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Charles River does [[animal testing]].
=== American Veterinary Medical Association ===
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'''Charles River''' Laboratories (CR) is an international contract research organization (CRO) and laboratory animal breeding company. Firms hire CROs to conduct toxicity [[animal toxicity tests testing]] for agrochemicals, petrochemicals, household products, [[pharmaceutical]]s and toxins. Charles River was founded in 1947 and has its headquarters in Wilmington, Massachusetts. It has 8,700 employees in 70 facilities in 70 countries. <ref>[http://www.criver.com/en-US/AboutUs/CRGlance/Pages/home.aspx Charles River at a Glance], Charles River, June 2009</ref> Charles River is the world's largest supplier of laboratory animals. It has been described as the "General Motors of the laboratory animal industry." <ref> C. Roland Christensen, ''Business Policy: Text and Cases, January 1982 p. 54'', ISBN 9780256014518</ref>
In 2006, 26,638 primates were imported into the US; a 44% increase over 2004. The three companies responsible for over 75% of all of these imports were [[Covance Laboratories]], [[SNBL]] and Charles River at 5,359 monkeys that year. Cynomolgus macaques made up 92% followed by rhesus macaques, marmosets, squirrel monkeys and other macaques. Half were imported primates were from China. <ref>[http://www.hsus.org/animals_in_research/general_information_on_animal_research/an_introduction_to_primate_issues.html An Introduction to Primate Issues], [[Humane Society of the United States]], accessed November 2009</ref>
==Animal testing==
===Animals by species, numbers & locations (United States)===
* Wilmington, MA <ref>[http://www.hsus.org/animals_in_research/general_information_on_animal_research/research_facilities/charles-river-laboratories-inc.html Research Facilities, Charles River Laboratories], [[Humane Society of the United States]]HSUS, accessed January 2009</ref>
* Boston University, Charles River Campus, Boston, MA <ref>[http://www.hsus.org/animals_in_research/general_information_on_animal_research/research_facilities/boston-university-charles-river-campus.html Research Facilities, Charles River, Boston University], HSUS, accessed January 2009</ref>
According to SAEN, CR violated the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) <ref>[http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/legislat/usdaleg1.htm Animal Welfare Act and Regulations], USDA, May 2009</ref> over 20 times in 2006 and another 11 times in the first half of 2007, even after an official warning by the USDA in 2005. Government documents revealed a 2006 incident at a CR site in Philadelphia, where rabbits developed 4 ½ inch skin lesions without veterinary treatment. There were also serious issues about painful experiments without anesthesia. An episode at a Massachusetts site demonstrated that one primate had serious mental pathologies. In 2006, CRL amassed over 20 violations in the areas of veterinary care, Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee (IACUC), feeding, housing, sanitation, environmental enhancement, and report filing. USDA/APHIS Animal Care inspection reports reveal four incidents in CR's Nevada laboratory, where negligent handling of resulted in injuries severe enough to warrant amputation of a monkeys’ fingers in 2007. Other 2007 citations included primary enclosures, sanitation, housing and unqualified personnel. (Government reports are available upon request.) <ref>[http://www.all-creatures.org/saen/press-20080221.html Charles River Violations Mount in Monkey & Rabbit Maiming], Press Release, Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!, February 2008</ref>
===Photos from CR reveal stark conditions=== Photographs obtained from the USDA through a the Freedom of Information Act request from the USDAin 2008, revealed cramped and barren conditions "with the potential to cause madness" at CR's Sparks facility. According to SAEN executive Director, Michael A. Budkie:
:“These enclosures are nothing more than tiny stainless steel barred boxes. If the goal is to cause insanity in primates, then I am sure they are probably succeeding.”
In the wild, a rhesus monkey may traverse as much as one square mile in a single day.<ref>Micheal Budkie [http://www.all-creatures.org/saen/press-20081210.html Watchdog Group Releases Photos from Charles River Lab: Criticizes Stark Conditions], Press Release, Stop Animal Exploitation NOW!, December 2008</ref>
==CR & other organizations==
As part of its "Humane Care Initiative," the "Charles River Prize" was established in 1977 "to recognize distinguished contributions to laboratory animal science and to promote educational growth in that field." Recipients must be members of the [[American Veterinary Medical Association]] (AVMA) in the field of [[animal testing]]. The award is $2,500 and a plaque. <ref>[http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/oct03/031015i.asp JAVMA], [[American Veterinary Medical Association]], October 2003</ref>, <ref>[http://www.criver.com/en-US/AboutUs/HumaneCareInitiative/AnimalWelfareGiving/Pages/AwardsandScholarships.aspx Awards & Scholarships], Charles River, accessed January 2009</ref> The AMVA reliably lobbies against animal welfare issues and legislation in favor of industry concerns. See also [[American Veterinary Medical Association]], sections 1 & 2.
