21 May 2013

60,000 Strong Say 'Leave Animals Out'

Over 60,000 people have voiced their objection to the proposed testing of party pills on animals, say animal advocates SAFE, The New Zealand Anti Vivisection Society (NZAVS) and the Royal New Zealand SPCA.

A petition calling on the House of Representatives to stop animal testing of party pills gathered over 60,000 signatures in just over one month, showing strong public opposition to harming animals for the sake of recreational drugs. Today at lunchtime, the three groups and supporters accompanied by dogs, including rescued laboratory dogs, will present the petition on the steps of Parliament, asking the government to specifically prohibit animal testing of these drugs. The organisations say public outcry against the cruel tests has been overwhelming.

The petition handover will take place despite the refusal last week by the National Party MPs on the health select committee to hear submissions on animal testing during the hearings on the psychoactive substances bill.

“The select committee is not only missing an opportunity to prevent unnecessary suffering for dogs and rats but also to listen to the significant number of Kiwis that clearly want animal testing ruled out,” says SAFE Executive Director Hans Kriek.

Bob Kerridge, National President, Royal New Zealand SPCA, says ‘The fact that these unnecessary experiments are being conducted on animals is abhorrent to us, and this, coupled with the fact that the voices of the public or animals is not being heard, has provoked widespread public condemnation, and rightly so.’

“It is vital that the animal testing issue is addressed in the legislation being considered now as it is the only way to prevent these drugs being tested on animals. There is no way an amendment to the Animal Welfare Act can do that as it only covers testing carried out in New Zealand. The government needs to listen to the voters and not ignore this issue,” says Stephen Manson, NZAVS spokesperson.
Testing party pills on animals would see animals being forced to ingest the substances and then killed so their internal organs can be examined. SAFE, NZAVS and the SPCA say that the tests are both ethically objectionable, as the levels of pain and suffering would be high, and scientifically flawed. Animal tests would give poor results when compared to the many, far more modern, non-animal tests that could be carried out instead.

As submitters were prevented from appearing before the committee in Wellington last week SAFE, NZAVS and the SPCA will be joining the Green Party at a hearing to allow animal welfare advocates to have their submissions on party pills legislation heard.

Event details
Petition Handover: 1pm, Tuesday 21 May, Parliament, Wellington.

Green Party Hearing: 2- 5pm, Tuesday 21 May, 14.18 Bowen House, Parliamentary Buildings, Wellington.

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