Duke University

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Duke University is an American university located in Durham, North Carolina.

A long standing tradition of Trinity College and Duke University is the observance of honoring the institutions' benefactors. The practice was formalized by the Board of Trustees on June 4, 1901, when October 3 was designated as Benefactors' Day, in honor of Washington Duke. The university has received major endowments and grants from the Rockefeller Foundation in 1949, the Ford Foundation in 1955, and the Duke Endowment in 1952 and 1957. [1]

Animal testing

Duke University does animal testing.

Facility information, progress reports & USDA-APHIS reports

This facility performed animal experiments involving pain or distress but no analgesics, anesthetics or pain relievers were administered. For copies of this facility's U.S. Department of Agriculture-Animal Plant Health Inspection (APHIS) reports, other information and links, see also Facility Reports and Information: Duke University, Durham, NC [2]

USDA AWA reports

As of May 26, 2009, the USDA began posting all inspection reports for animal breeders, dealers, exhibitors, handlers, research facilities and animal carriers by state. See also USDA Animal Welfare Inspection Reports.

Animal cruelty & welfare violations

Inhumane surgical procedures & water deprivation

In July of 2007, Michael Budkie, the executive director of the national research watchdog organization Stop Animal Experimentation Now (SAEN), called for a meeting with Duke University President Richard H. Brodhead. Specific concerns were the inhumane treatment of rhesus monkeys used in experiments involving eye movement. The procedure involves drilling six holes into a monkey's skull, inserting screws and implanting a "head-restraint prosthesis" which secures the creature's head to a vise. After this procedure, a steel recording chamber is inserted into the creature's head. Monkeys are given painkillers for a minimum of three days. After recovery, the monkeys have "controlled access to water". The monkeys can be denied access to water for 12 to 22 hours per day. According to a description of the experiment, water is "controlled", in order to force monkeys to perform tasks for fruit juice rewards. [3]

Food & water deprivation & fraudulent reporting

In April of 2008, SAEN released federal reports revealing multiple abuses of research animals at Duke University. The USDA reports from 2006 and 2007 reveal incidents of food & water deprivation as well as fraudulent reporting. According to SAEN:

“USDA records show that Duke University has tortured animals and lied to federal regulators. This lab should suffer serious consequences for these irresponsible actions.”

An August of 2007 inspection report revealed that 9 primates inside Duke labs were substantially deprived of water, receiving as little as 10 – 20 ml of water per day. A laboratory dog lost 13% of his body weight in just 5 days after a surgical procedure. Duke also filed a fraudulent report with the USDA, which lied about the number of dogs and primates experimented on. In one report, Duke reported 97 dogs when 110 were actually used. The university also reported 14 primates when 62 were used. According to Micheal Budkie:

“The careless and negligent attitude of Duke staff is apparent from these government reports. They have purposely deceived the USDA about the number of animals used, as well as depriving these animals of food and water.” [4]

See also section 1 on facility information & progress reports.

Staff & board

Trustees (2009-10)

Contact

Web address: http://www.duke.edu

Articles & sources

SourceWatch articles

References

  1. ↑ Founders day, Duke University, accessed September 16, 2009
  2. ↑ Stop Animal Experimentation Now!: Facility Reports and Information: Duke University, Durham, NC, Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!, accessed January 2011
  3. ↑ Brianne Dopart Group alleges inhumane treatment to animals at Duke, Herald Sun, July 2007
  4. ↑ Micheal Budkie Research Watchdog Organization Reveals Violations in Duke Labs; Dog Starved; Monkeys Deprived of Water; Fraudulent Report Filed, SAEN, Press Releases, April 2008
  5. ↑ Trustees, Duke University, accessed September 16, 2009.

External articles

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