DA should investigate monkey deaths at lab

I AM writing in response to June 20th’s “ABQ research lab fined over monkey deaths.” I am horrified by the cruelty inflicted upon two macaques by Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, incidents which resulted in their painful deaths. While in the “care” of Lovelace, a macaque (died of strangulation) during an experiment in the medical equipment and another macaque died of starvation.

The Animal Welfare Act is a federal law that oversees the use of animals in experiments. The United States Department of Agriculture is responsible for the meaningful enforcement of the act. Despite that, the United States Department of Agriculture levied a paltry $6,200 fine against Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute in connection with the painful deaths of the two macaques. If $6,200 sounds like a hefty fine, it is not when you consider that Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute receives tens of millions of dollars in federal taxpayer money each year to experiment on animals.

In New Mexico, “cruelty to animals consists of a person: (1) negligently mistreating, injuring, killing without lawful justification or tormenting an animal; or (2) abandoning or failing to provide necessary sustenance to an animal under that person’s custody or control.” (N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-18-1)

I propose the district attorney investigate these incidents for purposes of prosecution and that all federal funding agencies immediately cease funding to Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute.

LESLIE RUDLOFF Program and staff attorney, Animal Protection New Mexico and Animal Protection Voters Albuquerque