Lawmakers demand answers from Fauci about claims of NIH beagle-killing experiments

by ian

Ian Patrick, FISM News

 

*Warning – this account involves the implication of purposeful harm, infection, and euthanizing of beagles in scientific experiments. The content may be disturbing to some. Discretion is advised.

A group of legislators, mostly made up of Republicans, are demanding answers from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci after an animal abuse watchdog released a report saying the National Institutes of Health funded deadly experiments involving beagles.

The watchdog, known as the White Coat Waste Project, specifically looks for taxpayer-funded experiments on animals that it deems to be unethical and abusive.

A statement from the Project regarding this report states that “Dr. Fauci’s division at the National Institutes of Health has been funding wasteful and deadly experiments on beagles in the U.S. and abroad.” Specifically, the report from White Coat Waste says the NIAID in 2018 and 2019 “spent $1.68 million of taxpayer money to poison and ‘de-bark’ 44 beagle puppies.”

“De-barking” is a procedure that also goes by the name “cordectomy.” In this procedure, the vocal chords of the dog are slashed. Although the reasons are not explicitly defined, the assumption is so the dogs cannot make noises during more painful experiments.

This news has not sat well with Americans, especially those in Congress. Led by Representative Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), a group of lawmakers sent a letter to Fauci demanding answers “about reports of costly, cruel, and unnecessary taxpayer-funded experiments on dogs commissioned by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.”

The letter notes that the Food and Drug Administration “does not mandate that human drugs be studied in dogs,” despite the NIAID saying the study was “to provide data of suitable quality and integrity” before submitting an application for a drug they are testing to the FDA.

This is the fourth instance that the White Coat Wast Project has found of such experimentation, all using beagles.

The first report from the group said doctors in NIAID’s Bethesda, Maryland lab strapped infectious sand flies to beagles for 22 months. The doctors reportedly studied the infected scars on the dogs and then euthanized the dogs afterwards.

The second exposé involved the group using a Freedom of Information Act to obtain information. They summarized their findings by saying “Fauci just spent $424,000 to commission a study in which healthy beagles are given an experimental drug and then intentionally infested with flies that carry a disease-causing parasite that affects humans.”

This report also says that the dogs could be heard “vocalizing in pain” during the experiments. After the experiments, the dogs were euthanized.

The third report from the group said the NIAID gave $375,800 from a grant to a lab in Tunisia. The understanding of White Coat Waste is that Tunisia does not have animal protection laws and no oversight, so the Project implicates the lab in moving funding to conduct similar experiments with beagles and infected sand flies.

According to the New York Post, these flies “carry a parasite known to be harmful to humans.” Beagles were reportedly used for their susceptible nature.

Experimentation on animals such as beagles and monkeys does happen for many drugs and products and is legally required in some instances. However, it seems as though many Americans need answers from the NIAID or the NIH to provide clarity on the seemingly harmful nature behind these tests.

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