An organization opposed to using animals in science released a report Monday that concludes former household pets are dying in medical education courses at many universities, including the University of Michigan.
Animalearn, a division of the American Anti-Vivisection Society, spent two years studying how public universities acquire animals for medical education. It mentions U-M several times in its report, "Dying to Learn," which was released Monday.
U-M purchased 455 dogs and eight cats since 2004 from three sources to use in education courses, according to the report.
U-M officials didn't have any immediate comment on the report.
Animals are commonly used in medical education courses across the country. About 50 percent of the 92 public institutions that responded to the survey teach students by having them dissect, practice surgeries or learn other procedures on live or dead animals. The live animals usually have to be euthanized because of the injuries they suffer in the procedures, the report said.
Animalearn wants to cut off the supply of former pets to labs by banning Class B research dealers, which are licensed to obtain unwanted animals from shelters that are allowed to euthanize them. It supports alternatives to using live animals, including high-tech, virtual teachings.
U-M purchased 94 dogs and four cats from 2004 to 2008 from R&R Research of Howard City, which has a contract with a shelter in Montcalm County. U-M also purchased seven dogs and four cats from Hodgin Kennels of Howell, which obtains them from other unspecified dealers and shelters.
"With the current economic and foreclosure crisis causing homeowners across the country to lose their homes, the numbers of pets being relinquished to shelters is drastically increasing," Animalearn Director Laura Ducceschi said in a statement. "This puts an even increasing number of pets at risk of ending up in labs."
The report also said U-M purchased 345 dogs from a Class A animal breeder, Covance Research Products, Inc., which is based in Pennsylvania but has a site in Michigan.
Under pressure from another animal rights organization, U-M announced in February that it would stop using animals in its Advanced Trauma and Life Course, which teaches doctors emergency life-saving skills. About 20 dogs a year were used in the course.
The Human Society of Huron Valley in Superior Township doesn't provide animals for research from its shelter.