Maryland: Help protect dogs and cats from cruel toxicity tests!

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Maryland: Help protect dogs and cats from cruel toxicity tests!

Name of Bill: Dogs and Cats in Testing Facilities

Bill Number: SB 761

Legislators in Maryland have introduced a comprehensive bill, SB 761, to better regulate animal use laboratories in the state and increase protections for dogs and cats used in toxicity testing and other experiments.

NAVS supports the whole of SB 761, and there are a few provisions to highlight:

SB 761 will end toxicity testing on dogs and cats unless the testing is expressly mandated by a federal agency. Similar language has already passed in California and Illinois.
SB 761 will end the cruel practice of devocalizing dogs and cats in laboratories. This is commonly done so the animals can’t vocalize pain and suffering.
SB 761 will prohibit a testing facility from using any animal test method if an alternative test method has been approved by a regulatory agency.
SB 761 will create a state Inspector of Animal Welfare to license and inspect animal use laboratories in the state.

Considered separately, these provisions are strong state-level actions that can be taken to protect animals in laboratories and, we hope, reduce the number of animals in laboratories. All of these grouped together into one bill make SB 761 particularly important to transform the lives of laboratory animals in Maryland.

Calls to Action:

Contact your state senator(s) and urge them to support this bill.
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Please support SB 761 for comprehensive lab animal protections

Dear [Decision Maker],

I am writing as your constituent to ask for your support of SB 761 to provide comprehensive protections for animals used in laboratories across the state. In particular, this bill will greatly help dogs and cats used in toxicity testing and drive innovation of non-animal, human-relevant test methods.

It is important to note that SB 761 will not interfere with Maryland's reputation as a leader in biomedical research. This legislation targets animal testing of chemical substances, ingredients, drugs, vaccines, and products by mandating the use of non-animal testing methods when available. Biomedical research is exempt from this mandate.

SB 761 will also end toxicity testing on dogs and cats unless the testing is expressly mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency or the Food and Drug Administration. Because of differences between species, it has been largely accepted that toxicity testing on animals is a poor predictor for how a chemical or formula will affect humans. The use of superior, human-relevant testing options when available, will benefit both animals and humans.

Additional provisions of SB 761 include the creation of a state Inspector of Animal Welfare. This position will be responsible for inspecting and licensing animal use laboratories. While animal-use laboratories claim that they are highly regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), that is simply not the case. The USDA has repeatedly been accused of conducting soft inspections and insufficiently reprimanding facilities that mistreat, neglect, or cause unnecessary harm to animals. Additional oversight at the state level will undoubtedly help protect animals in these facilities.

I appreciate your time and consideration of this legislation and hope to see you support SB 761.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]