this kind of animal abuse!
PLEASE STOP this INHUMANE treatment on these LOVING LOYAL dogs!!!! They are created by God to show us how to LOVE and have COMPASSION. Why are you HURTING THEM AND DESTROYING THEM???? They don’t deserve this!! They deserve to be LOVED not experimented upon!!! PLEASE, PLEASE PLEASE STOP THIS INHUMANE TREATMENT AGAINST THESE LOVING DOGS. BE GOOD STEWARDS of God’s Animals!!!
It needs to stop immediately this cannot go on if they do any dog testing without that written permission which they better not get which they have not gotten in the first place they should be penalized find very large Lee for each animal they have touched they best not lay a hand on their hair they should be fined
When I am dying I will be happy in the knowledge that I have never tortured or tormented a dog-of that I am innocent!
Pls stop this !
Tierversuche für den medizinischen Fortschritt nicht für erforderlich und zudem für grausam und findet, dass sie gestoppt werden sollten, da es bessere Forschungsmethoden gibt. Das ist pure Lust Mord! !!
I love animals more than anything in world. Stop harming them. Theyre GODS creatures