Laboratory workers charged with cruelty
(Warning: This video contains disturbing images and profanity.)
A North Carolina grand jury has returned indictments for 14 felony counts of cruelty to animals against four workers at a private research laboratory in North Carolina.
PETA, which first brought to light abuses at Professional Laboratory Research Services (PLRS), said the indictments mark the first time in U.S. history that laboratory workers have faced felony cruelty charges for their abuse of animals in a laboratory.
PLRS was the subject of a PETA undercover investigation last fall.
Those indicted were Mary Ramsey, who had been employed as a PLRS supervisor, and Jessica Detty, who were each charged with five counts, and Christine Clement and Tracy Small, who were each indicted on two counts.
The accused, PETA says, are among those caught on the video above, kicking, throwing, and dragging dogs; hoisting rabbits by their ears and puppies by their throats; slamming cats into cages; and screaming obscenities at animals.
One of those named is the worker seen trying to rip out a cat’s claws by pulling the animal from the fence onto which he or she clung, PETA said.
The state charges follow extensive citations by federal officials for violations of animal welfare laws. The lab was closed last year, and more than 200 dogs and 50 cats were surrendered.
For nine months, a PETA investigator worked undercover inside the facility, located in Gates County, in rural northeastern North Carolina.
PLRS tested insecticides and other chemicals used in companion-animal products for Bayer, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Schering-Plough (now Merck), Sergeant’s, Wellmark, and Merial.
The PETA investigation found that toxicity tests were just part of what the animals endured. Laboratory workers cursed at animals, used pressure hoses to spray water (as well as bleach and other harsh chemicals) on them; and dragged dogs through the facility.
Dogs at PLRS spent years in cages, either to be used repeatedly in tests or to be kept infested with worms for some future study, PETA says.
To cut costs, PETA says, PLRS killed nearly 100 cats, rabbits, and dogs. The company had decided that some of these animals’ six daily cups of food were too expensive.
PETA says the case is only the second criminal prosecution in the U.S. of laboratory workers for animal cruelty. The first also stemmed from a PETA investigation — that of the infamous Silver Spring Monkeys in 1981.
Posted by jwoestendiek July 7th, 2011 under Muttsblog, videos.
Tags: abuses, animal cruelty, animal research, animals, cats, charges, chemicals, christine clement, dogs, drug companies, drugs, experiments, felony, gates county, grand jury, indictments, jessica detty, lab, lab workers, laboratory, mary ramsey, north carolina, peta, pets, plrs, product, professional laboratory research services, rabbits, research, testing, toxicity, tracy small, undercover, veterinary, video, workers
Comments
Comment from Bee
Time July 8, 2011 at 10:27 pm
PETA is truly awesome…who else is on the front lines like this enduring witnessing the sadness, suffering and horror of animal abuse to be able to report it in order to help stop the abuse.
Hats off to PETA….and I am so thankful for the rescue of these animals…I hope that those who perpetrated their abuse are never hired again to work with any animals..and maybe they need to experience some of the same kind of abuse that they inflicted on these poor defenseless creatures.
Comment from bmore pug mom
Time July 9, 2011 at 10:48 am
Way to go John! Thanks for showing the positive side of the work that PETA does. They’re so often portrayed as an extremist, paint-throwing organization of crazies. This illustrates some of the most meaningful work that they do as an organization.
Comment from Maria Bruno
Time September 3, 2011 at 11:10 am
There is a special place for you ppl who tortured these poor innocent animals. They have feelings you ignorant, cold, waste of human beings…YOu are all disgusting and i’m SOOO glad you have been caught and video is hard proof..what excuse are you possibly gonna make on this one..you are on video you nasty trashbags..I hope you feel the pain you’ve caused these poor souls..you are souless and karma is a bitch….especially for those who torture the helpless and innocent.
Comment from Maria Bruno
Time September 3, 2011 at 11:19 am
Go Peta for turning them in!!! I’m grateful for the kind souls out there that cared enough to go to these great lengths for these poor animals..My Mother-in-Law adopted one of the abused dogs and she is the sweetest pup i’ve ever known, she is just now beginning to trust humans again. She is so loving with the family and it just breaks out hearts to know what she’s endured. We are so thankful for all of those who made this happen and saved them from these monsters…who i’m reluctant to even address as human beings..sadly i’m quite sure they are sleeping just fine at night as these poor lil animals re-adjust struggling with anxiety issues..it’s no wonder seeing as what they’ve endured..i’m thankful justice is finally being served and that these monsters are getting their punishment..they need to go work in the high max.security prisons where the inmates are disgusting toward humans like they were with these poor lil creatures from heaven..they are so sweet and kind and trust humans, for them to take advantage of this trust and treat them as they did is beyond cruel..Again Karma will be knocking at their doors before long, so i’m not worried about it anymore..now we just gotta catch the rest of these labs out in the woods..it’s a disgrace how some ppl treat animals…they should be locked up and the key should be thrown away.
Comment from Kelly
Time July 8, 2011 at 3:13 am
I can’t stop crying.