Inside This Issue:
- Farm Bill Advances Out of Committee
- The Importance of Knowing: Animal Research Edition
Farm Bill Advances Out of Committee
On Wednesday, the Farm Bill advanced out of committee on a 12-11 party-line vote, moving it to the full Senate for debate and a vote. This is welcome news, as the Farm Bill affects us all, whether we know it or not. The farm bill, which is renewed and updated about every five years, provides support for farmers, insurance, supplemental nutrition, rural development, conservation, stabilizes food supply and prices, and much more. That “more” part is what we’re most interested in, as this year’s renewal includes the Healthy Dog Importation Act, which will safeguard animal and public health from the risks associated with the importation of dogs into the United States – an issue we’ve been working on for the last decade.
Check out our press release below, and keep an eye on the Senate. With a bit of luck, the Farm Bill will be voted on before the end of the year.
Source: NAIA Commends Senate Agriculture Committee for Protecting Animal and Public Health in Farm Bill
The Importance of Knowing: Animal Research Edition
Research rodent chilling in stock photo.
This week we have two fascinating New Scientist articles on the subject of animal research. One is breathless, almost ebullient in tone, about advancements in screening that could reduce the number of animals used in research each year. The other, from the editorial staff, is notably more somber, warning readers that the public must be reminded of the continued value and necessity of animal research in medicine.
So is this some kinda good cop/bad cop routine? Is NS trying to have their cake and eat it too? Maybe! Who knows? But maybe that’s the point: it’s important to remember that two or more things can be true at the same time. When scientific advancements provide researchers with the option of using fewer or no animals without reducing the quality of their work, that is pretty fantastic! As long as this is a real option, rather than an ideological mandate, who wouldn’t want this? Meanwhile, it’s also a fact that there are many areas where animal research is still vital – and it is troubling that the public is growing increasingly unaware of this fact.
This lack of awareness is understandable: these days, animal activists are less likely to make the easily debunked claim that animal research is mostly useless – they’ve done a masterful job of moving the goalposts. Now, the claims are more often about how we’ve reached a magical era where we can accomplish the breakthroughs we need via computer models, organ-on-a-chip technology, and so forth. This obviously isn’t true, but it’s an appealing idea, and more believable than downplaying or denying the success of valuable treatments, therapies, and cures that have been achieved via animal research. A lot of us are uninformed about the current state of biomedical research, and even if we’re scared of things like AI and self-driving cars, and annoyed by things like QR codes and self-serve kiosks, many of us are bullish on technology when it comes to medical treatment for ourselves and our loved ones. The quest – the need – to educate the public on this issue, especially in the face of so much information, is vital!
Sources: How better ways of screening drugs could soon lead to thousands fewer animal tests; Why it is time to restate the case for the importance of research on animals
Also in the News...
★ Michigan woman sentenced after dogs, turtles in 'deplorable' conditions (Pet Abuse & Abandonment; Mental Health Assessment Incoming)
★ 3 rabid animals found in South Carolina; 6 people, 7 pets exposed (Zoonotic Illnesses; Your Weekly Rabies)
★ Prehistoric animal could reshape dinosaur origins timeline (Paleontology; Endothermic & Feathered Theropods? This Goes Further)
★ Repticon expo brings exotic animals to Fort Walton Beach in October (Herper Activities & Events)
★ Bear reports rise 21% in Summit County as drought drives animals toward neighborhoods (Human-Wildlife Conflict; Can You Bear It?)
★ $206K, 'catastrophic' water crisis at Animal Rescue Project from overwhelmed septic system (Shelter & Rescue News; Expensive Infrastructure)
★ 5 Viral Zoo Animals Who Broke the Internet and Where They Are Now (Internet Famous Lists; Moo Deng Revisited)
