PETA announced during a press conference that it had planted an infiltrator at the primate center, then made claims of mistreatment.
(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Oregon Health & Science University announced Tuesday that it has been cleared of mistreatment allegations by the animal rights group PETA.
Following a two-day inspection, United States Department of Agriculture veterinarians have informed OHSU that they found no items of noncompliance and the university was given a clean bill of health.
"We are very pleased with the inspection report as it confirms our longstanding knowledge that OHSU takes very good care of its animals," explained Daniel Dorsa, Ph.D., OHSU's vice president for research.
"We thank Oregonians for withholding judgment on PETA's claims until they could be reviewed by independent, unbiased animal care experts. We also thank our animal care employees at the primate center for their continued hard work and dedication to the animals. I know that many of these employees were hurt and angered by PETA's claims. That is why we are so pleased with the quick and fair resolution of this matter."
The USDA conducted its inspection following a formal complaint by the animal rights group PETA. During a November 13 press conference, PETA announced that it had planted an infiltrator at the primate center. PETA then made claims of mistreatment on behalf of their anonymous employee.
The USDA conducted the investigation because it is the federal agency which enforces the Animal Welfare Act, a large collection of federal laws to ensure animals in captivity are treated well.
In response to PETA's claims, a separate two-day inspection took place on November 26 and 27. OHSU received formal notice of their inspection results on Nov 29.
OHSU is a highly regarded national research center that has contributed to research breakthroughs in stem cell therapies, preventing premature birth, re-establishing fertility, combating obesity and battling AIDS and Parkinson's. OHSU says the primate center's most recent breakthrough involved the successful reprogramming of skin cells into embryonic stem cells, which got national media attention.
OHSU says that this is the second time in the past seven years that an animal activist group has placed what they describe as an "investigator" in the primate center, undercover. In 2000, a former PETA employee and current employee of In Defense of Animals took a job at the primate center and then made claims of mistreatment. In that case, a two-month USDA inspection also cleared the center of wrongdoing.
USDA Clears OHSU of PETA's Animal Mistreatment AllegationsSalem-News.com