PRINTER'S NO. 4088
No. 350 Session of 1986
INTRODUCED BY SAURMAN, KUKOVICH, SERAFINI, MICOZZIE, RAYMOND,
STABACK, CARLSON, GREENWOOD, NAHILL AND FOX, OCTOBER 1, 1986
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, OCTOBER 6, 1986
A RESOLUTION
1 Memorializing the Congress of the United States to ban the sale
2 or transfer of animals by pounds or shelters for use in
3 medical or veterinary research, testing and teaching or for
4 any other use except for the sale or transfer to individuals
5 for pets, and not resale.
6 WHEREAS, The practice of selling impounded, lost and stray
7 dogs for research is currently permissible under many state
8 laws; and
9 WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States has for many years
10 established its concern for the care and welfare of animals
11 through legislation regarding the treatment of animals; and
12 WHEREAS, The Congress has long held that the care and welfare
13 of animals is a moral and legal responsibility; and
14 WHEREAS, The majority of dogs impounded are not feral, but
15 are pets which have been lost, stolen or otherwise found or
16 reported unattended and without registration; and
17 WHEREAS, These pets can be and are sold for research if the
18 pet owner is unable to contact the dog warden within the
19 specified time or is unaware that the warden has possession of
1 the pet; and
2 WHEREAS, The sale of lost or stolen dogs for research or
3 teaching purposes is morally, ethically and scientifically
4 unacceptable; and
5 WHEREAS, The dogs most often requested for research are
6 docile pets which are accustomed to a trusting family
7 environment; and
8 WHEREAS, Pound animals do not make good research subjects,
9 due to the unknown health, genetic and environmental background
10 of these animals, which calls into question whether the results
11 of any tests, experiments or demonstrations utilizing these
12 animals can be replicated or are reliable; and
13 WHEREAS, The sale for research practice undermines the goals
14 of the humane shelter system; and
15 WHEREAS, Public acceptance, support and faith in the anti-
16 cruelty laws, the humane system and the animal control program
17 are dependent upon the belief that all former family pets are
18 being sheltered, humanely treated, placed in a good home or
19 humanely killed; and
20 WHEREAS, The sale of lost or stolen pets for research can
21 make the public reluctant to cooperate with the humane system,
22 the end result of which could be to increase the population of
23 stray animals and the threat to public health and private
24 property; and
25 WHEREAS, There are viable alternatives to the use of
26 impounded animals for research, testing and teaching; therefore
27 be it
28 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
29 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memorialize the Congress of the
30 United States to enact a law to prohibit the transfer of any
19860H0350R4088 - 2 -
1 animals in shelters or pounds to any individual or institution
2 for use in laboratory research.
H20L82WMB/19860H0350R4088 - 3 -