AFTER Act Would Give Retired Research Animals a Happily Ever After - National Humane Education Society
Paws Up! To Senators Susan Collins and Gary Peters for introducing a bill that would require government research programs to develop plans that would facilitate the rehoming of retired research animals.
October 22, 2021
Two U.S. Senators have introduced the Animal Freedom from Testing, Experimentation, and Research (AFTER) Act in order to help research animals from being euthanized after they are no longer used for research. Instead, research facilities will hand over the retirees to animal rescues, shelters, or sanctuaries whenever possible so that the animals will be able to live out the rest of their lives in peace.
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) are bridging the aisle to put together this bipartisan effort in research animal welfare. This bill would put an end to needless euthanasia of otherwise healthy and adoptable animals, which is often their fate after spending years in federal laboratories being subjected to cruel and painful experiments in the name of science.
The AFTER Act would give government agencies such as NIH, DOD, and the VA the freedom to develop their own policies for promoting the adoption of research animals instead of euthanasia, provided they are evaluated by a licensed veterinarian who declares them physically and mentally healthy enough to leave the facility and be placed in a shelter, rescue, sanctuary, or private home.
In an ideal world, there would be no more research facilities filled with terrified animals in cages. Since the early 90’s, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has worked to replace, reduce, and refine the use of animals in research by implementing alternative methods and updated computer technology.
Click here to read more about why animal testing is inhumane and how you can help.
Take Action: If you would like to see retired research animals given the chance at a better life rather than euthanized by the government, please reach out to your senator and tell them to vote YES on the AFTER Act! Click here to find your senator and their contact information.
